We’ve had some cooler mornings, and it makes me think that before long winter is on the way. What are some things that you can do to prepare your home for this time of year.

1. Remove, clean, and store AC units – as soon as the weather is cool enough you won’t need them again. It’s great to clean these units to give them a longer life. Also storing them inside over winter can help also.

2. Yard Maintenance – Now is the time to trim branches that are against your house or trees that have dead branches on. Also, as leaves come down keeping the yard free of leaves and leaves cleaned out of your beds is important.

3. Change Smoke Detector Batteries – This is a great time of year to make sure all you smoke detectors are working properly.

4. Fix drafts at doors or windows – Fixing even small drafts can help reduce your energy bill this winter. Replacing weatherstrips at doors or sealing other cracks all help to make your home tighter.

5. Fix Cracks in Driveway – Sealing Cracks can help prevent water from going into them and freezing which only causes more damage.

6. Bring Outdoor Furniture in – Once you’re finished with your outdoor furniture for the year storing them inside prevents them from getting damage over the colder winter months.

7. Organize your garage – Before it gets cold is an excellent time to organize your garage especially if you will be parking inside more. You can add shelves and hooks to keep the floor space cleaner.

8. Clean your gutters and downspouts – Even if you don’t have a lot of trees nearby it is good to check your gutters. Keeping them draining is a good way to prevent more issues from water backing up.

9. Pressure Wash to give your home a fresh look – Keep your outdoor areas looking sharp by pressure washing them.