August in Caledon has a way of lulling us into thinking summer will last forever but the smartest homeowners I work with use these last few weeks of warm weather to knock out a handful of small maintenance jobs, the kind that are easy to ignore now but more expensive to fix later.
Here are a few things worth putting on your list this month.
Give your air conditioner some love. After an unusually warm start to our summer, your AC unit has been working overtime and deserves a quick check. Clear away any leaves, grass clippings, or debris that have been built around the outdoor condenser and swap out the air filter if it’s been more than 90 days. A clean system runs more efficiently and tends to last longer- which matters when replacement parts and units are not cheap.
Inspect your deck and patio. Take a walk around your deck and look for loose boards, popped nails, or wood that’s starting to gray and split. Late summer is an ideal time for a quick clean and reseal since the wood needs a few dry, warm days to properly absorb. If you’ve got a stone or concrete patio, check for cracks before the freeze-thaw cycle of a Caledon winter makes them worse.
Inspect your gutters and downspouts before the leaves arrive. It’s tempting to wait until fall clean-up, but a quick gutter check now (especially after any summer storms) can catch small clogs or breaks, before they turn into water pooling near your foundation. If you spot sagging sections or separated joints, it’s easier to fix them while the weather cooperates.
Do a quick check of your landscaping. Especially your large trees. Take a walk around your yard to identify whether any branches have grown over the warmer months and may have the potential to cause damage to your home or property during our rough winter storms. It is much easier to trim and remove dangerous trees or branches now than in the minus 30-degree snow and winds, or after they have snapped and come through your roof.
Look at your caulking and weatherstripping. Small gaps around windows and doors don’t seem urgent in summer, but they’re the same gaps that let cold air and critters in come November. A tube of caulk or weather-stripping and an hour on a Saturday afternoon now can mean real savings on your winter heating bill.
None of these jobs take a full weekend, but together they protect some of the biggest investments in your home!
About Hilary Matthews:
Hilary Matthews is a seasoned Real Estate Broker based in Caledon, recognized as a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™ and Guild™ award recipient. She is also a Certified Staging Advocate, dedicated to helping clients present their homes at their best. Hilary’s career in real estate was inspired by her own experience buying, renovating, and selling properties—a passion she turned into a profession. With hands-on renovation experience and a trusted network of contractors, Hilary offers expert guidance to prepare homes for market. She combines market insight with a deep understanding of real estate as both a personal haven and a smart investment. Learn more at www.hilarymatthews.com, or reach her at 647-354-9506 / hilary@hilarymatthews.com
