Fall is here.  We have a few months to get our homes ready for winter.  Did you know that caulking is not only necessary to keep our homes in tip top shape, but is one of the least expensive home improvements to make?

Take a walk around your home.  Look at your foundation for cracks and caulk around the areas where the masonry meets the siding.  Seal any openings, such as where pipes or wires enter the house and caulk around your windows and doors.   Small crevices and unsealed openings not only allow bugs into your home, but water as well.  When the water freezes it can cause cracking and mold build up; both are undesirable and if left alone for an extended period of time can make for costly repairs.

As your walking around your home, take note of your exterior paint and gutters.  Is the paint  blistered or peeling?  The paint protects the siding, if the paint is poor condition it can not protect your siding, leading to costly repairs down the road.  After the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters and down spouts.  Check the joints and tighten brackets.  Clogged gutters are a major cause of ice dams.  If you hate cleaning gutters or have little time to do so, consider replacing your gutters with K Guard gutters.  These gutters do not clog and do not require cleaning.

Lastly, make sure your pool cover is damage free, your garage door is weather stripped, and inspect your driveway for cracks.  Pools are a huge investment and a good pool cover keeps this investment in good shape as well as keeps kids and pets from falling into the icy water.  A tight seal between your garage door and the concrete floor keeps out drafts and small animals.  If you notice cracks in your driveway, clean them out, fill with a driveway filler, and seal with a commercial sealer.  Water will freeze in driveway cracks creating larger cracks and more damage as it freezes and thaws, thus creating a substantial repair bill in the spring.

For most, our homes are our largest investment.  Think of your house as a large pile of cash sitting in your driveway.  Would you guard it from theft, damage, and weather?  Of course you would.  Your home is no different.  Letting a home suffer results in money loss, either in repairs, or resale.