Unfortunately, it’s that time of year again. Is it just us or is summer starting to feel shorter and shorter?

As we prepare for the next few months, and then winter, here are some things you can do now to prepare your home.

It’s great to get a jump start on these items and be proactive, rather than reactive. We all know Saskatchewan winters can sneak up on us!

1) Clean (or if needed) replace your gutters.

Keeping your gutters debris free, clean and in great condition is very important for the upcoming months and then spring. It is essential to take care of this task now before leaves and debris freeze in the gutter and you have to work on frozen | rainy pipes in the spring.

Clean then as the leaves fall and then check them again before the snow stays.

2) Check your home for drafts.

As the air starts to change you will start to see drafts, or cold spots in your home. This is a great time to see where cool air is flowing from and fix it before the winter months hit and your home is freezing and your heating bills are through the roof.

3) Bring your outdoor furniture in.

A sure fire way to ensure your outdoor patio furniture lasts a long time is to take care of it. The elements in SK can be hard on outdoor furniture. In summer we have intense heat, rain showers, dust storms, etc. Do not leave your furniture outside so long that it always has to take on being frozen and snowed on. If that happens, you will need to thaw, dry and then store.

It is easier to bring in your furniture while it is still nice out and store it away dry.

4) Fix any cracks in your driveway.

A lot of people leave cracks in their driveway and then they get bigger. Winter is hard on pavement so taking care of cracks before the cold air hits is key to keeping a smooth driveway and curb appeal in case you decide to sell in the spring.

5) Fertilize your lawn and blow out the lines.

Take care of your lawn in the summer & fall months to make spring that much easier on you and your yard. Fertilizing the yard, blowing out the sprinklers, draining the faucet lines are all easier to do when the weather is nice.

6) Bonus Tip – Test Your Winter Equipment.

Most people don’t think about the snowblower, shovels, or block heaters until they need them. This is typically when everyone does the same thing. When you find out they are broken or missing a part, getting a new one or a new part gets harder when everyone in the city needs the same thing.

Be proactive and as you put away the summer items, pull out the winter items and test them. You will thank yourself later.

As always, if you need help buying or selling your home please reach out to Gregg Bamford and or Ryan Bamford.