The Homeowner’s Fall Checklist

While residents in Florida don’t typically experience the same drastic weather changes as homeowners residing elsewhere in the country, there are still some maintenance steps that you should take to prepare your home. Things like cleaning your gutters and trimming backyard plants can ensure your home’s safety and appearance. Not to mention, with the holidays coming up (and all that they entail), taking care of these minor tasks now will prepare your home for your family and guests.

So why wait? Here is a quick checklist that will help you create an appealing and functioning home for the fall.

Gutters

They don’t call the season ‘fall’ for nothing! Trees are shedding their leaves and if it’s been awhile since you’ve cleaned out your gutters, there’s a chance that they will become clogged with natural debris. This may seem like a petty chore, but keeping your gutters clean can save you a lot of money and headaches in the long run. Especially considering the amount of water your roof’s drainage system diverts from your home to protect its foundation each year. So clean them now and check them again throughout the season to ensure their functionality!

Trees

Leaves aren’t the only things trees are dropping. Weakened tree branches may break and can do much more immediate damage than simply clogging your gutters. This is the perfect time of year to give any large trees near your home a trim. Contact your landscaper/local professional tree service and have them take a look at your yard. You can avoid property damage and even personal injury by maintaining your trees’ growth.

Walls

Winters in Florida may not always require you to crank up the heater, but if you don’t have a properly sealed and secured home, a little bit of cold air can cost you a bit of money. So it’s important that you check your siding. Depending on when it was installed, it is possible that there may be some wear or damage. Our team at Moreno & Moreno would be more than happy to help you repair or replace your home’s damaged siding.

And while you’re at it. don’t forget to check around windows and doors for decay or damage. You can do this by safely moving a match or lighter around the perimeter of a door/window. Any flickers indicate an air leak, which you can fix with some color matching exterior caulk.

Lawn Mower & Other Equipment

This may not be as vital as the rest of our checklist, but it could save you some money when things warm up again. If you have a mower or landscaping equipment that might be sitting for a while, consider purchasing some fuel stabilizer. When gasoline sits for a few months it begins to degrade, which is bad for your engine. Fuel stabilizer will prevent this and extend the life of your equipment. You can also simply run your equipment dry as an alternative method.
These simple home tasks are easy things you can do to lower your utility bills and extend the life of your home. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give the experts at Moreno & Moreno a call at 407.300.4500. Whether it’s improving the safety of your home, or giving it that finishing touch before the holidays, we’d be glad to help. Book your free estimate here.