It’s officially fall! I just love the crisp days, falling leaves, and all the fun activities that fall brings. And it’s also a great time to get your house prepped for the winter. A little bit of fall home maintenance can make your holidays way less stressful. Here’s what I recommend.

1. Check for air leaks before the cold sets in. A really good way to have a sky-high heating bill is to have a leaky home. Check your weatherstripping and the caulk around your windows and doors. Repair any leaks.

2. Wrap your outdoor faucets and any exposed pipes to avoid freezing. A few cheap wraps can save you from an expensive repair in freezing weather. 

3. Check the furnace. Before the cold really sets in, make sure your furnace is up to task. Pull out its filter and clean or replace it for maximum efficiency.

4. Get the fireplace ready. There’s nothing better than a cold night spent around the fire, maybe with a hot cider. Check your chimney and sweep out the flue, and stock up on fire wood for the cozy nights ahead. 

5. Check your roof. Can it withstand another year of winter rain and snow? If not, get it replaced. Bonus: if you plan to sell in the near future, a new roof is a huge selling point. 

6. Clean out your gutters. Avoid a messy surprise and get your gutters clear of any debris before the winter weather hits. I recommend doing this one after the trees drop their leaves. 

7. Check your safety equipment. Make sure your fire extinguisher is in working order. Check the batteries in your Co2 and smoke alarms so you’re not rudely awakened on a holiday night. 

8. Clean the carpet. The milder, dryer days of autumn make it an optimal time to clean.

When you’re making the biggest purchase of your life, buyer’s remorse is the last thing you want. But it’s something so many home buyers face. Here’s how you can avoid it. 

1. Get clear on your non-negotiables. Everyone has those things that they have to have in a house. Maybe for you it’s two bathrooms or a backyard big enough for your dogs. When you’re making your needs vs wants list, really decide what you have to have. What would you be SO disappointed about if you didn’t have it? What would really impact your lifestyle? Write it down and bring it to your agent. 

2. Make a list of deal breakers. While we focus a lot on what you want in a house, it’s equally important to understand what you don’t want. Would you hate living next to a busy street or in a house with a traditional layout? Make a list of your deal breakers and watch out for them on your walkthroughs.

3. Understand what you can afford. Some buyers end up loving their home but majorly regretting their giant mortgage. While you may be pre-approved for a certain loan amount, you don’t have to use that as your budget ceiling. Making your budget smaller than the pre-approval amount is totally acceptable.

4. Pay attention to the neighborhood. The area you live in can have such an impact on your life, especially if you end up not loving it. While you’re scouting out properties, talk to the neighbors and get a feel for the vibe of the area.

5. Work with a great real estate agent. Your agent will be able to steer you away from poor investments and will work tirelessly to find you the best property possible. Plus, they’ll have connections to good inspectors who can make sure that you get a good home. 

As you can see, the cure to buyer’s remorse starts way before you ever buy the house. With some careful planning and a great agent by your side, you’re sure to make a great decision.

Kitchens sell homes, it’s true. But bathrooms can really impact a buyer’s perception of the home. It’s always so funny to me when I show a house and the kitchen is beautifully updated, only to have the bathrooms show the age of the home. 

Instead of letting your bathrooms date your home, age-proof them with some easy updates. 

Spruce up the shower. Install a handheld showerhead to get the most mileage out of the shower. Not only will it make cleaning a breeze, but it’s also so helpful if you have kids or pets. And if you’re doing a shower remodel, think about adding a shower bench, too, which is a big pro for buyers.

Reconsider glass around the shower. Glass adds a clean look, but only when it’s clean. Glass is also prone to getting “glass cancer”, which looks like permanent soap scum, when harsh chemicals are used on it. If you live in an area with hard water, consider getting frosted glass or using another surface around the shower. 

Think about lighting. Lighting is so important in bathrooms, especially in the bathrooms where people will get ready for the day. You want a well-lit space, so add some can lights in addition to the vanity light. And natural light is always a selling point, so emphasize any windows or skylights. 

Use a long-lasting tile. There’s a ton of options when it comes to tile, but porcelain tile is made to last a lifetime. Porcelain tile also adds a timeless feel. If you want to spice things up a bit, you can use an accent tile in a different material. 

Create a slip-proof floor. Wet floors are a bathroom standard, so use textured flooring to reduce slipping. Instead of using a smooth tile, which can get super slick, use a textured tile like stone or a bathroom specific tile. 

There’s a lot that can go wrong during a renovation. But a lot of renovation mistakes can be easily avoided. Watch out for these four things the next time you do a renovation on your home. 

1. Ignoring the style of your home. When it comes to a home’s aesthetics, you have quite a bit of room to play. But putting a super modern kitchen in a little brick cottage or adding a farmhouse chic look to a slick modern townhouse will give any visitors (or buyers down the line) design whiplash. Go wild with design, but make sure it matches the key elements of your home. 

2. Putting aesthetics above functionality. Listen, I love a beautifully designed home as much as anyone, but sometimes a cool design is just not worth the sacrifice in functionality. When you’re planning your design, make sure that it both looks good and is usable.  

3. Making the kitchen too trendy. We are having a moment with blue and green cabinetry right now, and I love it! But at the same time, I know this trend isn’t going to last more than a couple of years. And that means there will be a lot of cabinet repainting to be done. When you’re renovating a kitchen, or any area, keep the bones timeless and add in trendy details that are easy to change. 

4. Going with the cheapest option all the time. There are certain things that are worth spending money on, and a good contractor is one of those. Unfortunately, good contractors are usually not the cheapest. (Pro tip: I have some awesome contractors that I know do great work. Let me know if you want a connection!) Along with investing in a good contractor, you’ll want to avoid buying the cheapest materials for the job, especially if you’re renovating an area that will get a lot of use like a kitchen or bathroom.

A successful renovation should strike a balance between cheap and good quality, trendy and timeless, usable and pretty. And if you avoid these renovation mistakes, you’re sure to have a great experience that brings value to your home.