Autumn has well and truly arrived and as we move into colder weather and hibernation, there are some things you can do to keep your home in tip top shape.
Checking your home on a regular basis for wear and tear and damage, is a good start to ensuring your home is performing as it should.
Outside Jobs
1. Check gutters and downpipesÂ
You may need a ladder to check if gutters are blocked with debris and dirt. Use a running hose to detect leaks (or wait until it rains).
2. Check your roofÂ
A basic visual check of your roof from ground level may be all that you can manage. We don’t recommend getting on the roof yourself. Get an expert to do this. Check for signs of rust, broken or cracked tiles, or flashings that may have lifted or cracked. Also check nearby trees and overhanging branches as they have the potential to damage a roof during high winds. (Tip: Before pruning, check if you need Council approval and an arborist.)
3. Deck care
We recommend resealing a wooden deck 2 or 3 times (or more) a year to extend its useful lifetime and good looks. Also consider regular high pressure cleaning to remove stains, dirt, and cobwebs.
4. Driveway, paths, pavers
We recommend a regular pressure clean of all your hard surfaces such as driveways, paths, and pavers. Removal of dirt, oil and grease, or moss will always be easier with regular cleaning. Not only will they look good, but the potential for slips and falls will be minimised.
5. Exterior walls and windows
If you have a high pressure cleaner, it may be a good idea to give the outside of your house a good clean to prevent build up of dirt, cobwebs, mould, etc. Take care around windows, doors, vents, and pipes to prevent water penetration of internal spaces.
6. Batten down the hatches
For all external gates, it’s good practice to check the locks and hinges to ensure they shut safely and securely. You might also consider hiding away wheelie bins, and pool filters with a bespoke wooden cover or enclosure. This will not only look amazing, but provide protection from the elements.
Inside Jobs
1. Walls, Cornices & Ceilings
If you notice drips or water stains running down your internal walls, this is definitely a sign of water ingress somewhere (eg. whirly birds, back run from the edge of the roof, holes in the roof, or holes in the exterior walls from air conditioning cables etc.). Locating where the water is getting in can sometimes be a little tricky, but this is a situation that really deserves immediate attention as it will continue to get worse if ignored.
2. Seals
Checking the seals around your external doors, windows, and skylights will ensure your comfort all year round, but especially so during winter. Time and wear and tear have the potential to deteriorate most seals. Replacing some seals is relatively straight forward, but for others (eg. around the edge of a skylight), it may be a little more challenging to do yourself.
3. Bathroom exhaust fans
There’s a proverb that says you’ll soon forget things that are no longer visible or present, and your bathroom exhaust fans are no different. Every 2 to 3 months it’s a good idea to remove the exhaust fan cover and clean the blades, vents and filters. Removing dust regularly will not only help prevent mould and mildew, but will keep your exhaust fans in safe working order for longer.
4. Refresh tired or chipped paint
Another relatively easy job to keep your home looking fabulous throughout the colder months is a paint touch up (or repainting) of all those chipped surfaces. Check skirting boards, door frames and high traffic areas for chips, scrapes, scratches, holes, etc. A patch and repair that looks great after it’s painted, or just achieving a smooth consistent finish can take some skill and be quite tricky to achieve, so talk to your local hubby.
5. Laundry audit
As you probably use your clothes dryer a lot more during the colder months or dry your clothes on racks inside, now’s the perfect time to do a laundry audit. You don’t need to engage Marie Kondo, but decluttering and organising your laundry now will be worth the effort. Commit to using all products before replacing them with new ones. Throw away or recycle empty containers. Assess your workable space in terms of storage – do you need racks, shelves, cupboards, or baskets? Can you install a rail or retractable clothes line? Wall-mounted extendable clothes airers are another good option, especially if you have limited space. Hooks within cupboards and behind doors are also another space saving option.
6. Declutter
And lastly, our number one tip is to declutter your home, from your front door to the garage/carport. Dispose of, recycle, upcycle, and give everything a home within your home. Like your laundry the possibilities are almost endless – hooks, rails, shelves, cupboards, retractable racks etc. In the garage/carport you may be able to hang items (eg. bicycles) from the walls or ceilings.
Inspired?
So there you have it. Your essential Autumn to do list. We hope we’ve inspired you to look around your home – inside and out. With regular maintenance and upkeep, your home will not only continue to look good, but will contribute to your comfort, safety and peace of mind during the cold, wet winter months ahead.
If there’s anything we can help you with, please reach out to one of our fabulous Hubbies, or click here to Book A Quote.
