Every Observatory Park homeowner knows the importance of maintenance when it comes to property values. The more effort you put into taking care of your home, the higher it will be valued if you decide to sell it. Before the winter season rolls around and makes it nearly impossible to work outdoors, make sure you check these fall maintenance items off of your list:

Rake your lawn

You may think raking up the leaves in your yard only helps improve the appearance of your outdoor space, but it actually serves another purpose. Leaves can damage your grass and any other plants in your yard if they are left untouched. How? They form a heavy, thick layer over the surface of your grass, blocking the sunlight and reducing water evaporation. If left on the ground, a thick layer of leaves can lead to fungus, mold, or disease. Learn about why leaving fall leaves could hurt your lawn.

Clean your furniture

If you have outdoor patio furniture around your back porch or garden, you may want to consider putting it into storage during the cold, winter months. But before you do, wipe it down to remove any dirt or grime that has built up over the last several months. If you leave this dirt on your furniture, it will be much harder to get rid of once spring rolls around.

Check your gutters

During the fall, leaves, twigs, and other debris fall onto your roof and slowly make its way into your gutters. If you don’t take the time to remove this debris before winter, it can cause serious damage to your roof in the form of ice dams. Before the temperatures begin to drop, call a roofing professional or tackle this project on your own to protect the integrity of your roof.

Shut off the water

In the winter, water pipes can easily freeze, which can be quite an expensive problem to fix. To avoid this issue, shut off the water that goes to any outdoor faucets or hoses. If you have hoses that you keep outdoors, drain the water from them and store them inside until spring.

Protect your home from creepy crawlers

When it gets cold outside, bugs, mice, and other creepy crawlers try to find warmth—and they sometimes find it inside of your home. Keep your family safe from these intruders by scanning the exterior of your home for missing or damaged roof tiles that could provide the perfect route into your home. You should also seal the holes around your plumbing with caulking or putty since these areas are vulnerable to pests as well. If you consider yourself a handyman, you should be able to complete this project on your own, but if you need some backup, don’t be shy about reaching out to a professional. Ready to learn more about buying, selling, and maintaining homes in Observatory Park? Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey.