How To Be Winter Ready

This is Your Ten Point Autumn Property Maintenance Checklist.

We’ve been experiencing some unusual weather, from baking hot days to days when it seems like it will never stop raining.

All these changes can play havoc with the maintenance of your property - so are you ready, and do you have a plan?

Seasonal maintenance is so very important for the upkeep of your property. For example, it’s not so much about gardening and trimming hedges and more about all those essential but hidden tasks. From clearing out the gutters to checking the boiler, this is your chance to get a head start on the vital maintenance that properties need to see out the winter.

So, before the weather grows colder it’s important to prepare for the winter months to prevent costly damage.

Having an autumn checklist is all about being prepared and having a plan so that you have a robust autumn preventative home maintenance strategy that every homeowner should follow.

Ten Point Autumn Property Maintenance Checklist

Everything's starting to feel autumnal now, which is a relief for those of us who love to snuggle up, wear lots of layers, kick leaves at the park and order drinks with pumpkin in them.

Halloweens around the corner, the clocks go back, the nights draw in and then we're getting into the festive season - it's almost enough to make you forget about the summer!

Here’s our recommended ten-point autumn property maintenance checklist:

1. Gutter maintenance - Gutters that are clogged with leaves and debris can cause lots of problems. By keeping them clear, you're helping to protect your windows, doors, sides of the house and the foundations from water damage. If you happen to have a basement, you'll also be helping prevent flooding down there too. So, it's time to check your guttering and clear out all that debris.

2. Insulation - Check for drafts – it will save you ££s with soaring fuel bills.

3. Outdoor Taps - Drain any outdoor taps before the frost sets it.

4. Outdoor furniture - it’s time to bring all your furniture in, and clean and treat the furniture so it looks as good as new next year.

5. Got Cracks? Fix any cracks in your driveway.

6. Fertilise your lawn before the frost sets in. Although grass appears to stop growing in the autumn, the roots are growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilise and reseed your lawn

7. Regular Testing - Change your batteries in all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

8. Pipe Insulation - To prevent pipes freezing and bursting, ensure that the pipes are well insulated.

9. Ice Gritting - What is the gritting plan? Do you have a supply of grit, or is this something that needs ordering now? Who is responsible for gritting the paths?

10. Get snow ready! I know it’s the last thing on your mind! It’s so beautiful and so treacherous. It’s not always an annual event in the UK, but we must be ready. Do you know where the snow shovels are? Last year during lockdown many smaller local tradespeople stopped working - so who will you use?

If you need some help in working out where to start, you could read our recent blog Why September is the new January in Block Management.

Where we talk you through our recommended simple three stage process for a maintenance fresh start.

Finally, whether you decide to do a bit or do a lot, start now, before it gets too cold and plan of all the maintenance you are going to complete.

Do you feel that you could start to get ready for the colder months? Whether you are a leaseholder, or a director of a management company, or you have been self-managing and it’s all getting a bit much then please get in touch.