There are jobs that you should begin doing today. The most significant thing to consider now is turning on and checking your heating system. Do you have a contract with a service provider to either change your oil filter or air filter on your forced air gas system? This is crucial to the operating system to ensure there are no issues during the winter.
The second most important item to consider is cleaning and flushing out your gutters and leaders, especially if you haven’t done this in a while. As the fall progresses and leaves continue to fall into early December, you will have to do it several times until the process is completed. However, waiting may block the drain and overflow your gutters, which can lead to water going behind your soffits and coming inside your walls, causing mold.
The best way to keep your gutters clean permanently is to install leaf filters. I just had this completed last year and it was a G_D send. I became tired of getting up on my ladder, the danger of falling, getting dirty, and wasting precious time. You can order them online and search for someone to install them. Go to your local online neighborhood community, where you will find a handyman to do it. I saved many thousands of dollars by doing it this way. I had an estimate provided by a major installer, including material (the same product that I found online) and labor, for over $5000! I was able to get it done for $350 (pre-tariffs). It might cost a bit more, but you’ll still save a bundle of cash!
Any exposed pipes/faucets on the outside will need to be shut off from the inside of your basement or wherever your valves are located. If you do not have any shut-off valves, then you can purchase 24V wire that can be wrapped around the faucet (as long as you have an outside outlet to plug into), so freezing will not occur. I learned the hard way 20 years ago when my faucet exploded while we were on vacation. My water bill was humongous, even though my neighbor called the water company, and they were able to shut off the water. Fortunately, I have a forced air heating system, so my home was kept warm while we were away, and no issues with interior pipes.
Most importantly, if you are going away for any length of time, keep your heat on at no lower than 55 degrees. If you have pipes in the walls on the north side of your home, it will always be the coldest part. Check to make sure that you are still using oil and that you have enough in your tank or on automatic delivery, so you do not run out!
The next thing to consider is to begin putting away your outdoor furniture, or, if there is no room, cover it for the winter. Did you clean your barbecue grill and detach your propane tank? If you have a snow blower, have you tried to start it (I did this the other day, while temperatures were still in the 70s)? Waiting until it is colder or worse, right after a snowfall, could be more challenging and a pain in the butt to start. It would be advisable to change the oil to a non-detergent straight 30W type and to replace the spark plug and air filter, if any. There are no oil filters on these engines compared to a car, which needs a detergent-type oil + filter to catch all metal particles and substances to clean the inside of your engine. Non-detergent oil flows and lubricates much more efficiently.
Rainfall has been almost non-existent for many weeks. Unless you have an automatic sprinkler system (assuming it is still on) or haven’t done much watering, your lawn may have gone dormant or might have insect damage from chinch bugs or grubs due to a lack of proactive applications. If your lawn can be pulled up and you notice a “C” shaped insect, then you may have grubs. Although a little late, you may notice Chinch bugs by taking an open-ended can, pushing it into the ground right near the brown and green areas, and adding water. If you have them, they will be apparent when they float to the top of the water. You can Google photos of Grubs and chinch bugs. If you apply any materials, I suggest hiring a licensed and insured professional. If you are a do-it-yourself homeowner, always read the label instructions before using and applying any materials.
Fall is the best time to do thatch, core aeration, and primary seeding. A mix of 30-50% tall fescues, hybrid ryes, and 20% blue grass will provide a great lawn next spring. Spread the seed at 1-3 lbs. per 1000 sq ft with a rotary-type spreader. You should add some topsoil dressing to minimize the loss of seed by birds and heavy rains. Apply fertilizer at one lb. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. Again, follow the label instructions. You might also want to feed your shrubbery with a specific amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash. A soil test should be considered if you haven’t fertilized in many years. This link will provide excellent information to guide you: www.hgic.clemson.edu. Watering lightly 10-15 minutes every other day, as per local watering laws, will promote some germination within 7-14 days, depending on the weather and temperatures. ryzomes and tillers via the root system will continue to expand and grow a thicker lawn up until the ground begins to freeze.
Cracks in the driveway that allow water to get in and freeze during the winter will cause damage. It’s a bit late, but if you can find any asphalt driveway sealer at your local or big box stores, you can fill in those cracks. I just did an area on my driveway with an asphalt patch 7 days ago, and it is now hard. You may want to call a local company to perform this task. You can Google driveway sealing companies and get a few estimates.
If you have sidewalks, I suggest that you check those slabs that might not be level and cause someone to trip and possibly break a leg, arm, or worse, a head injury. Fixing those issues now will save you headaches later on. Check if your insurance policy covers you, even if your local village or town owns it. However, generally, you are responsible for repairing them.
Saving time, money, and future aggravation by completing these chores will minimize headaches later on, allowing you to enjoy the fall, winter, and the holidays that will soon be here. If you snooze, you will Lose!
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate. He has 43+ years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant
designations:
(What I consider a Master’s degree in real estate) 
expert in consulting and completing international transactions.
eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been
withdrawn/released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to:
https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at
(516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.com
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