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This morning, we were surprised to find seven inches of fresh snow. It is much too early for all of this, and my heart rate is still coming down from the struggle of finding hats, snowpants, and matching mittens for each of my children before sending them out the door for school. As much as I would like to deny it, winter is on its way.

Here is a checklist of fall and winter home maintenance tasks to prepare your home (and your family) for the colder temperatures ahead.

Outdoors:

Scrape peeling paint, and apply touch up paint to your siding, trim, and fences.

Check the condition of your deck and apply a waterproofing sealer if necessary.

Check weatherstripping on doors. Repair.

Check caulk on windows. Repair.

Clean and store patio furniture.

Clean and store bicycles, tricycles, and outdoor toys.

Wash all windows, inside and out.

Remove, clean, and store summertime screens.

Install storm windows and doors.

Check roof for damaged or missing shingles or problems with flashing. Repair.

Clear gutters and inspect downspouts.

Check sidewalks and driveways for cracks or other damage. Repair.

Locate your snow removal tools: snow shovel, plows, and snow blowers. Make sure they are ready to go.

Lawn and Garden:

Blow out sprinkler systems and winterize or insulate exterior faucets and water lines.

Drain and store garden hoses.

Fertilize and reseed your lawn.

Prune trees and shrubs.

Remove annuals.

Cut back perennials.

Rake leaves.

Indoors:

Schedule a cleaning and inspection of your heating system.

Inspect your fireplace and chimney. Call a professional chimney sweep if necessary.

Perform seasonal maintenance on your hot water heater.

Schedule a professional carpet cleaning.

Clean and inspect dryer hoses and exterior dryer vents.

Change furnace filter, and plan to change your filter every month during the winter. Monthly filter changes can really help reduce energy costs.

Check your air ducts. Call a duct cleaning service if it has been a few years since your ducts have been professionally cleaned. If you have been changing your furnace filter frequently and your ducts have been cleaned recently, simply take off the register covers and vacuum inside.

Switch to warmer bedding. Replace cotton sheets with flannels. Add warmer layers to beds.

Make sure your family members are outfitted with everything they need for the cold winter months: Gloves, hats, boots, snowpants, warm socks, and coats.

Check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.

Check your fire extinguishers.

Talk about family safety plans and escape routes. Review your “meeting place” in the event of a home fire to ensure that everyone knows what to do and where to go.

Inspect your attic to make sure it is getting cool, fresh air and that there is no evidence of condensation.

Check attic fans.

Prepare your home for a power outage. Check the batteries in your flashlights and make sure they are easily accessible. Also, make sure to have a supply of nonperishable foods, a manual can opener, and a traditional corded phone or cell phone available.

Automobile:

Make sure your tires are adequate for the winter weather in your area.

Check your car battery.

Check antifreeze levels.

Make sure you have extra windshield wiper fluid in your car, as well as a brush and ice scraper, blanket, jumper cables, and first aid kit. If you live in an area where you expect extreme winter conditions, you will also want to keep a tow rope, shovel, and a bag of sand or kitty litter to help your tires gain traction on icy roads.

Jamie Jefferson writes for http://www.momscape.com . Visit today for the latest online Coupon Codes including money-saving coupons for Jamie’s favorite site to buy winter clothing.

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Buying a new home warranty is much like buying an extended warranty on your refrigerator or car — there are a lot of questions to be asked.

Many states have different laws regarding home warranties. For example, in California, state law allows you to sue builders for general defects for up to four years after the home is completed. You can also hold the builder liable for latent defects on major components for ten years. Why would you need the warranty if the law says the builder must pay?

We are starting to see many warranty products being offered on existing homes. You should be cautious with these products.

Start by checking with your state’s Department of Insurance. The department regulates the industry. They will be able to tell you whether or not a particular home warranty company is in compliance with the state regulations.

Many advisors suggest that you should waste your money on warranties for resale homes. These warranties include standard coverage for the home’s heating, electrical and plumbing systems. Your kitchen appliances are often part of the standard coverage. You can often add your air conditioner, pool, well pumps, solar components and root coverage for an additional cost.

You will often find that sellers offer the warranties. The warranty is by no means an acceptable substitute for a professional home inspection. If the seller pays for the insurance, then fine. But if you are asked to, you need to think hard about it.

Not only will you spend a couple of hundred of dollars for the plan, you will pay around a $50 deductible every time someone comes out to look at a problem.

Most plans also limit how much they pay to correct problems. You are better protected by having a professional property inspector inspect the home thoroughly and uncover the problems for you. The inspection is a better usage of your money.

But the plans are popular. Eighty percent of existing home sales include a warranty in California. If you are thinking about taking out a home warranty on your new purchase, you should ask your friends and family for referrals. You are looking for a company with a good track record of happy customers.

Make sure you shop around. Look at price, service fees, coverage and company stability. Make sure you look at all of the costs that you will have to pay and the coverage amounts. Be certain that the coverage is applicable to your home. You don’t want the policy to be voided because your home is too old.

If you want to purchase warranty insurance, then go ahead. Some people do benefit from the coverage. Like all insurance, the company is betting that you won’t ever make a claim. If you don’t, you’ve lost your money.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

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Contractors are professionals who are hired to supply materials and deliver predefined services as per the predefined time and price specifications, especially for construction work. Though many people like to do small home improvement or construction works on their own, they cannot accomplish the experienced services provided by professional contractors.

However, in order to get the best services, make sure you screen the proposals of a few chosen contractors for your project. This will ensure that you get the best work done at minimum cost. Here it is important to remember that it is best to hire services of the contractors that function locally since they are better aware of the market and trends around your area. You can consult your friends and relatives over this matter.

When hiring contractors for home improvement, the contractors that offer the lowest price need not necessarily give the best services. Therefore, it is best to follow the references the contractor provides and ensure whether they have the acumen to give the best to your project or not.

Hiring general contractors is always more economical that hiring specialized contractor. However, if budget is not a constraint for you and you fancy nothing but the best, it is better to hire specialized contractors.

Once you have selected the contractors who will be working on your project, sign a written contract with the contractors. The contract should clearly mark the date of completion and price quotes. This shall also certify that the contractors working on your project are insured, bonded and licensed.

Natasha
For more tips and details visit:www.allremodel.com

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