Property Maintenance

Property Maintenance Checklist For Fall And Winter

Sweater weather has arrived, and winter is just around the corner. Halloween and Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. It’s that time of year to perform some preventative maintenance around your home to make sure your home is ready for the upcoming winter season.  To help with this, we have created a Property Maintenance Checklist for Fall and Winter. We also created a printable PDF so you can print it out and mark the tasks off as you complete them.

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Property Maintenance Checklist

Inside your home

  • Service heating system to ensure optimal efficiency and performance. Replace filter. Look at your filter at least every couple of months and replace when needed.
  • Clean/change filter on humidifier that is attached to furnace (if applicable).  Turn on in winter.
  • Inspect sump pump to ensure proper operation. Make sure water is draining away from the foundation or the same water will just continue to recycle through the sump pump. You may want to consider a battery backup.
  • If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
  • Pour water in basement and garage floor drains to ensure the traps contain water
  • Inspect caulking in shower/tub and re-caulk if necessary. Remove if moldy.
  • Use a drain cleaner to remove all hair and other debris from sinks and tubs/shower drains to ensure proper flow (make sure it is approved for septic systems if applicable)
  • Check under sinks for any plumbing leaks.
  • Remove and clean aerators in faucets if needed.
  • Clean or replace filter for kitchen exhaust fan
  • Test all GFI outlets for proper operation
  • Clean as much lint as possible from inside laundry dryer.
  • Clean refrigerator condenser coils and condenser fan. Pull the machine from the wall to reveal the coils in back (or snap off the grille, if the coils are on the bottom front), unplug the refrigerator, and vacuum with the brush attachment.
  • Replace the ice maker or water dispenser water filter in refrigerator
  • Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed. Please note: some smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are hard wired but still have a battery backup.
  • Replace batteries in thermostat if needed. Thermostats are hard wired but still rely on batteries for some functions.
  • Check weather stripping around doors and windows for fit and condition. Replace as needed.
  • Cover/insulate whole house fan(if applicable)
  • Have carpet, tile and upholstery professionally cleaned if needed
  • Check pressure levels on fire extinguisher. Service/replace if necessary
  • If you have ceiling fans, there should be a switch to make the fan blades run clockwise. Doing this during the colder months can push heated air down.

Outside

  • Remove debris from around central air unit and spray it with a hose to clean the exterior. Cover if recommended by manufacturer.
  • Protect your central air unit by placing a piece of plywood held down by a few bricks on top. Many manufacturers do not recommend covering the entire unit.
  • Inspect chimney for any obstructions such as nests. Consider a chimney sweep by a professional if needed.  Confirm chimney has a cap which will keep birds out.
  • Clean gutters and downspouts. Make sure all downspouts are connected and are extended far enough away from the home to prevent water getting into the basement.
  • Ensure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not drain into the basement (recommended 1” drop per foot)
  • Clean any debris out of window wells
  • Clean dryer vent and inspect all exterior vents and louvers to make sure they’re clear and operating correctly.
  • Have septic tank pumped if needed (recommended once every 3-5 years)
  • Remove garden hoses from exterior spouts. Drain and store for winter.
  • Drain in ground sprinkler system if applicable.
  • Apply fall lawn fertilizer to help your lawn repair damage from the heat, drought and activity of the summer, ensuring stronger grass in the spring.
  • Replace batteries in garage door remotes and keyless entry pads if needed.
  • Remove gas from outdoor equipment such as a lawn mower or add fuel stabilizer

Obviously not all of these items apply to each of us, but I’m sure you can find many tasks on this property maintenance checklist that you want to get done. Also take a look at our Preparing for a Showing checklist, and our comprehensive blog post on Preparing Your Home to Sell. Sell Your House Elk Grove

When it’s time to buy or sell your next home in the Peoria IL area, we would love to have the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your real estate needs.