6 October

Fall 2023 Residential Maintenance Guide

The care, prevention and maintenance guide for your home this fall

Why is a fall maintenance guide for your home in Quebec so important?

It's time to start preparing your home for fall! Here is a guide to give you a home maintenance plan that you can put in place easily and quickly:

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Fall is the best time of year to do most home repairs and improvements.

This is because the weather is cooler making it easier to work and inspect outside, and it's also before the winter months when most people want to stay indoors as much as possible. Plus, by winterizing your home now, you'll avoid having to do a lot of work during the cold months when it's less practical.

The costly consequences of not having a maintenance plan

Don't have home maintenance plan in the fall can be costly, both short-term and long-term. To save yourself time, stress and money, it is essential to make a plan now and that is what we present in this article.

Your home is one of your most important investments, so it makes sense to take care of it. By performing regular maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs.

Later in this article, you will find a complete list of care and maintenance tasks that should be done in the fall.

Where do you start getting your home ready for fall?

When time flies too fast, we have to be efficient!

Fall is the perfect time to get your home back in top condition so you can enjoy it all season long, but where do you find the time? It is a very busy time of year for many people. With kids returning to school and work demands increasing, it can be hard to find the time to take care of everything on your to-do list. So how do you get there?

How to be efficient and do tasks quickly?

Make a to-do list

Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done. This will help you stay organized and make sure you don't miss anything important.

Create a calendar

Create a schedule for yourself and try to stick to it as closely as possible. That way, you'll be able to get your house ready on time and avoid any last-minute rush.

Divide tasks into categories

Divide tasks into categories (outdoors, indoors, etc.) and work on them one category at a time. This will help you stay focused and efficient.

Ask for help

Use this article of course, but you should ask for help from family members, friends, specialists and handymen with the right tools if necessary. This can make the job easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Finally, your plan must allow you to take time to relax and enjoy your work!

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The reasons why it pays for a homeowner to follow a fall maintenance plan?

It pays for a homeowner to follow a fall maintenance plan for several reasons.

First, by performing routine repairs and maintenance now, you can avoid costly additional repairs in the future. Second, a well-maintained home is nicer and more inviting, making it a fantastic sanctuary when the weather outside is dreadful.

Who can you count on to help you as an owner follow your fall maintenance plan?

Obviously the whole family can get involved to combine business with pleasure. But in addition to this, there are a number of organizations and companies that can support homeowners in maintaining and inspecting their home. Home improvement stores, for example, sell a variety of products that can be used for repairs.

In addition, many cities and towns offer tasks such as garbage collection and leaf removal. 

Finally, there are a number of private companies that offer services for clean your windows, decluttering and handyman services for your more manual tasks

The Brother-In-Law for Rent Fall Maintenance Guide: The Best Tips and Cheat Sheets Collated for You in One PDF Document

Our fall home maintenance guide is the perfect way to prepare for the colder months ahead.

This guide includes everything you need to do to keep your home in pristine condition, from cleaning to inspecting and decluttering. Plus, we've included a handy checklist so you can easily track your progress.

List of work and inspections to do outside for the fall

To inspect
  • Check the condition of the chimney (masonry, metal, anchors and cap or coping). Make sure nothing is lodged in it, such as a branch or a bird's nest.
  • Clean and inspect the roof:
  • – roof covering;
  • – metal flashings;
  • - skylights;
  • - seals;
  • Remove leaves and debris; in the case of a flat roof, make sure that nothing obstructs the drain and the strainer that protects it.
  • Check the nailing and the quality of the siding; this will help protect your home from high winds and winter weather.
  • Correct the exterior sealant around doors and windows as needed.
  • Inspect the roof, remove debris. 
  • Inspect the gutters, clear them, then remove the downspout extensions. 
  • Inspect all the places (cracks, holes on the facades, etc.) through which insects can pass (eg Asian ladybugs) and plug them if necessary. 
  • Check the condition of the plaster. Seal it (signs of wear, cracks, loose patches, etc.). 
  • Test your well water to determine its quality. It is recommended to have a bacterial analysis performed every six months.
  • Inspect your trees, do they show signs of weakness and danger to you and your home?
  • Prepare a list for your contractors, plan the work to be done and give yourself enough time to do everything or find specialists if necessary.
 
To do
  • Have your chimney swept.
  • Store your mower, tune it up and add the fuel additive.
  • Clean the barbecue, cover it or store it for the winter
  • Prepare your delicate flowers (dahlias, gladioli, begonias) for winter.
  • Empty the water collection tray, clean it and store it. Do the same with the garden hose.
  • Close the pool and spa, ie empty, clean and cover. 
  • If you have a swimming pool, fountain or water basin:
  • – lower the water level to about 30 cm (1 foot) below the skimmer;
  • – disconnect and drain the hoses to store them;
  • – bleed the engine before storing it warm;
  • Clean and maintain the outdoor heat pump coil with a garden hose. 
  • Store your garden furniture (shed, garage). If this is not possible, take care to shelter it well. Apply an appropriate finish around wooden furniture (natural oils or beeswax).

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List of work and inspections to be done inside for the fall

To inspect

  • Inspect the attic (attic): water infiltration, air leaks and traces of humidity. 
  • Check the condition of your doors and windows; adjust hardware and weatherstripping and replace as needed.
  • Inspect and clean your dryer duct.
  • Clean or replace the fan heater filter. Remove the grills from the hot air vents and the return ducts, and vacuum the ducts. If necessary, have the heating ducts cleaned.
  • Maintain air exchanger or heat recovery ventilator.
  • Check the operation of the sump pump.
  • Test your well water to determine its quality.
  • If the garage communicates with the house, check the adjustment of the automatic closing device of the door to make sure that it closes completely.
  • Before winter, test your plumbing and clear areas where snow could accumulate. 
  • Prepare a list for your contractors, plan the work to be done and give yourself enough time to do everything or find specialists if necessary.
 
To do
  • do not forget to clean your windows, inside and out!
  • Declutter your rooms, donate or throw away your objects that are no longer used.
  • Give your home a good deep cleaning. This will help get rid of the dust and allergens that have built up over the summer months. Clean and maintain rugs, carpets, curtains and blinds, as well as the fabric of chairs and sofas.
  • Clean the portable humidifier, if you use one.
  • Change the direction of your ceiling fans.
  • Lighten blinds and curtains to let in warm air.
  • Clean your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, change their batteries if necessary and check their operation. 
  • Clean the catch basin of the garage.

The brother-in-law's reminders for rent

A few minutes walk around your property may reveal cracks, fractures or damage to the exterior. Pay particular attention to the foundations and exterior siding. Repairing cracks helps prevent water penetration during heavy rains and thaw periods.

The rakes, shovels, snow or ice brooms and bags of ice melters and abrasives (salt, stone) that you hastily abandoned at the bottom of the basement, shed or garage last spring must find their place near from the entrance. You'll be glad to find them easily the first morning you open your door and find your steps are icy.

In order to be ready for next year when the warm weather returns, put away your outdoor furniture, your flower boxes, your barbecue and everything you take out for the summer. Drain the garden hose and turn off all outside faucets. If you choose to store your barbecue indoors, remember that the propane cylinder should be kept outside in a safe place. By doing this end-of-season cleaning now, everything will be clean and ready to go come spring.

En conclusion

People who have a maintenance plan in place for their home usually find that they save money in the long run. Indeed, many problems can be avoided with regular checks and repairs, instead of waiting for something to fail completely and require a more expensive repair. Additionally, it may be useful to ask someone else to perform these checks.

Looking for someone to take care of your home this fall? We offer a wide range of tasks to face the Quebec climate, from deep cleaning to handyman services. If you need a helping hand preparing your home, look no further than Brother-in-law for rent. We have everything you need.

So what are you waiting for? Start maintaining your home today.

12 essential tasks to prepare your home for fall in Quebec:

  1. Check the insulation of doors and windows.
  2. Test your heating system.
  3. Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.
  4. Inspect and repair your roof to see if it is damaged.
  5. Clean your gutters and downspouts.
  6. Repair cracks in concrete or asphalt surfaces.
  7. Close outdoor water faucets.
  8. Change heater filters.
  9. Insulate pipes exposed to the cold.
  10. Go inside and protect the furniture.

Looking for a company to help you with fall preparations?

Looking for someone to take care of your home this fall? We offer a wide range of tasks to face the Quebec climate, from deep cleaning to handyman services. If you need a hand getting your home ready, look no further than Brother-in-law for rent. We have everything you need.

So what are you waiting for?

Start maintaining your home with your brother-in-law today… for rent.

Address: 2293 Ile-des-Lys, Terrebonne, Quebec J6Y 6A2.

Website : https://beau-frerealouer.com

Phone: 514-666-2328

Email address: info@beau-frerealouer.com

Subscribe to peace of mind

A flexible residential maintenance plan accessible in one click!