Fall Maintenance Checklist
Tis’ the season for crunching leaves under your feet, warm colors, and a great time cozy up indoors. The end of summer means it’s time to prepare your home for the fall months before it gets too chilly. Whether you complete the checklist items yourself or hire a professional, taking action now can help prevent costly damages in the long run. Clean and stow mower and outdoor equipment- Remove any remaining debris and buildup from your mower, and move it to a covered storage space to prevent any potential weather damage. *Also, although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn. Cover or bring outdoor furniture indoors- It probably cost you quite some time and money to create that perfect outdoor space, so if you want to get another summer season out of it, properly store the items in a garage or shed. If you don’t have anywhere to store them, buy a waterproof furniture cover with coating to protect from the elements and air vents to protect against mold and mildew. For cushions and smaller items, consider purchasing an outdoor storage bin. Prune plants and trim any tree limbs too close to house or power line- Pruning your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn helps encourage healthy growth. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter, so trim any tree limbs that are too close to power lines or your home. Before you trim near any electrical conductors, contact BGE or check here for options to work safely. Turn off outdoor water and store hoses- Drain and disconnect all garden hoses from outside spigots to prevent any water freezing and remember to close any shut-off valves serving outside faucets, to prevent pipes from bursting. Seal cracks around doors and windows- Weather stripping is easily the most cost effective way to rein in heating and cooling costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use. Clean gutters and downspouts- Clogged gutters can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and water in your basement. Before the leaves fly this fall, have your gutters cleaned, then covered with mesh guards to keep debris from returning. Direct drainage away from the house- Ensure that water drains properly and doesn’t pool. Pooling can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways. Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place. Inspect roof for missing shingles or any damage- Stay on top of roof problems by inspecting your roof (with the aid of binoculars if necessary.) Scan the entire roof for missing, curled, or damaged shingles. Check ridge shingles for cracks and wind damage, and look for damage to metal flashing in valleys and around vents and chimneys (for your safety, we recommend hiring a professional for this step.) Replace filter in furnace (also consider hiring a professional to clean ducts and service furnace)- Once a year, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. To avoid the last-minute rush, consider scheduling this task in early fall, before you have to crank up the heat. Check the chimney for blockages and make sure the damper is working- Call a professional to inspect and clean your chimney. Fireplaces that are regularly used during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent dangerous chimney fires. Gas fireplaces should also be inspected by a technician to check output is correct, and clean up any residue that has started to block any ports or vents. After a routine check, your technician should make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors, and that you are aware of any repairs your gas fireplace may need. We have a network of great service providers, so if you need any contractor recommendations, feel free to reach out!
Styling Your Home for Fall
The leaves are starting to change, and while the magic is happening outside- it’s up to you to bring the prettiest season of the year indoors. Welcome fall, in all it’s glory by creating the coziest autumn space in your home with a few festive interior design choices. Follow these seasonal styling tips to fall-ify your home room by room: FoyerCreate the warmest welcome with fresh or dried flowers in harvest colors, an autumn wreath on the front door, and a vintage throw runner underfoot. KitchenPlace ironstone dishes on open shelving in white, cream, and beige tones, and scatter in a few white pumpkins for display. Create a fall tablescape with a harvest centerpiece by placing gourds and pine cones around a vase filled with feathers and/or sheaves of wheat instead of traditional flowers. Add a basket or bowl of apples to your countertop to tie everything together. Dining RoomPlaid table trimmings, garland, napkins, and a festive table runner will instantly scream fall. You can’t go wrong with a classic red and blue plaid, but if that’s a little too much color for you, then opt for a neutral colored plaid. This will give your dining room table a more subtle fall feel. Living/Family RoomsAccessorize your coffee table and mantel with brass candlesticks, antlers, and dark shades of fall colored books. If you have a fireplace, keep it lit when you have company to heighten the ambience. Even if you don’t have a fireplace, setting out a few wood logs will help bring the space together. BedroomsAside from switching out linens to be fall colors, put out candles on the nightstand and dressers. To bump up the fall feels and in some fall scents like pumpkin spice and apple orchard. As for how they look, pick ones that are deep velvets, rich greens, or even jet black to change it up from the cliche fall colors. Throwing in one or two sleek gold candle holders will take the space to the next level. BathroomsA fresh bloom or two can brighten up your bathroom any time of the year. Try displaying bright orange or red mums (a favorite of our Professional Home Stagers for the fall season!) on your bathroom sink and shelves to instantly add a festive feel to the small space. As always, candles are a great multipurpose decor piece for bathrooms. Book NooksBook nooks don’t need much decorating for fall since they already express the cozy vibe. Switch out pillows and blankets with fall colored ones, like cinnamon and deep red. Accessorize with just one plaid pillow and the space will be transformed. Front PorchHang a fall wreath on your front door, and display pumpkins, hay stacks, and gourds throughout your porch by lining your front steps or front pathway. Tall sheaves of wheat look great when placed on both sides of your front door. HallwaysIf you want to go the extra mile this year, decorate your hallways too. Options include painting the walls fall colors or hanging a fall printed wallpaper on just one of the walls. For a less time consuming project, dress up a corner of the hallway with a tall vase of sheaths of wheat or cotton branches, and add a few display pumpkins around it. Source
Spectacular Spaces; Outdoors Edition
Taking the time to make your backyard as inviting as possible is just as crucial to securing a buyer as the interior staging process is! Outdoor living space is often just as important to buyers as the kitchen and living room are, especially during prime outdoor entertaining months in the summertime. Take it from our team of Professional Home Stagers, who have put together these tips to make sure your outdoor space looks spectacular to prospective buyers. 1. GIVE IT A GOOD SCRUB Cleaning isn’t just a must for your home’s interior, it’s a must for the outdoors, too! Remove dust and dirt from your patio, walkways, stairs, window ledges, and outdoor furniture. Finally, hose down the concrete, you may need to use a pressure washer to wash away those stubborn layers. 2. REFINE THE LANDSCAPINGAdding a fresh layer of mulch overtop tired looking dirt, patchy grass, and flower beds will go a long way. It will make your outdoor space look and smell brand new and well taken care of. To go the extra mile, plant some flowers in those beds and get rid of any weeds that may be visible. 3. FURNISH THE SPACEYou want buyers to visualize themselves in your space, so it has to look inviting and liveable. To make this happen, furnish your patio, deck porch, or any areas that let you naturally incorporate furniture and decor (our stagers recommend adirondack chairs). Put out a bistro table and chairs with a vase of flowers on top, or if space allows, a patio dining table or a conversation set of a loveseat and chairs. And don’t forget to remove those grill covers! 4. REMOVE WINDOW SCREENSWindow screens should be removed before you have listing photos taken of your home. This will make them look shiny and clean and allow for the most natural light. 5. POOL CAREMake sure your pool is open and looking it’s best for photos and open houses! Skim the surface to remove debris and leaves to give it that crystal clear look. 6. MAKE IT A SHOWSTOPPERIf you have fountains, outdoor lighting, outdoor fans, fireplaces or pits- turn them on for showings. It will amp up the appeal of the space (go ahead and add some drama!) After all, you want to show off everything your space has to offer. If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, contact us today and we will make sure your space looks spectacular for showings!
Categories
Recent Posts
