Consider November your dress rehearsal for the upcoming holiday season and the inevitable Michigan Winter. Now is the time to make your home warm and cozy; stock up on holiday and winter supplies to make your Ann Arbor home more enjoyable and safe for the upcoming Michigan winter season.
Laugh at Mother Nature’s bad sense of humor from the warmth of your kitchen, dining, living, and bedrooms! Batten down the hatches and stock up so you can relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of the season, like entertaining guests and cozy evenings at home.
Don’t wait until the last minute or for a big storm to hit. It could mean some of your needed items will be sold out, or you may visit multiple stores to find what you are after.
Get stocked up on winter supplies and make sure your home is safe, warm, and inviting for the upcoming holidays and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Winter.
5 Home Maintenance Tips For Your Ann Arbor MI Area Home – November
1. Seal Up the Exterior of your Home
This is your last call for getting things done outside before it’s too cold. Remember, pests and critters can get in your home with a hole as small as a quarter-inch! Caulk any gaps and holes around foundations, windows, and doors.
- Take one more trip around your home, looking for the smallest gaps and holes. Remove vegetation from the foundation of your house and trim branches away from the home’s siding. This will help keep bugs and critters out!
- Check, repair, or replace door seals, especially the door sweep, often out of sight. Look for any gaps where the door meets the door frame. Adjust or replace seals to eliminate any gaps. A surprising amount of air escapes around poor door seals.
- Look for gaps and entry points near dryer vents and along the soffits. Seal these up.
- Make sure water is draining away from the house and off of sidewalks and driveways. This is a critical task for every homeowner but is often ignored. You have one last chance to get out and make adjustments around the house’s exterior before the cold weather hits.
2. Check Your Home’s Exterior Walkways, Stairs, and Railings for Safety and Lighting
Slips and falls on ice and snow can happen anywhere, but they’re even more likely if the footing is uneven or a railing isn’t sturdy or well-lit. Take a walk around your home’s exterior, paying special attention to walkways, stairs and railings, and outdoor lighting, and make repairs as needed.
- Consider adding exterior lighting fixtures with motion detectors. It gets dark early, and we spend more time walking on dark and potentially icy and snowy walks. Ensure you and your guests have a well-lit and safe path to the home.
- Repair loose railings, steps, and uneven walkway surfaces.
- Get new door mats – This 2’ x 3’ coir natural fiber mat with latex backing from Ikea is a great choice; get several to help keep dirt out of the house.
3. Stock Up on Holiday and Winter Staples
Think like the squirrels and stock up for winter! Get your favorite staple items in good quantities now, so you don’t have to go out when the weather is bad or during the holiday rush. Stocking up now will mean less stress when that big storm hits and avoiding holiday crowds. Fill your pantry with cooking staples, specialty foods, spices, water bottles, wine, pet food, toilet paper, and anything else you’ll need over the next few months that you can comfortably store! Shop early for your home, too, as the most popular and unique items will be gone if you wait.
4. Prepare Your Cars and Home Equipment For Winter
Prepare your cars for Winter — Have a fall or winter service check done — check the battery — remember, if your car battery is marginal, your car will choose not to start on the coldest day of the year. Keep a winter car kit in your car to help be prepared for emergencies. Here’s a list:
- Ice Scraper
- Jumper cables
- tire changing tools and a good spare tire
- Emergency flashers and flashlight
- A pair of heavy gloves
- An emergency blanket
- A bag of salt (great to put under your tires if you get stuck)
- If you are traveling in cold or snowy weather, keep a pair of winter boots in the car in case of emergencies. Also, ensure everybody who travels with you brings the proper winter clothes in the car in case you get stuck and have to go out in the weather.
- It’s worth checking to be sure you have your updated and accurate proof of insurance and registration, along with the phone number for emergency road service.
If you have a snow blower, run it to be sure it is ready to go. Have your snow blower in for service now if needed. Don’t wait! For service, I have had good results with Weingartz in Ann Arbor. Also, if you have an electric snow blower, I would recommend investing in a gas-powered one instead. Gas snow blowers should generally be your go-to, especially in Michigan. Although electric snow blowers are quieter and relatively healthier for the environment, gas snow blowers allow you to clear more snow efficiently and quickly!
Stores sell out of ice melt when a big storm hits; get some now. I like the Tractor Supply and Carpenter Brothers Hardware or other local hardware stores because they are so much easier to get in and out of, plus solid service.
Check your snow shovel and replace it now while there is a good selection.
If you have lawn equipment, drain or run the gas out of engines and store it.
Warm and inviting. Ready to relax or entertain?
5. Get ready for Company
Perhaps you will be entertaining guests or having family members home for the holidays this year — wouldn’t that be great? Consider investing in good bedding for your bedroom or your guest room. Get quality, and it will last for years.
- Wash all bed linens and pillows.
- Update your guest room. Add a new mattress, sheets, a down comforter, or wool blanket to make any bedroom cozier and more inviting and make your guest room fit for royalty — your company will appreciate you!
- Repair plumbing. With Thanksgiving coming up quickly, it’s likely any plumbing issues you have will be magnified. A semi-clogged pipe can turn into a big issue if you have visitors over or plenty of dishes to be done. Get the fix you need now before it’s too late.
- Replace floor protectors on chairs. Don’t let dining chairs damage your hardwood or hard surface floors: Check their feet and add or replace floor-protecting pads if they are worn or have shifted. Self-adhesive felt pads work great. Get them in bulk online or at Costco. Be sure to scrape clean the base of each chair foot before applying.
- Send out area rugs for cleaning and clean wall-to-wall carpet. Carpets and rugs pick up odors and get matted and dingy over time, but we hardly notice. Area rugs are often neglected, and I know mine were years overdue for a cleaning. While at it, consider getting an upgraded pad for your large area rug. Hagopian World of Rugs on Jackson is my go-to rug cleaner.
Do you have a question about a home maintenance repair or upgrade? We know area contractors and remodelers and are here to help with advice and suggestions. Please reach out directly by completing the form below or just call.
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