Expert Tips to get your home ready for winter

Whether you love the cold weather or can't wait to fly south for the winter—the cold winter months are coming and it's time to take advantage of the milder weather to get your home ready. 

Getting your home ready for the changing seasons is one thing you can do to protect your investment over time. Taking care of small details like re-painting your window trim or sealing cracks in your driveway will save you a lot of money in the long run. 

This week I caught up with 3 housing industry professionals for their top tips on preparing your home for Winter.

1. Ed Pottie, Home Inspector (Greener Inspections)

When it comes to getting your home ready for winter, I would say my top tip would be to be sure that your wood-burning appliances (ie woodstoves, fireplaces and pellet stoves) are clean and ready to go.

The chimneys and flue pipes for these should be cleaned and inspected prior to use, as well as the burning units themselves. A buildup of soot and creosote is a fire hazard and is the main cause of chimney fires.

If you have a propane fireplace, you're in the clear—but remember to get your tank filled before the cold hits. ​

2. Amanda Allum, Owner (Tidy Hali Cleaners)

My top tip when it comes to getting your home cleaned for the winter is to start with your entryway!

A doormat and a well-placed boot tray will make a huge difference for your floors when the snow comes and you're trekking salt and slush into the house. Have some wet wipes handy for your four-legged friends, they get dirty feet too!

Organizing your coat rack or entryway closet to make room for winter gear will keep things tidy as well. This is a great time to minimize and donate anything that you're no longer excited about.

It's a small space to focus on but when you can enter and exit your home without searching for matching gloves or stepping in a wet spot, your whole day becomes a little easier.

3. Rob Corey, Landscaper (The Gardner Halifax)

Autumn is an incredibly busy time for getting your yard ready for the winter. If you're looking to have a lush lawn and beautiful flower beds come springtime, now is the time to put in the work around the yard. 

If you have time to do only one thing in your yard, I would recommend removing all of the fallen leaves off your lawn. Piles of dead leaves left on your lawn all winter can smother your grass and cause snow mould on your lawn. ​

If you're keen on keeping your leaves to provide shelter for bugs and food for birds through the winter, consider using a leaf blower to move your piles of leaves into garden beds. Just make sure you clear them out come early spring. 

If you're still not sure where to get started when it comes time to get your home ready for the winter, comment below or set up a free consultation.