The weather outside isn’t quite frightful yet, but we know that the Midwest is no stranger to a cold snap. Preparing your home early for possible inclement weather will ensure you and your family can stay comfortable as the temperatures drop. Below, we’ve outlined 3 steps to make sure your home is ready for colder weather.

Step 1 – Outside

This step encompasses a few different areas that shouldn’t be neglected before that first cold front passes through.

First, make sure your landscaping is cleaned up. Prune your bushes, empty or store any potted plants, and make sure your grass is treated. Remember that autumn is the ideal time to fertilize and aerate your lawn, so any yard maintenance should be done before it really cools down. Taking care of your yard properly will help to set you up for success once we’re through winter and back into warmer weather.

Next, you’ll want to check your home for any needed repairs or maintenance. Here, you should clean out gutters, power wash your home, and make sure any exteriors are weather treated. Make sure you also check your roof and foundation for any cracks or damage that needs to be repaired to keep the heat in your home all winter long.

Step 2 – Inside

Once you have the outside ready for colder weather, you can move on to prepping the inside. This step will also include a few different facets.

The first step to getting the inside of your home ready is general clean-up and organizing. You’ll want to switch out your summer clothes for winter ones and go through your closets to re-organize. This is also a good chance to get in some deep cleaning. Clean your vents, oven, surfaces, and make sure you’re ready to hole up inside for the next few months while the weather cools down.

After you’ve cleaned and organized, it’s a good idea to go through and make sure you don’t need to make any repairs on your home. Check your furnace to make sure it’s still in working condition, and weather-proof any doors and windows that may not be sealed. You don’t want to end up stuck in the cold because a draft is blowing through untreated gaps.

Step 3 – Prepare for the Worst

In the Midwest, we’re more than familiar with inclement weather, and some of the worst can happen during colder months of the year. It’s incredibly important to make sure you’re ready for when the first big blizzard or ice storm decides to tear through your town.

First, prep go-bags and emergency kits for when inclement weather hits. In these bags, make sure you have flashlights, non-perishable food items, bottled water, extra clothes, and any other necessary items you may need that you won’t be able to go out and get if a big storm hits.

It’s also a great idea to stock up your pantry with extra non-perishable foods like rice, canned goods, pasta, and snack foods that could hold you over in the event of a blizzard. If you prep your pantry early, you’ll be able to avoid the last-minute trips to the store to try to gather supplies from empty grocery shelves.

In addition, if you have a generator or any back-up power sources, make sure you check them to confirm they’re in working condition and you have plenty of fuel to keep them going for at least a week. If you have a fireplace or a wood stove, make sure you have wood stocked up to keep that running as well.

When summer first starts to fade, you may feel a sense of relief to be out of the blistering heat, but before you can start to enjoy cooler days, it’s important to prepare for the unpredictable weather that comes at the end of the year. Prepping early and well will help you avoid any mishaps that could cost you comfort this winter. Keeping up with necessary seasonal maintenance will also help you if you ever decide to sell your home because you’ll save on massive repairs to make your home sale-ready.

3 Steps to Get Your Home Ready for Colder Weather