As temperatures begins to cool down, now is the time to prepare for year-end. Keeping your home up to date in every season can feel like a daunting task, but Elements is here to help! Our team has assembled a seasonal home checklist to help you keep up with your home's health. 

Our list provides both outdoor and indoor improvement tips that our experts recommend you look at before winter hits. 

Exterior Home Essentials for Autumn

Autumn can bring some of the most beautiful scenery and cozy weather of any season. Here are some of our home improvement tips to achieve your own version of the great outdoors:

• Check for Any Cracks or Openings — Scan the exterior of your home for any cracks or openings. Maintaining your home’s structural condition will help protect its value and eliminate the potential for long-term damage.
• Rake Sticks & Leaves — One of the best ways to maintain strong curb appeal this season is to clear the yard of fallen leaves and branches. It is best to get ahead of it sooner rather than later to avoid having to do this project in the cold winter months.
• Trim Your Shrubs — Weed and shrub control are great ways to liven up your home’s exterior and prevent unnecessary buildup that could cause future problems.
• Mow Your Lawn — Monitor your grass for growth as the weather shifts. Keep cutting the grass into the fall to ensure you have manageable grass once the snow and ice begin to thaw in the springtime.
• Enhance Your Backyard – Autumn is the perfect time to spend your evenings relaxing outdoors. Consider revamping your space by purchasing a fire pit to keep warm or installing outdoor lighting to prepare for longer nights due to daylight saving time.
• Organize Items in Your Garage – Most garages have space to store items you don’t use every day, such as holiday decorations, craft supplies, and workbenches. With holidays around the corner, it may be helpful to go through your things – pulling out any materials you can use to improve your home.

Interior Home Essentials for Autumn

While the autumn leaves are beautiful and the outside air is crisp, there are plenty of ways to increase your home's value from the inside. Here are a few autumn-inspired indoor improvements we recommend:

• Seal Any Drafts — Leaky ceilings or cold drafts coming through the windows and walls can be avoided with consistent monitoring and updates. It’s important to block the threats the weather can pose to your home.

• Updating or Replacing Heating & Insulation – Check your heating systems to ensure you have the proper insulation to keep your home nice and toasty as outdoor temperatures drop.

• Check Your Closets — One way to free up space is to go through all your closets and organize them as a priority. Consider donating any blankets, clothing, and other items that have not been used in the past year 

• Refresh Your Living Spaces — You may find yourself spending quite a bit of time in your living room this autumn. Renovating rooms can increase your home's value and provide a creative boost and a nice change for yourself. Update your main living areas with new paint, artwork, or unique furniture pieces this fall season. 

• Prepare Winter Supplies — Keep snow shovels, ice melt, sand or traction material, flashlights, batteries, blankets, bottled water, and shelf-stable food on hand before winter hits so you're prepared for any snowstorms. 

Stay in Touch

Overall, your Elements mortgage team is here to support you with anything related to your home. From considering which improvements to make using your equity to thinking about a second home, to working through putting your house on the market — please reach out with your questions any time. Wishing you a safe and enjoyable autumn from the entire Elements team!