And just like that, Fall has arrived. This is one of our favorite seasons in New England, marked by the gorgeous Fall foliage, little pumpkins on stone walls, and the decorated front porches and seasonal curb appeal. Here are a few tips to make this season easy breezy in and outside your home.

Exterior

• Before you start spending nights out on the deck cuddled up with a blanket, make sure to give your deck a good power wash. This helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew, and once it’s dry you can add a weatherproofing stain.

• Do you have an outdoor fireplace? Get it cleaned and check for cracks before settling in for those cozy campfires and s’more nights.

• You might be ready for the colder weather, but your lawn isn’t. Add a fall fertilizer to your lawn.

• Plan on gardening again next year? Make sure to save some seeds from your plants to use in the Spring!

• Speaking of gardening, don’t put those gardening tools away yet. Give them one last wash before putting them away for the season.

• No one wants any blockages in your pipes ruining the Fall fun. Clean out your gutters, and don’t forget to rinse them off with a hose.

• Before you stop using your hose, make sure to drain it out. Any leftover water might freeze!

Interior

• While Halloween is fast approaching, no one wants any creepy crawlies in their house. Check above ceiling beams, vents, fans, corners of rooms, and other places they might try and hide.

• Planning on watching Halloween movies? Wipe down your TV screens before watching to get the ultimate spooky experience.

• Before snuggling up by the fireplace, clean the chimney and flue and make sure it is working properly.

• While the holiday season might seem just out of reach, don’t forget to clean other places that also seem literally out of reach! Dust on top of the doors, ceiling fans, cabinets, and refrigerator can help freshen up and make your home holiday-ready.

• Get prepared for all the holiday cooking and baking by organizing pots and pans, organizing spices, ordering baking supplies, attachments, or small appliances so you’re holiday-ready.

• It’s almost time for Fall cooking, making everything pumpkin spice and everything nice! Double-check that your appliances are top-notch, clean the oven, wipe down the fixtures and give your cabinets a quick wash.

• Looking forward to peeping the gorgeous New England foliage? Clean the windows (inside and out!) to get a peek of the picture-perfect views.

Miscellaneous

• Storm season is approaching! Double-check if your generator is up to date as well as the carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.

• Ready for those lazy fall days? Remember to flip your mattress for the best naps ever.

• As the holiday season approaches, go through your kid's toys and clothes and donate anything they have not played with or used recently, to make way for new goodies. (We recommend donating to Al’s Angels Toy Drive come wintertime!)

• Deep clean your carpets and rugs, which have surely been through a beating this year at home.

• Raking leaves is a fun Fall game! Make it fun by creating big piles and jumping in with the kids.

• It’s time to say goodbye to the patio furniture as the cold weather approaches. Clean and properly store your furniture for the spring.

• Before you begin deep cleaning, make sure to wash your mop. You don’t want to be smudging last washes dirt on your beautiful floors.

Tips from Our Team

• “Fall is a great time to clean your windows inside and out, if you have window screens and storm windows, the end of Fall is a great time to swap them out (making your home more energy-efficient). While you’re outside, consider cleaning out your gutters and cleaning and storing away your outdoor furniture for the colder months. Inside: service your HVAC and replace filters which will improve your quality of air, change the direction of your fans and clean your chimney before using if you didn’t do it at the end of the previous year.” – Shoshana Snyder

• “In addition to end of summer home activities like cleaning and putting away outdoor furniture and power washing the deck, one easy and fun update to make for Fall is switching over your home decor, from your wreath and throw pillows, to adding some festive mums and pumpkins on your front steps.” – Katie Cochran