August Home Improvement Checklist: What You Need to Know

With August rolling in, you may be starting to prep your home for fall. With this August home improvement checklist, you'll be ready to wrap up your summer DIYs in warm weather and get ready for cooler months ahead.

Inspect your gutters

Gutters play an important role in protecting your home's foundation from rain. They should be clean and secure before fall. Depending on where you live, there will be more leaves and debris, like twigs, for your gutters to manage in autumn. Summer is the perfect time to schedule a professional gutter inspection and a cleaning if you need one. Our Marketplace can help you find a licensed professional in your area.

Plan for your fall blooms

August is when you should start prepping your lawn for your fall garden. You can plant bulbs two to 10 weeks before the first frost.

In northern parts of the country, the ideal time to plant is between early September and late October. In southern states, mid-October to mid-November is prime fall gardening season. Check your hardiness zone and choose native flowers that thrive in your climate.

Wrap up pool season

If you live in a northern climate, closing the pool before fall arrives will help you get a head start on any maintenance you might need for the next pool season. Plan now with a professional pool cleaning and inspection. Take care of any necessary repairs now, so you can enjoy a fresh and maintained pool next year.

Tackle your outdoor DIYs

Whether sanding furniture, staining the deck or refinishing your windows, take advantage of the hot summer weather before it’s gone. Schedule all your projects that require time outdoors now, so you can enjoy the results of your hard work throughout the fall and winter.

Have your HVAC system checked

This is also prime time to have a professional HVAC technician inspect your unit. Scheduling a tune-up in August will give you time to plan for any repairs your system might need before it's time to switch to heat. It can also be cheaper to have heating equipment fixed before it's needed.

Organize your garage

This may be the last thing on your to-do list, but having a nicely organized garage will give you a sense of achievement and set you up for the colder months. Make space to store all your summer items, like patio furniture you won't use or the kids' swimming pool toys. Before summer ends, you can also take time to clean out anything you no longer need and make room for winter storage.

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