10 Steps To Prepare Your Home For Fall

Fall is right around the corner. Cool weather, fabulous foliage and mulled cider are on the docket, whether or not we want to say goodbye to summer.

Roll up your sleeves and get started on this checklist:

1) OK, this one's a breeze—before it's too late, enjoy an impromptu cookout, bike ride or dip in the pool before the weather changes.

2) Switch out your annual flower pots and planters, refilling them with winter-friendly hardy greenery. Add decorative pieces for fall holidays such as mini pumpkins, decorative cabbage or pretty ornaments. For more information on decorative planters.

3) Add insulation to your attic and seals around your windows and doors to save energy and keep warm. Replace filters and clean out your gutters. Getting an energy audit is a smart idea—find out how with our energy audit FAQ.

4) Check your heating system to make sure it is working properly and at highest efficiency. You don't want to find out something's wrong the first time there's a frost!

5) If you have a fire pit, give it a thorough cleaning and fill it with seasoned hardwood for fall football parties or roasting marshmallows. For more information on fire pits.

6) Take out the bed and sofa throws you stored last spring and check them for wear. Wash (or dryclean) those that are still fashionable and functional; replace those that aren't. Buy extras for guest rooms or to switch up the décor in different rooms. Cozying up with a blanket and a good book is the perfect fall activity.

7) Depending on your area of the country, you may be able to plant fall crops. If not, harvest the rest of your summer bounty and prep the ground for winter. Prune fruit trees as suggested by your nursery.

8) Stock up on flashlights and candles. This time last year, winter came earlier to the northeast, bringing with it unpredictable storms. Prepare now so that you're not scrambling in a panic when the forecast turns gloomy.

9) Organize your movie and book shelves. Organize in alphabetical order or by genre, in baskets or a bookcase—your choice! Create a watchlist for the chilly nights with the family. Maybe it’s time to invest in that home theater you’ve been dreaming of. For inspiring home theater ideas, check out our Pinterest board.

10) Call in an arborist to prune trees that are too close to your house, gutters and electrical wires. Branches coated in heavy ice and snow can snap and crash onto your roof or car.

Now sit back and enjoy the colorful leaves, apple and pumpkin picking, indoor game nights and the indescribable scent of fall in the air!