image-3As the last breath of summer slowly fades and we transition into the cooler seasons of fall, we find ourselves shifting gears and coming back into more structured routines. For some people, this might mean planning daily activities around school, work, homework, meal times, exercise, time with friends and family, and personal down time. For others, moving into the fall season may be a simpler transition of adjusting to the shift in weather patterns and fewer daylight hours, For most of us, it’s a combination of all of these things.

The same goes for your home! Your home can require some additional maintenance transitioning from summer to fall. That means it is a perfect time for you to check out the checklist we have below for all of your summer to fall home maintenance tips.

  • If the house or garage doesn’t need paint, wash exterior off at least once. A thorough scrubbing is a must before painting any exterior surface. It removes dirt and paint residue that keeps fresh paint from adhering to the surface and gets rid of mildew that grows on paint in all but the most arid climates
  • Scrape, prime, and paint any areas on house or garage that are in need, especially any bare wood.
    Paint that has peeled, bubbled, or blistered has got to go. But if lead is present—a strong possibility in houses built before 1978—you need to proceed with extra care.
    (Note: Observe precautions for reducing exposure to lead-based paint.)

  • Look for visible signs of carpenter ants, termites, or any other destructive insects. Small holes in the walls and floors, or holes in or around the property are a giveaway of a possible infestation. Visible holes or sagging floors, and wood that sounds hollow when tapped, shed wings, or fecal pellets that are tan and resemble sawdust may be signs of a termite infestation. 
    Don’t know the signs of destructive insect intrusion? Click Here to read Green America Home Inspection blog to see if these termites are eating away at your home and wallet!
  • Check all flat roofs, and recoat or seal as needed, especially flashing.
    A checkup on your roof system in the fall and spring will help diagnose potential problems early.

  • Check for mortar that needs repair (including chimney mortar and inside fireplace,) and tuckpoint or repair as needed. Repairs and maintenance to your brick and stone mortar joints is a necessity. Exposure to weathering causes deterioration!
  • Check concrete drive, sidewalks, patios, and landings for condition and level; patch cracks, level, and/or replace, as needed. Cracks are inevitable on concrete and asphalt driveways. But quick DIY repairs can add to your home’s curb appeal.

  • Clean carpets and wax tile and hardwood floors.
    Carpets need to be cleaned to Increase life expectancy of the carpet, improve appearance, and promote A more hygienic environment by removing general dust, soil and accumulated grime

  • Add copper sulfate to basement floor drain and downspout drains to control tree roots in main sewer
    The inside of a sewer pipe contains all the nutrients a tree needs, and trees are adept at sending their roots through small cracks and fissures to get them, thus causing plumbing problems. One way to prevent this is to treat the soil and insides of the pipes with copper sulfate.


Sandwiched between blazing summer and chilly winter, autumn is the “cooling off” season. Nighttime arrives earlier, temperatures begin to drop and most vegetative growth decreases. But that doesn’t mean neglecting your home! Last chance to get those fall maintenance items marked off your checklist before it gets too cold and the winter is upon us.  Get ready to take care of a few things to make a happy, healthy, home.!