Right now, summer is in full swing. The sun is out, temperatures are warm, and you're probably spending your weekends relaxing by the pool or barbecuing with friends. Summer is lovely, but fall will be here before we know it! August is a great time to get a little ahead on home maintenance and begin preparing your home for the change in seasons. Here are some top things our real estate agents recommend doing in order to prepare your home for fall.

• Clean Your Gutters
  When fall arrives, the rain tends to pick up. You need to make sure the home's gutters are draining well so that they carry water away from the home's walls and foundation. Luckily, cleaning your home's gutters is not very hard as long as you're comfortable on a ladder.
  
  Put on a glove, and reach your hand into the gutter. Scoop out the gunk inside the gutter and put it in a bucket. Once you've worked your way down the whole gutter, you can use a hose or a bucket of water to rinse out any remaining small debris.
  
  
• Have the Chimneys Cleaned
  If you have a fireplace, this is the time to have your chimney cleaned. It's a good idea to hire a professional chimney cleaning service since this can be a hazardous job without the right training and equipment.
  
  A chimney cleaner will make sure your chimney is free from creosote, a flammable black substance that sometimes accumulates in the exterior. They'll also make sure your chimney vents properly so you don't have to worry about carbon monoxide buildup inside the home when you light a fire.
  
  
• Declutter
  When fall comes, you'll be spending more time outside, which means any clutter in your home is more likely to bother you. So, take a little time to declutter in August. If you do one room at a time, the job won't feel so overwhelming.
  
  You can donate many of the items you decide to declutter. You might even find a few things you can sell. Knowing someone else will benefit from the items you're getting rid of can make it a lot easier to get rid of them.
  
  
• Check Smoke and CO Detectors
  Before you know it, you'll be turning the heat back on. When you do, you'll want to be sure you have a working smoke detector and CO alarm. Check these units now, and replace the batteries if it has been more than a year since you last did so. 
  
  Also, make sure you have enough smoke detectors and CO alarms in your home. You can really never have too many! Sometimes people take them down when painting or remodeling and forget to put them back up.
  
  
• Seal Gaps Around Windows and Doors
  Take a close look at the seals and weatherstripping around your windows and doors. If there are any gaps, ripped sections of weatherstripping, or places where the seals are separating, those issues need to be addressed before fall brings cooler temps and more rain.
  
  If the weatherstripping is the issue, you can usually just pull it out and replace it. If the caulk is peeling or missing chunks, then pulling it out and re-caulking is usually the way to go. You can also do a temporary fix with some rope caulk.
  
  

If you tackle all or most of these tasks this August, you'll be ahead of the game when fall arrives. Don't hesitate to contact us if you're looking for Albuquerque homes for sale this fall. We're happy to help.