1. Exterior Paint
Fall offers plenty of days that are
warm enough to work with exterior paint, and a touch-up can help prolong the
life of your siding and trim. A fresh coat of paint or sealer on any surface
that potentially will be covered with snow, such as wood floors or stairs, also
is a wise idea. Sooner is better to contact a local painter, as many paints
aren't recommended for application on days when the temperature dips below
45-50 degrees F.
2. Finish the Basement
Whether we receive ice and
snow or clouds and rain during winter, chances are your outdoor living space
will spend a good portion of the season out of commission. If your time indoors
leaves you feeling a little crowded, look to your basement for room to roam.
Finishing a basement is a great way to extend your living space and also gives
a higher return on investment than many other home projects. Whether you're
planning on selling your home come springtime or you just need more space to live,
consider finishing your basement.
3. Fix Major Home Appliances
From turkey dinners to Christmas cookies,
the holiday season is a busy time for most kitchens. Clothes washers and dryers
often pull an extra shift or two during the holidays as well. If your appliances
aren't working -- or aren't working as well as they should -- call an
appliance-repair professional before the holidays arrive. A trained
professional can diagnose and repair a problem in a major appliance for far
less than the cost of replacement.
4. Fall Lawn Care
To ensure your lawn's health and
beauty come spring, complete several important yard work projects in the fall.
Raking leaves and aerating will prevent your lawn and garden beds from suffocating,
while fertilizing and winterizing grass, trees, and shrubs will allow your
greenery to enter its winter slumber comfortably and properly nourished.
Professional lawn-care services make quick work of these projects, freeing up
your time for family, friends, and football.
5. Plan for Holiday Lights
Holiday lights begin to appear on
homes across America every year almost immediately following (and sometimes
even before) Thanksgiving. If you plan to decorate your home yourself, develop
a plan and start looking for deals on lights and other outdoor holiday
paraphernalia early. If you're planning to hire assistance, make sure you
contact a professional for quotes as soon as possible. Either way, allow time
to make arrangements and install lights as early as you can to maximize the
number of days you'll have to enjoy them.
6. Seal Gaps and Add Insulation
Nothing makes a home more
uncomfortable during the winter than a nagging, chilly draft. Consider a home
energy audit that includes a review of your home's caulking and weather
stripping. An energy auditor also will likely look inside your attic. If the
insulation is at or below the level of the joists, you might be able to keep
your home warmer by adding more insulation. A depth of 10-14 inches is
generally considered optimal, and you can supplement with a variety of types of
insulation to achieve that depth.
7. Power Washing
Having your home's exterior and
windows power washed won't just make your home look sharp, it also will prevent
the growth of mold and mildew that feed on grime. If you're not comfortable
deciding whether your home's exterior can handle the pressure exerted by the
various pressure-washing nozzles available, hire a professional to do the work.
8. Hire Cleaning Help
If you're like most people, the
final months of the year are long on to-do items and short on time. Hiring a
cleaning professional will allow you to focus on more important tasks and keep
your home looking its best for holiday visitors. Whether you schedule a
one-time visit or routine cleanings, the stress and effort you'll save are
likely well worth the monetary investment.
9. Fireplace Repair
Proper inspection of a fireplace is
vital to ensuring its safe operation -- even if it is rarely used. An
experienced chimney sweep will check wood fireplaces for flammable buildup
(known as creosote) and chimney blockages such as bird nests. A chimney or
fireplace professional also should check for these red flags: improperly
functioning dampers, damaged brickwork and masonry, and missing or damaged flue
caps (the screen covering the top of the chimney).
10. Tune Up the Furnace
The furnace is literally the heart
of most American homes during cold winter months. Without it, comfortable life
indoors would come to a grinding halt. Occasional maintenance from a trained
professional can keep your furnace running effectively and efficiently, and it
will prevent potentially catastrophic damage to your home from burst or frozen
pipes.
11. Prepare for Snow Removal
Get bids from snow-removal professionals
in your area before that first flake falls. Keeping your walks free of ice and
snow is a vital part of wintertime safety, but venturing outside with a snow shovel
in the dead of winter is an unpleasant task for most. Snow-removal services are
usually equipped with professional gear to make quick work of a homeowner's
hand-shovel job.
12. Repair or Replace Siding
When deciduous trees and bushes have
shed their leaves and yards and landscaping are covered by snow, shoddy spots
on your home's exterior are pulled into the limelight. If your home's siding
needs repair or replacement, hire a siding pro to complete the work before the
harsh days of winter magnify any exterior blemishes. Some new siding even comes
with added insulation, which can help bundle up your home for winter.
13. Replace Windows
Do you feel a chill next to certain
windows in your home during winter? Have you noticed condensation or frost on
these windows? Glass with multiple panes, spacers, or filler gasses (such as
argon or krypton) will likely solve these problems. A professional can swap out
your problem windows with more-efficient models that will increase your comfort
level while decreasing your heating bills.
14. Install a Home Security System
If you're looking for peace of mind
this holiday season, consider enlisting the help of a home security company. A
home security system will help protect against intruders, and many systems can
monitor for signs of fire. Security companies will often install basic systems
free of charge, provided you sign a monitoring contract.
15. Roof Repair
The cold of winter can aggravate
even the smallest of roof leaks. Any leaks in a home's roof should be fixed in
advance of the first snowfall. Your best bet is to hire an experienced,
professional crew that can accurately assess leaks and fix problems quickly and
safely.
16. Clean Carpets
Fall is the perfect time to clean
your carpets -- the humid days of summer have passed, but the below-freezing
days of winter have yet to arrive. It's the best time to open windows for
ventilation, which should speed the drying process. And let a professional
wrangle the bulky cleaning equipment -- with a house full of wet carpet, you
can get outdoors and enjoy the few remaining warm days
17. Clean, Repair, and Protect Gutters
Your home's gutters divert thousands
of gallons of water each year. To keep the water flowing smoothly away from
your house instead of into it, inspect and clean your roof's drainage system.
Better still, protect your gutters with mesh guards to keep leaves and other
debris from causing blockages in the first place. Hire a pro to complete this
project, or be prepared to spend a damp and dirty day climbing up and down the
ladder.
18. Install a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats save money
without sacrificing comfort by using less energy to heat and cool your home
while you're away or asleep. More accurate and convenient to use than manual
thermostats, programmable thermostats don't contain toxic mercury found in
traditional models. Hiring a pro to install a programmable thermostat is
generally inexpensive, but this project is within the abilities of most DIYers. There are even thermostats that can be controlled from your smart phone or tablet away from home!
19. Repair Driveways and Walks
Small cracks and gaps in a driveway
or walkway can quickly expand during winter's freezing temperatures. Cracked
concrete and disintegrating asphalt also can create treacherous conditions for
pedestrians. Hire a pro to ensure these cracks are fixed properly and won't
return or get worse.
20. Winterize Faucets and Sprinklers
Most exterior plumbing in areas with
temperatures below freezing must be winterized to prevent freezing and
bursting. If you want professional help, contact a plumber, who can make quick
work of winterizing exterior faucets (known as hose bibs). Winterizing more
complex plumbing, such as sprinkler systems or water features, is always best
left to a professional.
21. Plan Ahead
If you've been dreaming of a new
home or a home improvement project such as an addition or major landscaping, fall
is an excellent time to reach out to architects or engineers to draft plans.
Starting now will allow time to revise the plans without having to rush the
contactor bidding process to start work when the ground thaws. Plus, you'll
have one more reason to look forward to spring!
2. If you have not booked your holiday travel, now is the time! The longer you wait, the higher prices will go. If you are holding out for a last minute deal, now is the best time to buy. The closer we get to the holidays, prices will only go up. The best advice I can give is be flexible with dates and times of travel.
3. Shop around: Cast a wide net to look for the best deal on airline tickets. Jacksonville (OAJ) tends to be more expensive than Wilmington or Raleigh. Try different websites to find the best deal out there. Also keep in mind that smaller airports, like OAJ, see less flights so they also see less delays.
5. Plot layovers carefully: Make sure you have plenty of time for connections, taking weather delays and airport traffic into consideration. Try to connect in airports in warmer climates, as they are less likely to experience delay.
