🍂 Fall is almost here — a good time to give your home a quick check before the rain, wind and colder weather arrive.

A little maintenance now can prevent much more expensive repairs this winter.

🏠 A few things worth checking:

• Clean gutters and downspouts and make sure water drains away from the house.
• Check the roof for damaged or missing shingles and signs of leaking.
• Inspect exterior caulking around windows and doors.
• Disconnect garden hoses and protect exterior faucets before freezing weather arrives.
• Have your furnace or heating system serviced and replace filters.
• Check fireplaces and chimneys before the first fire of the season.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Look for drainage problems around the foundation before our heavier fall rains begin.
• Trim branches that could come down during a windstorm.
• Check weatherstripping around doors and windows.

Here in Whatcom County, water is one of the biggest enemies of a house. Gutters, roofs, drainage and exterior sealing are especially worth paying attention to before the rainy season gets underway.

Most of these are small jobs. Catching a problem now can keep it from becoming a big one later.

— Peace Arch Real Estate
Blaine • Birch Bay • Semiahmoo • Whatcom County