Fall home maintenance checklist

Happy fall! Spring cleaning is what homeowners tend to focus on, but it may surprise you to find out that fall cleaning and maintenance is possibly more important than spring cleaning! Your house needs a lot of attention and prep to prepare for the winter, and not taking care of little problems now could cause a lot of big (and expensive) problems later. Plus, the holidays tend to leave all of our schedules jam-packed. It's better to take care of everything your house needs in the fall instead of putting it off until later, when there will be no time and it could potentially cause an expensive repair.

If you are like a lot of people and don't know where to start, check out our list of tips below. It'll get you on your way for a well-prepped home for the winter!

• Check you windows. Caulk and replace weather stripping as needed. It's the best way to stop your heat from leaking out and cold air getting in!
• Have your heating systems inspected! Get them cleaned, get filters replaced, check all the parts and clear out vents. Make sure you get someone qualified, who knows what they are doing. 
• Change your smoke alarm batteries! It could save your house from serious damage, or, more importantly, your life. Don't chance it! While you're at it, install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Change the batteries if you already have them.
• Check and make sure your heaters - systems or portable - are actually working. You don't want to try to turn them on when it's already cold out and discover a problem. Get them up and running now!
• Have your fireplace chimney and flue inspected and cleaned.
• Check for roof leaks around any vents, skylights or chimneys. Clean out all gutters and vents.

Have something to add to the checklist? Post it in the comments below. We're always happy to read your input and ideas!

Have you been considering a kitchen or bathroom remodel? We are now scheduling projects for November. Contact AJ Development now to schedule your free, in-home consultation.

Serving the Tri-Cities, Washington area. Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Burbank, Finley, Benton City