Fall is many people’s favorite time of year; they look forward to putting on their sweaters, drinking pumpkin spice lattes, and making a pot of soup. There are important items to check off the home to-do list before it gets cold. Get started on these eight items before it is too late: 

 

    Outdoors 

  • Take care of walkway/driveway cracks. Materials used for this job may not work as well once outside temps drop. 
     

  • Clean outdoor furniture and leave it to dry in the warm sun. When it is time to store them for winter, they will already be clean! 
     

  • If you are growing <span class="SpellingError SCXW40626055 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-position: left bottom; background-image: url(" data:image="" gif;base64,r0lgodlhbqaeajecap="" 8aaaaaaaaaach5baeaaaialaaaaaafaaqaaaiilgaxcchrtcgaow="=&quot;);" border-bottom:="" 1px="" solid="" transparent;"="">hostas, daylilies, spring-blooming bulbs, or peonies, divide these plants now. These plants will be happier if divided and replanted now instead of spring.   
     

  • Trees are best planted in the fall of the year as well. They still need regular and deep watering, but the cooler weather will make it easier for them to establish roots. 
     

  • Plant a fall garden. You will be rewarded with fresh greens and other vegetables for all of those slow-cooker recipes saved on your Pinterest board! 

   

    Indoors 

  • Check smoke/carbon monoxide detector batteries, and test the smoke detector to be sure it is in proper working order. If there is no family fire plan in place, create one now and have a family fire safety meeting. 
     

  • No mudroom, no problem! Create a mudroom-like atmosphere near the entry your family uses most. Setup is easy using a sturdy indoor/outdoor area rug, a coat tree (using coat hangers when items are wet), and small bins or shoe trays to store wet or muddy footwear. 
     

  • Although the air conditioning may still be in use, have your furnace inspected and serviced now–before you need it. 

 

Waiting until a cold snap is bearing down on you before you get cold-weather prep done could be too late, not to mention regrettable. Take advantage of a pleasant fall weekend and get the family involved. Being ready for winter is great, but the time spent together taking care of your home is greater! 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: enewsletters.k-state.edu/