As families across Livingston County get ready for another school year, it’s easy to focus on school supplies, sports schedules, and getting everyone back into a routine. But while you’re checking off your family’s back-to-school list, don’t forget about one of your biggest investments: your home.
Back-to-school season is also one of the best times to prepare your home for the changing seasons. Before cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and Michigan’s unpredictable weather arrive, taking care of a few simple maintenance tasks can save you time, money, and stress later.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, water damage and freezing account for nearly 24% of all homeowners insurance losses, making preventative maintenance one of the easiest ways to avoid costly repairs.
The good news? Most of these projects can be completed in an afternoon or less.
Here’s your back-to-school homeowner checklist.
1. Schedule Your Furnace Tune-Up
Before the first chilly morning arrives, schedule a professional inspection of your heating system.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments respond to nearly 39,000 home heating equipment fires every year, with the highest number occurring during the colder months. Annual maintenance helps identify worn parts before they become expensive repairs and ensures your system is ready when you need it most.
2. Replace Your HVAC Filter
Replacing your HVAC filter is one of the easiest maintenance tasks homeowners can do, yet it’s often overlooked.
A clean filter improves airflow, helps your furnace and air conditioner operate more efficiently, and can improve your home’s indoor air quality. If you have pets, allergies, or run your HVAC system frequently, you may need to replace your filter more often than the standard recommendation.
It’s a small investment that can help extend the life of one of your home’s most expensive systems.
3. Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
This takes less than five minutes but is one of the most important items on this checklist.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly three out of every five home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. Testing your alarms monthly, replacing batteries when needed, and replacing smoke alarms every 10 years helps ensure they’re ready when you need them.
It’s one of the simplest ways to help protect your home and your family.
4. Clean Out Your Gutters
Summer storms and early falling leaves can quickly clog your gutters.
When gutters can’t properly move water away from your home, it can lead to roof leaks, damaged siding, foundation issues, and basement moisture problems. Cleaning them now is much easier than dealing with water damage after a heavy fall rain.
While you’re at it, make sure your downspouts are directing water several feet away from your foundation.
5. Check Windows and Doors for Drafts
Take a walk around your home and inspect your windows and exterior doors for cracked caulking or worn weatherstripping.
Even small air leaks can make your heating system work harder throughout the winter, leading to higher utility bills and less consistent indoor temperatures.
This inexpensive project can often be completed in just a couple of hours and may improve your home’s comfort all season long.
6. Clean Your Dryer Vent
Most homeowners remember to clean the lint trap after every load, but many forget about the dryer vent itself.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean dryers is the leading factor in residential dryer fires, contributing to 31% of these incidents.
A professional dryer vent cleaning every year, along with regularly cleaning your lint trap, helps improve your dryer’s efficiency while reducing the risk of lint buildup.
7. Walk Around Your Home’s Exterior
Before the weather changes, spend a few minutes walking around your home.
Look for:
- Missing or damaged shingles
- Cracked siding
- Peeling caulk around windows
- Tree branches hanging over your roof
- Water pooling near your foundation
- Loose handrails or steps
Finding a small issue now is usually much less expensive than waiting until winter weather makes the problem worse.
8. Organize Your Entryway
Once school starts, your front entry quickly becomes command central.
Backpacks, shoes, sports equipment, coats, and lunch boxes can pile up fast. Creating a designated drop zone helps reduce clutter, keeps dirt from being tracked through the house, and can make those busy weekday mornings just a little less stressful.
9. Review Your Homeowners Insurance
Have you completed any home improvements over the past year?
Whether you’ve remodeled a bathroom, added a deck, purchased expensive electronics, or updated your landscaping, now is a great time to review your homeowners insurance coverage.
Making sure your policy reflects your home’s current value and contents can help prevent surprises if you ever need to file a claim.
10. Start Planning for Next Year’s Goals
Believe it or not, many homeowners who plan to buy or sell in the spring begin preparing months in advance.
Whether you’re thinking about moving or simply investing in your current home, now is a great time to:
- Prioritize upgrades that would add value if you decided to sell.
- Budget for future repairs or upgrades.
- Get an idea of what your home is worth in today’s market.
- Create a timeline that works for your family.
Planning ahead almost always leads to better decisions and fewer last-minute surprises.
Need a Trusted Contractor? We’ve Done the Homework for You.
Not every project on this list is a DIY job, and finding reliable contractors can sometimes be just as challenging as the project itself.
Over the years, we’ve built relationships with trusted local professionals we confidently recommend to our clients. Whether you need an HVAC technician, roofer, plumber, electrician, handyman, landscaper, or another home service provider, we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
If you’re looking for someone you can trust, contact The Tina Peterson Team at 734-306-5964 or Tina@TinaPetersonTeam.com. We’d be happy to share our recommended vendor list and help you find the right professional for the job.