Top 10 Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Winter Season

WHAT A WINTER IT WAS! ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER ROUND?

For those of us who lived through the famous 2016-2017 "Snowmageddon," we were reminded once again how important it is to be prepared for the 'worst' - or, for those of us who love to ski and snowboard - 'the best'!

And over the past 25 years, Sun Bear Realty and Property Management has been here to help our homeowners feel safe and secure all winter long.  Although the list of tasks can be daunting, we've selected some of the most important things you should consider while the weather is in your favor.  Just take a look at the list below.

Need Professional Property Management for Your Home?

If you'd rather have our team (that is bonded and insured) to handle these "Top Tips" and many others all year-round, just give us a call today at 888.686.5253 or contact us through this link right now. 

Top Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Winter Months

Have your Furnace Inspected.  There are several reputable HVAC professionals throughout Lake Tahoe and Truckee.  Get on their schedule nowpotentiallyso they have time to inspect your furnace, clean the ducts, and change the filters.

Prepare the Fireplace. If you have a wood burning stove and are comfortable cleaning your chimney from top to bottom by yourself, great; be careful.  If not, hire a professional sooner than later.  Their services should include cleaning the lining of your chimney of creosote build-up, soot, and other potentially hazardous debris.  Some may also check for leaks, broken brick, and such.

Stack Wood. My motto: ‘You can never have enough dry wood and kindling.”  Another rule of thumb: “Never stack your wood right next to your house.”

Protect Your Landscaping Investments. If you have a lawn, give it a good mow for one last time and rake up any larger piles of leaves.  We always wrap our larger bushes with green stretch tape to protect them from heavy snow loads.

Inspect Your Gutters and Downspouts:  Although it’s always a good practice to keep your gutters and downspouts clear of debris, now is the best time to be sure this task is off your ‘to do’ list.  Clean out your gutters and use a hose to spray the downspouts to ensure the pending rain and snowmelt have a clear path to drain off your roof.

Drain The Sprinkler System. Frozen pipes are no fun. Be sure to drain your sprinkler system and drain any hoses and store them out of the winter elements for the winter.

Leave the Heat On. If you plan to be out of town for an extended period of time, we turn our heat to 55 to prevent any pipes freezing in the house; you should too.

Check your home’s foundations and crawlways. When you live in the mountains, you can fully expect to see mice and even raccoons trying to call your home ‘their home’ as the temps drop.  You can prevent intruders with a few simple tasks:  rake away and remove any edible vegetation from around your foundations, seal up any holes or potential entry points and secure your crawlspace entrances.

Recharge your Smoke Detectors. We’ll soon be told to turn our clocks back for the fall and winter months – and with that comes additional media reminders to replace the batteries in our smoke detectors.  If you have a carbon monoxide detector, that should be checked as well.

Prepare an Emergency Kit. Last winter was one great reminder about how important a generator, candles, and extra emergency supplies can be when one of those classic High Sierra storms come to visit.  Find a good, easily accessible spot in your home to have all the supplies you think you may need so you’ll be prepared for the worst – or perhaps if you’re a fan of the great outdoors, prepared for another super snowpack to come.

Contact Us Today for More Tips.

The High Sierra can surprise us all.  Let us help you be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in mind for the upcoming season.  Call Sun Bear Realty in Incline Village today about our North Lake Tahoe Property Management programs and how our team can help you relax and enjoy all of the great benefits of living and vacationing in your home in Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

 

 

Blane Johnson
Founder/President
Sun Bear Realty & Managment