Part Five: 10 *More* Late Summer & Early Autumn Home Projects

Late Summer Home Project Series: How to Maintain a Beautiful, Safe and Cozy Home: Part Five

Part Five: 10 *More* Late Summer & Early Autumn Home Projects 

As summer winds down in Maine, if you take a few hours a week to perform these projects now, you can still have the benefit of warm weather.

When selling a home or prior to home inspections, we advise clients to do many of the projects we will suggest in this series - but when done regularly they can save you thousands of dollars, an untold amount of stress down the road, and a better life in your home each day.  

This is the fifth part of a Six Part Series, Best Late Summer Home Projects. 

10 *More* Late Summer & Early Autumn Home Projects:

1. Testing 123. 

Test winter equipment - hello are you there snowblower? Consider sending equipment out for routine maintenance if needed.  Re-organize shed/garage for winter access to equipment and place summer items, garden tools, lawn mower, camping gear, etc. in the back of the shed/garage or otherwise store them out of the way. Dust off snow sleds, skis, snowboards and other winter fun items - check them and clean them if necessary - and store them where they can be easily accessed in the winter months. 

2. Window Wash for Autumn & Winter Views.

Consider washing windows/cleaning screens and glass doors before winter comes - so that you can see the autumn leaves and first snow clearly. 

3. At the Car Wash ♫♪♪.

A few times a year give your car a deep clean - carpets vacuumed and install winter mats if needed. Throw in that emergency kit, hats, gloves and snow removal items.  Get snow tires out & ready to install when temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees. 

4. Don’t Leaf it Alone.

Keep on top of leaves on lawn and in gutter as they fall, clearing them periodically and/or mulching them with the lawn mower.  As the leaves and vegetation recedes, consider weeding & trimming back garden perennials for winter.  Also consider an extra layer of mulch for your perennial gardens.

5. Furnace at the Ready. 

Schedule a furnace service and make sure your furnace is tuned up, ready for the season and running as efficiently as possible. This may also be a good time to have a review of AC and HVAC systems as well.  A Weatherization Audit can be a done at this time of year (consider scheduling this every few years) to review options for additional energy savings. 

6. Wood you Be Mine. 

Stack wood where it is easy to access and safe outside and inside - think about the best way to transport it through the winter - and consider a log carrier, new sturdy indoor firewood rack and/or new gloves.  Is it time to have your wood stove or fireplace checked? Replacing gaskets, fixing parts and adjusting flue/damper can significantly increase efficiency of wood burning.  Also schedule a chimney inspection and annual cleaning so you are ready for warm winter nights (although we would suggest you also book a Spring appointment now since they are often booked months in advance).

7. AC You and Raise You. 

Remove & safely store window A/C units.

8. Bucket Brigade. 

Clean your outdoor garbage/recycling bins before winter winds kick in. 

9. Hose It Down. 

Clean & store awnings & store outdoor hoses once you don’t need them anymore.

10. Set It & Forget It.

Consider installing a Nest or other smart programmable thermostat - it can be programmed in endless ways to save energy as your life dictates - and can even learn to adapt to your life. But be careful - you may be already doing most of the work and you do need to consider the cost/savings analysis.

Bonus: Shut the Front Door. A new coat of paint on the front door can be done in an afternoon - while the temperatures are still warm enough for exterior paint to dry properly.  Pick a great color and change your home’s look before family visits for the holidays.