Winter is quickly approaching Seattle and the Puget Sound area.  Whether you are buying a home, selling a home in Seattle or just hunkering down for the winter, now is the perfect time to start preparing your home for the winter months ahead. Spending some time now on home maintenance can prevent major damage and in the end save you time, energy, and money. Here are few tips on how to get started.

1. Cover your windows. If you don’t have storm windows, you can create your own DIY storm window with a window insulation kit. Inside your house, use insulated drapes.
2. Caulk around windows and doors, and seal up cracks and holes. Not only does this keep out cold air but sealing cracks and crevices secures your home from mice and other critters. Consider sealing around the heating ducts in the basement and attic, too.
3. Install glass doors on your fireplace to keep cold air from coming down into your home and your warm air from escaping up through the chimney. Be sure you close the flue when your fireplace in use.
4. Add insulation in your attic, consider the crawl space, garage and basement. If you’re doing any construction that opens up exterior walls, that’s a good time to add insulation in the walls.
5. Have your furnace checked and tuned up. Schedule a fall furnace service and maintenance appointment promptly to get your furnace ready for winter.
6. Reverse ceiling fans. Running the fans counterclockwise makes it cooler during the summer months. Reverse them to run clockwise, and they will circulate the warm air back into the room.
7. Buy insulated garage and exterior doors. The garage doors that come with most homes aren’t insulated. An alternative to replacing exterior doors is to add a storm door. Add or replace weather stripping.
8. Combat moss on the roof. Fall is the time to apply moss-killing granules or liquid solution to your rooftop.  Be sure to buy the granules that are made especially for roofs, not those for lawns.
9. Remove hoses and winterize your lawn irrigation system. These steps are important anywhere you experience freezing temperature. Keeping water from freezing in pipes prevents potentially expensive repairs.
10. Prune trees. Contact with trees is bad for roofs and siding; friction and trapped moisture shorten the lifespan of building materials. All major pruning should be done in winter when trees are dormant.

These small updates can make a world of difference, making your home more comfortable and energy efficient during the winter. If you’re in the market to sell your home, contact Scott Haveson for more tips on home improvements to help you get top dollar in this competitive market!