As a homeowner, you have many responsibilities when it comes to the care and maintenance of your property. Prepping your home for winter, especially if you live in an area that is known to experience harsh winter conditions, can help you prepare your property for the colder temperatures. Winter winds, freezing conditions, and accumulating snow can wreak havoc on your property, but preparing beforehand can help you stay on top of it. We have compiled this list of relatively simple tasks you can do that won’t take you longer than a weekend to complete, so you can enjoy the rest of your fall season.
Indoors
- Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
One of the most overlooked aspects of home ownership is checking on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. However, these little devices can and do save lives. While many detectors will let you know when they need their batteries replaced, by beeping repeatedly every so often, it’s a good idea to just change them anyway before the winter season sets in.
- Winterize Your Windows
You may not notice a draft now, but come winter time you may notice that cold air is leaking into your home. Right now is the time to check out your windows, both inside and outside. Look for cracks, breaks, trim issues, and make sure they are operating efficiently. Before the winter cold sets in, you will also want to take some measures in order to winterize your windows. First, clean your windows. Then, check for drafts. This can be done by utilizing a candle or an incense stick. Then, consider energy efficient measures, such as getting newer windows or energy-saving curtains.
- Change Your Furnace Filter
If you have forced-air heating, you will want to make sure that you are regularly changing your furnace filters. While this also helps to promote airflow, as well as improve efficiency, changing out your furnace filters could also help to control indoor allergens within your home. Your heating system should be evaluated by a professional, as well as cleaned by a professional heating and cooling company. Getting serviced by an experienced team will help you keep your furnace clean and may help you save on your utility bills. This can also help to prevent a larger and more costly issue from developing later on, such as needing your whole furnace replaced.
Outdoors
- Clean Out The Gutters
The spring and fall seasons can cause gutters to become clogged. Even if you do not notice a significant clog, buildup can still occur and make situations more tricky during the winter months with the increase in wetness. Instead, inspect or hire an inspection team to check out your gutters. You may need to get them cleaned out or even repaired if there has been damage.
- Plan For Snow
When temperatures dip down, you will want to be prepared. Planning ahead for freezing and snowy conditions could mean that you have less to do when that time actually comes. Walk around your entire property and take note of where snow may build up or where ice could cause an issue. Keep in mind that this snow will also eventually melt away and turn into water. Can these areas withstand those conditions and would it affect your home?
- Check All Wooden Structures
Wooden outdoor structures that have not been properly maintained will be even more susceptible to damage caused by snow and ice during the winter season. Inspect these wooden structures that are on your property and make necessary repairs before the snow sets in. This might include your porch or shed.
Spotloan: A Smarter Way to Borrow
Home inspections and meeting with specialized professionals to help you prep your home might cost you a pretty penny, but it could save you from having to fork over more cash when a much larger issue arises down the road due to a lack of home maintenance. At Spotloan, we work with home and property owners to get the cash they need to help them prep their property.
With our simple online application process, we are able to specialize in same day loans that give you the money you need. Even if you have bad credit, you may qualify for one of our online loans. All you have to do is go through our application process to see if you qualify and you could receive a decision within minutes. Fill out the application now!
