Your Memphis Home Fall Checklist

Your Memphis Home Fall Checklist

There’s just something about fall in Memphis.

The mornings get a little cooler, the leaves start changing, football is everywhere, and we finally get a break from those hot summer days. It’s also the time of year when I like to remind homeowners to take a little walk around their house and see what needs some attention before winter rolls in.

Nothing complicated. Nothing that requires you to spend every weekend working on your house.

Just a few things that are easy to overlook when life gets busy.

So, grab your coffee and let’s do a quick fall check-up on your Memphis home.

Start with your HVAC

After working hard all summer, your HVAC system deserves a little attention before you ask it to keep you warm all winter.

Change your air filter, make sure your vents are open and clear, and if your system has been acting a little strange, now is the time to have someone take a look at it.

Because there’s never a convenient time for your heat to stop working. Especially not when it’s 35 degrees outside.

Take a look at those gutters

If you have mature trees around your home, you already know what’s coming.

Leaves. Lots and lots of leaves.

Once they start falling, your gutters can fill up pretty quickly. Take a few minutes to check them and make sure water can actually flow through your gutters and downspouts.

A little cleanup now can save you from dealing with water problems later.

Walk around your roof

You don’t have to become a roofing expert. Just take a look.

Are there missing shingles? Anything that looks damaged? Any areas that look unusual?

If you notice something that doesn’t look right, have a professional check it out. Fall is a much better time to discover a roof issue than during a rainy winter storm.

Check your windows and doors

If you can feel cold air sneaking in around your windows or exterior doors, your house is probably working harder than it needs to.

Check your weatherstripping and caulking and take care of those little gaps.

It may seem like a small thing, but small things add up — especially when you’re trying to keep your house comfortable.

Don’t forget those outdoor faucets

This is an easy one to forget until it’s too late.

Before we get one of those unexpected Memphis freezes, make sure your outdoor faucets and exposed pipes are protected.

And while you’re at it, make sure you know where your home’s main water shutoff is.

Trust me, that’s information you want to know before you need it.

Give your yard a little love

Fall is a great time to clean up the landscaping before everything goes dormant for the winter.

Clear out leaves, trim dead branches, clean up flower beds and take a look at any trees that may need some attention.

If you have a large tree hanging over your house, driveway or power lines, don’t ignore it just because it looks fine right now. A little preventative maintenance can go a long way.

Test those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

This takes just a few minutes, so there’s really no reason to put it off.

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if they’re getting low.

It’s one of those little things you don’t think about very often — until you really need them.

And here’s the one I really want you to do…

Walk through your house like you’re a buyer.

Not like the person who has lived there for five, ten or fifteen years.

Pretend you’re walking through it for the first time.

What do you notice?

Maybe there’s a light fixture you’ve been meaning to replace. Maybe the hallway needs paint. Maybe there’s a door that sticks, a faucet that drips or a closet that has gotten completely out of hand.

We all get used to the little quirks of our homes.

But when you’re thinking about selling someday, those are exactly the things a buyer may notice.

You don’t need to fix everything. Just start paying attention.

Fall is a great time to get ahead

Your house doesn’t need to be perfect.

It just needs to be cared for.

Taking an afternoon to knock out a few of these things can give you some peace of mind going into the colder months — and it can help protect one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make.

And if selling your Memphis-area home is somewhere on your radar, even if it’s not happening anytime soon, fall is actually a great time to start thinking about it.

You don’t have to wait until you’re ready to put that FOR SALE sign in the yard to start getting your home in shape.

A little at a time is so much easier than trying to do everything at once.

So enjoy the cooler weather, pull out the fall decorations, watch some football, and give your house a little TLC while you’re at it.

Your future self — and maybe your future buyer — will thank you.

Kelly Day, SRES, SRS, AHWD, PSA, RENE
Multi Million Dollar Club
Broker Lic # 365811
simpliHŌM
901-289-9227
855-856-9466
[email protected]