We often think of Spring Cleaning as the time to clean, declutter and freshen up our homes.
But I think Fall Home Maintenance is just as important.
Spring Cleaning and Fall Home Maintenance give us two natural checkpoints each year to stop, look around and ask:
What does my home need?
It may be something as simple as changing an air-conditioning filter or touching up caulk around a window. Or it may be something larger that needs professional attention.
The important thing is not putting it off.
As a real estate broker, I’ve seen firsthand what can happen when little maintenance issues accumulate over the years.
Deferred maintenance can be costly.
Eventually, all those little things we planned to “get to later” can become bigger, more expensive repairs — or show up all at once when it’s time to sell the home.
Taking care of your home with proper maintenance is being a ProActive ProAger.
Give Your Home a Fall Checkup
Here in Florida, fall doesn’t necessarily mean colorful leaves, chilly temperatures and preparing for snow.
Our homes face different challenges.
Months of intense sun, heat, humidity, heavy rain and storms can take a toll. And hurricane season continues through November 30.
Fall is a good time to walk around your property and really look at your home.
Check the roof from the ground for anything that looks damaged or different. Look at gutters and drainage. Check windows, doors, screens, exterior paint and caulking. Look for moisture, cracks or wood rot. Pay attention to landscaping and tree limbs that may be getting too close to the house.
Inside, check your air-conditioning filters and system, plumbing fixtures, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and those little repairs you’ve been noticing but haven’t gotten around to fixing.
You don’t necessarily have to know how to repair something.
You simply need to notice that it needs attention.
Use a Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
You don’t have to remember everything yourself.
I recently shared a helpful Fall in Florida Home Maintenance Checklist that provides a good starting point for checking your home and identifying areas that may need attention.
Use the checklist as you walk through your home and property. Then make notes about what you can handle yourself, what requires professional help and what may need to be added to your home-improvement budget.
Fall in Florida Home Maintenance Checklist:
View the checklist I shared
Deferred Maintenance Can Be Costly
It’s easy to walk past a small problem and think:
I’ll get to that later.
But homes don’t usually fix themselves.
A small plumbing leak can cause water damage. Failing caulk can allow moisture where it doesn’t belong. A minor roof problem can eventually become a leak. An air-conditioning system that isn’t maintained can become an expensive emergency on one of Florida’s hottest days.
Individually, these issues may start small.
Years of deferred maintenance can add up to a very expensive list.
I’ve seen this in real estate, particularly when homeowners decide it’s finally time to sell.
Things that might have been relatively easy to address along the way can suddenly appear on an inspection report at the same time.
Regular maintenance isn’t just about having a nice-looking home.
It’s about protecting the condition, value and equity in one of your largest investments.
If the Task Is Too Much, Get Help
This becomes especially important as we get older.
There may have been a time when climbing a ladder, cleaning gutters, trimming trees, pressure washing or spending an entire weekend working around the house didn’t seem like a big deal.
That can change.
But here’s the distinction I think is important:
Maintaining your home doesn’t mean you have to personally do all the maintenance.
If something has become too difficult, physically demanding or unsafe, don’t simply stop doing it.
Get help.
Hiring someone to take care of the jobs you no longer want to — or should — do yourself is not giving up your independence.
It’s a ProAge Smart Solution that can help you continue enjoying your home while keeping it properly maintained.
Create a Home Maintenance and Improvement Reserve
We plan for our mortgage, insurance, utilities, groceries and other regular expenses.
But what about the house itself?
Consider creating a separate home maintenance and improvement reserve account and contributing to it regularly.
Then, when the air conditioner needs replacing, the exterior needs painting, a plumbing repair pops up or another home expense arrives, you’ve already started setting money aside.
Your reserve doesn’t have to be only for emergencies either.
It can also help pay for improvements that make your home safer, easier and more comfortable to live in as you age.
Think better lighting, easier-to-maintain landscaping, updated flooring, grab bars when needed or other improvements that allow your home to continue working well for the way you live today.
Your home ages too. Planning for its changing needs is simply smart homeownership.
How to Vet and Hire a Handyman
Finding reliable help is important, especially when you’re inviting someone into your home.
A recommendation from a neighbor, friend or family member is a good place to start, but don’t let that be your only research.
Before hiring someone:
- Check reviews and ask for references.
- Ask how long they’ve been doing this type of work.
- Ask if they are licensed and insured. Request a copy of their license, if the work requires one, and current proof of insurance.
- Verify any required professional license rather than relying solely on the copy you’re given.
- Clearly explain the work you want completed.
- Get the scope of work and price in writing.
- For larger projects, get more than one estimate.
- Don’t pay the entire cost of a substantial project upfront.
- Be cautious of anyone who shows up unexpectedly or pressures you to make an immediate decision.
- Know when the job requires a licensed contractor rather than a handyman.
Not every handyman in Florida is required to hold a contractor’s license. It depends on the type and scope of the work. Electrical, plumbing, roofing and other specialized projects may require an appropriately licensed professional.
You can verify licenses through Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation:
Florida DBPR — Verify a License
A good handyman can become an invaluable resource. The goal is to find someone before you desperately need someone.
Once you find a reliable person, keep their contact information handy and build a relationship with them.
Make Home Maintenance EasierÂ
Having the right products on hand can make many everyday home-care and maintenance tasks easier too.
I created my Best Home Care Collection on Amazon with highly rated products to help make caring for and maintaining your home a little easier.
Whether you’re tackling a small task yourself or looking for smarter products to help simplify home care, it’s another way to stay proactive instead of waiting for little problems to become bigger ones.
Explore the Best Home Care Collection:
Best Home Care Collection on Amazon
Spring Cleaning + Fall Home Maintenance
I like thinking of Spring Cleaning and Fall Home Maintenance as two seasonal checkpoints for your home.
In the spring, clean, declutter and refresh.
In the fall, inspect, maintain and prepare.
Twice a year, stop and ask yourself:
What needs attention? What can I do myself? What should I hire someone to do? And what larger home expense should I start saving for now?
You don’t have to tackle everything in one weekend.
The goal is to stay on top of the little things before they become big things.
Your home has taken care of you for a long time. Being proactive about taking care of it can help you continue enjoying it for years to come, protect your equity and maintain your property value — just in case the day comes when you eventually want to sell.
🌻 Don’t be an “I’ll get to it later” Old Ager when it comes to your home. Be a ProActive ProAger. Keep your home in tip-top shape, protect your investment — and live your best life.