Team - Fall 2022

FALL MAINTENANCE
GUIDE -2022
TEAM REALTY

AUTUMN
FALL MAINTENANCE
CHECKLIST
SELLING YOUR HOME
IN THE FALL
FALL FURNACE TUNE-UP

It’s September,
and fall is in
full swing.
As the seasons change, the national
capital region will put a
wide variety of colours on full
display for us to enjoy. But while
the leaves are beautiful, they can
provide their own set of tasks to
deal with.
Your property will need some additional
work in order to stay
beautiful and come back to its
fullest in the springtime.
That’s why we’ve put together this
fall maintenance checklist, so that
you can keep your home and
property in tip-top shape as the
days get cool and blustery. If you
follow these tips and tricks, you’ll
see how a small effort can go a
long way.
Let’s get started!

Inspect Your Gutters
and Downspouts.
As the leaves start to fall, they can quickly
clog up your gutters and downspouts.
You should check them at least once a
month during the fall (and more often if
you have many trees on your property).
This, along with any residue left throughout
the summer by critters and stray
gusts of wind, could lead to water
damage on your roof and sometimes
flooding inside of your home. Fall and
winter can bring a lot of rain and snow,
which is why you want to be extra careful
as there’s increased risk for water
damage.
Rake Leaves Regularly
While you’ll find this task on your spring
checklist, it’s important to do several
rounds in the fall as well. Your grass is
still alive during the wintertime, it’s only
gone dormant fighting to conserve
precious nutrients. Not only can raking
boost your curb appeal, but it also prevents
rotting leaves and other debris
from harming your lawn.

Fertilize, Dethatch & Aerate
Fertilizing, dethatching and aerating are
other ways you can care for your lawn
during the fall. They will help keep your
lawn healthy so that it can come back
to its fullest during the springtime. Dethatching
and aerating can both be
done with a variety of machines and
tools, likely widely available for rent
and/or purchase.
Trim Any Overgrown Branches
Fall tends to be a pretty stormy season,
so make sure you trim any overgrown
branches that could cause damage if
picked up by a strong gust of wind.
Trimming these branches may also
reduce the amount of leaves that fall on
your lawn, which is an added benefit.

Keep Cozy This Season!
We hope that through following all of these
tips and tricks, you and your and your household
will be able to enjoy a comfortable,
stress-free fall season!

SELLING YOUR HOME
IN THE FALL
As is with the turn of every season, the
arrival of fall marks new beginnings for
many. School starts for kids of all ages,
parents are returning to work, summer
vacations have ended, and a drop in
temperature has many homeowners
beginning to think about what needs
to be done before old man winter
coats the city in a blanket of snow. If
selling your home is still on your to list,
now is the time to put that plan into
action.
Fall is a close second to spring in Ottawa’s
hot Real Estate market. With comfortable
temperatures expected throughout the
season and the beautiful changing colours
providing a backdrop that works as
natural curb appeal, this lively market is
not slowing down any time soon. It is
time now to take advantage of your position
as a seller and make the most off
your investment. Here are some tips to
get your home SOLD in this vibrant
market.

Enhance Your Curb Appeal
Fall is a wonderful time of year for experiencing nature's beauty, and if you are
planning to sell your home, this is something you can take advantage of. The leaves
will change color and fall from the trees, giving us an opportunity to enjoy their various
shades all over again! To make your home feel more like autumn we suggest
incorporating seasonal décor items such as pumpkins or squash so they're not forgotten
when summer blooms fade away. Bring your cozy decor outside, lining your
conversation set under your covered porch with chunky blankets and add a touch
of seasonal floral arrangements, such as chrysanthemums for a little extra flare.

Don’t Slack On
The Yard Work
One of the best things you can do to
maintain a clean and tidy yard is keeping
it clutter free and well groomed.
Mowing your grass regularly and raking
dead leaves will keep debris from
buildup on beds, sidewalks, or driveways.
Also take this time to weed your
gardens and do your regular garden
maintenance, whether it be laying a
new layer of mulch or trimming back
and doing fall pruning. All of these tasks
will ensure the outside of your house
looks as well taken care of as the inside
is, instilling a sense of confidence
among buyers.
Incorporating
Fall Indoors
For the perfect autumn home, focus on
fall colours and decor. Fall brings on
cooler temperatures, so it's time to
change your home décor from vibrant
hues into more subdued tones like
oranges and reds, as well as lighter
creams and neutrals to make you feel
cozy at first glance. Incorporate pumpkins
and gourds in your centrepieces
and add plaid, textured, and plush
linens to both your living area and
dining room. Having a well decorated
and staged home is an attractive feature
and consistent part of the selling
process.

Keep it Bright
The shorter days and cooler temperatures are a great time to make sure your home
is always shining! Humans are naturally attracted to light and airy spaces. Make
sure your house is bright for all showings by opening up curtains and cleaning your
windows both inside and out. Additionally, making sure you turn on as many lights
as possible and checking that all the bulbs and switches in your house are in working
order. If there are any problems with lighting, add decorative accent lamps to
brighten any dull or forgotten corners in your home that should be showcased well.
Ensuring your home is well lit allows for buyers to feel more welcomed and comfortable
in your home.

Fall
Furnace
Tune-Up
As much as we may hate to admit it, fall
is here. As the days get shorter and the
air gets colder, the time of year when
we switch from cooling our homes to
heating them is upon us. However,
before you switch your furnace on and
start getting your winter blankets out of
storage, it is wise to perform a routine
inspection and maintenance of your
furnace. You don’t want something
going wrong in the middle of winter
when you need heat more than ever.
You can spend money to have a professional
come and perform the inspection
and tune-up, but you can also easily
perform the task yourself.
STEP 1: INSPECTION
Before anything else, give your furnace
an inspection. Check to make sure that
all the vents and tubes are properly fastened
and sealed, and look for any soot
or residue near the burner. If you see
these you should call in a professional to
get the problem fixed, but if there aren’t
any, you can continue your inspection.
You should also take the time to smell
the air around the furnace’s gas tube.
If you smell rotten eggs it means there is
a gas leak, which you should have fixed
immediately.

Once you have finished your basic
inspection, you should turn on the furnace
and check the burner flame. A
blue, steady flame is a sign of good furnace
health. If the flame is yellow,
orange, or flickers, that means there is
poor combustion, which needs to be
fixed. With the furnace on, you should
check the vents throughout the house
to make sure warm air is flowing
through them. You should also check
the cold air return that feeds air back
into the furnace.
If you don’t feel any airflow through a
vent, that can be a sign of a blockage in
the pipes. With the inspection finished,
you should turn the thermostat down
and let your furnace cool. While it is
cooling, clean the area around the furnace
to make sure there is nothing
flammable. For maximum safety for the
next step, you should also turn off the
circuit breaker that powers the furnace.

STEP 2: CLEANING
Once the power is off and the furnace is
completely cool, you should take the
sides off and look inside. Double-check
that the furnace wires are firmly
attached and tight, and then move on to
cleaning your furnace out. Use a soft
brush, like a paint brush, to brush the
dirt and dust off of the interior of the
furnace, then use a vacuum to clear everything
out. You can also use a damp
rag to clean the blades of the blower
fan, if you can access it. Some blower
fans need oil applied to containers near
it called oil cups. If yours does, now is a
good time to do that. During this step
you should also remove the flame
sensor and carefully clean it with an
emery cloth, making sure to hold it from
the bottom instead of the top, and then
replace it. During the cleaning stage you
should also change your furnace filter.
Manufacturers recommend changing
your filter every month in order to prolong
the life of your furnace and reduce
energy use.
STEP 4: REASSEMBLY
Now that you have finished inspecting,
cleaning, and handling any repairs your
furnace needed, it is ready to go for the
winter. Put the sides back on, turn on
the breaker, and rest easy knowing that
you are ready for the cold to hit.
Furnace maintenance is an important
part of being a homeowner, but by following
a few simple steps you can
make sure your furnace is running
smoothly and safely when you need it
most. If you are not comfortable with
performing the maintenance yourself, it
is worth the cost to hire someone to do
it. Better spend the money to hire a pro
now, then have your furnace break
down in the middle of winter.
STEP 3: REPAIR
While you have your furnace open, you
can check the internal components like
the fan belt. If you see any problems or
damaged components you can fix or
replace them yourself, if you are very
handy, or call in a professional to fix the
issue.
For more information and tips,
visit www.teamrealty.ca/blog