Can you smell it in the air? Or have you seen the little pops of color in the trees? That dirty 4 letter word that starts with F.  YES Ladies & Gents I mean Fall- is on it’s way! Now, don’t get me wrong, Fall, ahem, Autumn is a colorful time of year, and as one of the capitals of “Leafin’ Season”, the High Country is proud to be an authority on all things “Fall”.  We love the array of colors, that spread across  the tree tops, plus the tasty treats with pumpkin spice, nutmeg, and everything nice.  As it starts to cool down, we can all gather around campfires to stay cozy with no pesky bugs nibbling on you and who can forget- S’MORES?

If you are a homeowner though, Autumn is a transition point from Summer to getting ready for Winter. What do you need to do to make sure the house looks nice and being well maintained? Below are 10 fall updates for your home that will not break the bank, typically will only take a few minutes of your time, and make you rest easy when it comes to your property.

1.) Roof and Gutter Check

Having a roof over your heard is one of the main reason you bought a house! Make sure that it stays in shape by making sure it is ready to handle the heavy weight and moisture in the coming months. Furthermore, you need to check your gutters. Clogged gutters lead to bad irrigation around your property’s foundation. To take care of both of these, it is as simple as climbing up on a ladder and visually examining both the gutters and shingles.  If your roof is not to steep, you can cautiously walk on your roof to make sure there are not any weak spots or missing shingles, especially around your chimney.

Not comfortable with getting on a ladder? Or perhaps you already know there is a soft spot in your shingles? Then give our office a call, we can connect you with a local Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vincent Properties approved Handyman or construction service.

2.) DIY Leaf Garland and Ornaments

Great one to share with kids! After collecting all your old fabric scraps, take a quick nature walk to gather as many different shaped leaves- or download a stencil. Using a fusible paper and iron, make stiff fabric squares. Once the fabric is not bendy, trace the leaves onto the fabric, and cut out the leaf shapes. Use bright embroidery thread around the edges to give it a more “handy” feel.  For ornaments, use a short piece of string, pierce the leaf either from the bottom (stem) or one of the points, and make a loop. Hang from windows and door knobs for a nice accents.

To make a garland, use a longer piece of string, and again, pierce the leaf where desired, but make to put a little knot to keep the leaf in place on the string (like a bead). String and hang up in door ways or on stair railings!

3.) Check and Replace filters for De/Humidifiers & Furnaces

These filters are an integral parts to the functioning systems in your home. If they are clogged or damaged the machines may not work properly or cause a fire hazard! If you are unsure what kind or size of filters to get, simply pull out the old filter and snap a picture of the specs with your phone.  Show the picture to service rep at your local construction supply store or Lowe’s/Home Depot.

For your furnace, it a good idea to take a vacuum hose to your heat vents and their openings in each room of your house-especially if you have furry pups like we do!

With your dehumidifiers, make sure that your drainage pipes are cleared and insulated for cooler temps. If your humidifiers have been in storage, make sure to disinfect the tank before you use them.

4.) Plant Your Bulbs for Spring Flowers

Iris, Tulip, Daffodil, Hyacinth, and Lilies are great bulb flowers that you can plant this fall, and will grow on their own the coming sprin. Yay for low maintenance! BUT-make sure to plant them BEFORE the ground freezes. Oh- for all our foodie readers- don’t forget the garlic!

5.) Store Summer Tool & Organize Winter Tools

You aren’t going to be needing the weed-whacker, garden hoes, and lawn mower when the ground is covered in snow. But these hefty (and expensive) tools need to be stored properly. Click Here for 3 Easy Winterization Steps for your Lawn Mower. In turn you need to make sure that your snow shovels, snow blowers, and ground salt are accessible and fueled up.

6.) Fall Smells

As I said before, pumpkin spice and everything nice! Nothing beats walking into a home with an incredible smell! There are many ways you can achieve good smells- candles, oil burners, and plug-ins- but my favorite goes down a more genuine route. BAKING! Click here to read up on some great baking recipes that all feature…you guessed it.. PUMPKIN!

7.) Check Your Water Heater

Maintain the efficiency and safety of your hot water heater by cleaning sediment from the tank. You will need: A bucket, Plumber’s tape, Rags, and Slip Join Pliers. Learn the step by steps by clicking here!

8.) PUMPKINS

You didn’t really think I would forget these guys did ya? Pumpkins are the staple of Autumn decor! Did you know most Christmas Tree Farms double as Pumpkin patches? The vines pumpkins help protect the Christmas Tree as they grow.  One of my favorite pumpkin patches is Frosty’s Christmas Tree Farm in Ashe County. They make picking out your pumpkins a fun, family event! Many other local produce stand will carry pumpkins in an array of sizes so you can adorn your porch steps, dinning room table and mantle! Is it too early to get excited for Jack-o-lanterns?

As the cooler temperatures come rolling in, we hope you and your home stay cozy and safe. We hope that you find these to will be helpful and maybe even a few of them to be fun! Please remember, Vincent Properties is here to lend a helpful hand for whatever life may bring and would love for the opportunity to be your neighbor, so feel free to give us a call! Happy Fall Y’all!

 

 

828-295-0700  |   info@bhhsvp.com