I’m sorry for saying the big bad ‘W’ word, but it’s smart to plan ahead!  What do you need to do to get your home ready for winter?  If you live anywhere in Ontario, there are a number of things to pay attention to that will help your home survive our often brutal winters. Our latest RealtyInsights newsletter, which was sent to our clients in September, outlines a few items that might need attention.  For instance, have a look at your foundation to see if there is any evidence of water pooling along the walls.  How is your driveway holding up?  It is recommended that you fill in cracks and dips so that water doesn’t collect in the, which will make things worse during the ‘freeze and thaw’ cycles that we often experience.

When you look at your grass, do you see any bald patches?  Now this was a dryer than usual season for many of us in Ontario, so this may be a common issue.  It would be beneficial to aerate, add soil and grass seed over the next few weeks to get a jump on recovery for next year.  And don’t forget to turn off your outside taps!

How is your roof doing?  Home Inspectors often point out issues with insulation and how it affects your roof.  Add attic insulation and ventilation to keep your roof cold.  A warm roof will melt snow, which will flow into the eaves, which can then freeze and potential create ice dams. Don’t forget to check the flashing to see if there are any cracks in the caulking.  While you’re up there, check out your shingles.  If you have missing or damaged shingles, or leaks around a skylight, it’s best to get these fixed so that it doesn’t become a bigger problem.

We would be happy to recommend professionals in the Barrie, ON area to look after any of your household repairs.  You can reach John Weber at John@JohnWeberTeam.com or by cell at 705-727-6111.  You can reach Christie Bond at Christie@JohnWeberTeam.com or by cell at 705-220-1152.