With fall around the corner, it’s important to make sure your home is not only prepared for colder temperatures, but also ready for when spring rolls back around! A little planning and preventative maintenance can go along way to prevent future costly damage, help save on energy costs and ensure hassle-free fall and winter seasons in your home!

Add these 12 tasks to your to-do list and get your home’s interior and exterior ready for fall while the weather is still warm!

1. Prepare Outdoor Furniture

Clean off and cover your outdoor furniture. When the weather warm up again, the last thing you want is outdoor furniture that has been torn apart by rain, snow and whatever else our northeast Ohio climate throws at it!

2. Clean the Grill

As cookout season comes to an end, make sure to clean and condition your grill with a lubricant after its last use. This will help prevent rusting and ensure it’s ready for use when the weather warms up again.

3. Check Your Roof

Visually inspect your roof or hire a professional to assess for any damage like missing shingles. Get any minor isues taken care of before they become major ones!

4. Clean Your Gutters

Make sure your gutters are ready for the influx of leaves that is coming! Backed up gutters can cause lawn flooding, roof damage and more potentially expensive issues that could have been avoided with a few hours of work.

5. Chimney Maintenance

If your home has a fireplace, you probably don’t give it much thought during the summer! However, preparing your fireplace and chimney now for use during the colder months with an annual safety inspection and cleaning helps ensure it’s ready when the temperatures drop.

6. Prepare Your Landscaping

Start by trimming any dead or damaged tree limbs. Then help your plants, trees and shrubs thrive during the cooler weather and maintain moisture by re-mulching your plant beds and other outdoor areas. Once October rolls around, your plant beds will be ready for planting spring bulbs.

7. Get Lawn Epuipment In Order

To prepare for non-usage during colder months, make sure to empty the fuel from any summer lawn equipment.

8. Repair Driveway or Walkways

If you have cracks in the asphault or concrete of your driveway or walkway, get these taken care of while there is mild weather. September is an optimal time for this type of work. If you wait until next year, freezing temperatures could potentially turn minor repairs into major ones.

9. Prepare Your Entryway

From the front door to the back, make sure all your entryways are prepared for the elements that are to come. Replace or add an indoor-outdoor rug to protect the floor in these areas. Building a dedicated shoe rack or shelving is also a great way to stay organized – especially during back-to-school season!

10. Prepare Your Furnace

Before colder weather hits, visually inspect your furnace and replace the furnace filter. It’s also a good idea to get your furnace professionally serviced if you haven’t in awhile to ensure that it’s completely ready for use.

11. Prevent Drafts and Cold Spots

Once the furnace kicks on, help ensure the warm air stays inside and the cold air outside by inspecting the weatherstripping on your windows and doors. If needed, re-caulk around windows and door casings.

12. Do a Home Safety Check

Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Create a fire escape plan, or review your family’s current one. Be ready for any power outages that may occur with windier weather and snowstorms by checking flashlight batteries and putting together an emergency preparedness kit.