With the official start of autumn just behind us, it’s essential to start thinking about how the coming months might affect your home or rental property. With an impending winter that’s predicted to be harsh and wet, your home could be vulnerable to heavy snows and colder-than-usual temperatures. To prepare for your winter, we highly recommend conducting a thorough fall cleanup, following the tips listed below, to keep your home in prime condition before the winter season begins.

Singin’ in the rain…gutters.

If your home or rental property has rain gutters, they will likely become clogged with leaves, pine needles, bird nests, or other debris throughout the year. While you should clean them regularly, it is especially important to do so before winter sets in. Should snow or heavy rainfall come upon your property, this added could implement damage to your roof or nearby parts of your property. You can avoid this by raking or scooping out all debris in rain gutter pipes along your roof, replacing broken pipe when necessary.

To rake or not to rake? That is the question.

Raking your yard is thought of as an essential part of any autumn cleanup. If you own property in an area with surplus amounts of trees that shed their leaves in abundance, it’s a good idea to rake these away. If you live in an area prone to snowfall in the winter, you should also rake your leaves and manicure your yard. Large amounts of trapped or compressed leaves can smash your yard and give it an unhealthy appearance.

However, if your property is in an area with little leaf-fall and minimal snow, it may be a good idea to leave the leaves where they are. Studies suggest that small amounts of leaves provide a thin, protective layer to your yard and garden, keeping them warm throughout the winter. Additionally, low amounts of leaves decay quickly and act as a healthy compost contributor to your property’s soil. Homeowners should evaluate their property and local climate to determine whether raking or not would be beneficial to their lawn.

Spiders and beetles and moths…oh my!

Autumn is characterized by the seemingly sudden increase in arachnids and insects. Because of the colder temperatures, these creepy-crawlies will be drawn indoors, seeking warmth in houses, sheds, or garages. With this influx of pests, it’s a good idea to consider using a pest control company’s services. You could also invest in intense insect spray that you can apply around the exposed elements of your house. Doing so should drastically decrease the number of spiders and insects you find indoors and should last you throughout the winter months as well.