Make Sure to Check These Home Maintenance Tasks off Your To-Do List Before Winter Hits
Lighter Side of RE (Inner Circle) • October 28, 2021

Fall is in full swing! While fall is best known for amazing weather, foliage, and fun autumn-themed activities (think apple picking and pumpkin patches), it’s also the perfect time to get your home ready for winter.
But which tasks do you need to knock off your home maintenance to-do list in the fall to make sure your property is ready for the winter?
A recent article from realtor.com outlined key maintenance tasks homeowners should plan to tackle during the fall season, including:
- Check your home’s insulation. Without proper insulation, heat can escape your home—and as temperatures drop in fall and winter, your home’s heating system will have to work harder to keep your home nice and warm, which can drive up costs. Before it gets too chilly outside, make sure to get your home’s insulation checked out—and, if necessary, replace or upgrade the insulation to ensure your home is properly insulated come winter.
- Trim the trees. Trimming your trees is a chore—but if you don’t do it before winter (and winter winds, snow, and storms hit), those dead branches can cause damage to your home and property. Before winter winds and storms hit, make sure to trim your trees; if the branches are low enough, you can DIY the trimming—but if you have tall trees that need trimming, definitely consider calling in a professional to help.
- Prepare for power outages. Power outages are never fun—but they’re especially not fun in the dead of winter. If you live in an area that’s prone to winter storms, you may want to consider investing in a back-up generator; that way, you can ensure you’ll have power when you need it—even when challenging winter weather takes down the power lines.
Share this post

How To Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish Line If there was one simple step that could help make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn't you want to know about it? There’s a lot that happens from the time your house goes under contract to closing day. And a few things still have to go right for the deal to go through. But here’s what a lot of sellers may not know. There's one part of the process where some homeowners are hitting a road bump that’s causing buyers to back out these days. But don’t worry. The majority of these snags are completely avoidable, especially when you understand what’s causing them and how to be proactive. That’s where a great agent (and a little prep) can make all the difference. What’s Causing Some Buyers To Back Out The latest data from Redfin says 15% of pending home sales are falling through . And that’s not wildly higher than the 12% norm from 2017-2019. But it is an increase. That means roughly 1 in 7 deals today don’t make it to the closing table. But, at the same time, 6 out of 7 do. So, the majority of sellers never face this problem – and odds are, you won’t either. But you can help make it even less likely if you know how to get ahead. You might assume the main reason buyers are backing out today is financing. But that’s actually not the case. The most common deal breaker today, by far, is inspection and repair issues (see graph below): Here’s why that’s a sticking point for buyers right now: Buyers are already stretched thin from high prices and challenging mortgage rates, so they don’t have the appetite (or budget) for unexpected repairs. If they’re going to spend all that money, they want to get something that’s move-in ready. They don’t want to take on another high-cost project themselves. They have more homes to choose from, so if yours seems like a hassle or if you’re not willing to fix something, they can just move on. The sellers with the best agents have heard about this shift and they’re doing what they can to go in prepared. Enter the pre-listing inspection. What’s a Pre-Listing Inspection? It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a professional home inspection you schedule before your home hits the market. And while it’s not required, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains why it could be a valuable step for some sellers right now: “To keep deals from unraveling . . . it allows a seller the opportunity to address any repairs before the For Sale sign even goes up. It also can help avoid surprises like a costly plumbing problem, a failing roof or an outdated electrical panel that could cause financially stretched buyers to bolt before closing .” Think of it as a way to avoid future headaches. You’ll know what issues could pop up during the buyer’s inspection – and you’ll have time to fix them or decide what to disclose before you put your house on the market. This way, when the buyer’s inspector walks in, you’re ready. No surprises. No last-minute panic. No deal on the line. Is It Worth It? Generally speaking, a pre-listing inspection costs just a few hundred dollars. So, it’s not a big expense. And the information it gives you is invaluable. But before you make that investment, talk to your local agent. In some markets, it may not be worth it. And in others, it may be the best move you can make. It all depends on what’s happening where you are and what’s working for other local sellers. If your agent recommends getting one, they’ll also: Help you decide which issues to fix Prioritize repairs based on what buyers in your area are focusing on Connect you with trusted professionals to get the work done Ensure you understand local disclosure laws That small step could save your deal (and your timeline). Bottom Line So, if there was one simple step that could help make your home sale go according to plan, would you do it? If you’d rather deal with surprises on your terms (not with the clock ticking under contract), let’s talk about whether a pre-listing inspection makes sense for your house. It may be worth it so you can hit the market confident, prepared, and in control.



