Get Your Home Winter-Ready with This Essential Checklist

A few hours of fall maintenance now can save you from costly winter repairs, and it protects your home's value whether you're staying put or thinking about a spring move.

With today's mortgage rates, many of my Bush Hill neighbors are happily staying in their homes for the long haul. That makes your house your biggest investment to protect. And if you are planning to sell, buyers in this market are careful with every dollar. A well-maintained home stands out, inspects better and sells with fewer surprises.

Here's my checklist to get your home ready for the colder months.

Outside the house

Bush Hill's mature trees are part of its charm, and they also mean plenty of leaves to manage.

• Clean gutters and downspouts once most leaves have fallen. Clogged gutters can cause ice dams and water damage. Make sure downspouts carry water well away from your foundation.

• Check the roof from the ground with binoculars. Look for missing, cracked or curling shingles and damaged flashing around the chimney and vents.

• Shut off and drain outdoor spigots. Disconnect and store garden hoses, then turn off the interior shutoff valve if you have one, so pipes don't freeze and burst.

• Trim trees and branches that hang over the roof or near power lines before winter storms.

• Seal driveway and walkway cracks so water can't freeze, expand and widen them.

• Clean and store patio furniture and grills, and cover anything that stays outside.

• Have your irrigation system blown out if you have one.

• Stock up on ice melt and a good shovel before the first storm, not during it.

Heating and the fireplace

Your heating system works hardest from November through March, so tune it up before you need it.

• Schedule a furnace or heat pump service. Book early, since HVAC companies fill up fast once the first cold snap hits.

• Replace your HVAC filter, then keep checking it every one to three months through winter.

• Have your chimney inspected and swept before your first fire. An annual inspection catches creosote buildup, cracks and nesting animals.

• Check the damper and chimney cap. The damper should open and close smoothly, and the cap keeps out rain and critters.

• Clear space around vents, radiators and baseboard heaters so furniture and curtains don't block heat.

• Reverse your ceiling fans to run clockwise on low. This pushes warm air down from the ceiling.

Inside the house

Small fixes inside keep the heat in, the bills down and your family safe.

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries. With furnaces and fireplaces running, working CO detectors matter most this time of year.

• Seal drafts around windows and doors. Replace worn weatherstripping and door sweeps, and re-caulk gaps.

• Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages and unheated basements.

• Know where your main water shutoff is, and make sure it turns easily in case a pipe does burst.

• Flush your water heater to clear sediment, or have a plumber do it.

• Check your sump pump if you have one by pouring a bucket of water into the pit and making sure it kicks on.

• Look over the attic for signs of leaks, pests or thin insulation.

• Keep a winter kit on hand: flashlights, batteries, bottled water and blankets in case of a power outage.

Thinking about selling in the spring?

The homes that hit the market first in spring, and look their best, are usually the ones whose owners started planning over the winter. If a move is on your radar, use these colder months to get ahead:

• Tackle repairs you've been putting off. Buyers and inspectors notice deferred maintenance, and fixing it now costs less than negotiating it later.

• Start decluttering one room or closet at a time.

• Book contractors early for painting or updates, before the spring rush.

• Gather your records: receipts for a new roof, HVAC system or renovations reassure buyers.

• Talk with an agent about timing and pricing so you know what your home could sell for and which updates are actually worth it.

Let's talk about your home

Whether you're settling in for the winter or planning your next move, I'm always happy to be a resource for my Bush Hill neighbors. I can share trusted local contractors, give you an update on what homes like yours are worth in today's market, or help you map out a plan for spring.

Stay warm, and enjoy the season!

Raquel Gutierrez Global Real Estate Advisor, TTR Sotheby's International Realty (516) 476-3416 · raquel@raquelrealtour.com · RaquelRealTour.com