Vancouver Real Estate Blog

Is Your Home ready For Winter - Outdoor Preparations

Outdoor preparations should include a walk around your property with an eye for cracks in foundations, the mortar in brick structures, and caulking or weather stripping that has failed. Other things to look for include: evidence of uninvited guests in the form of rodents or birds living or nesting in unsafe or unwanted locations, exposed wood that may need some type of protective treatment applied, and items that are too close to heat sources that could become fire hazards. In addition to this general evaluation, here is a list of specific items to consider:

• Hoses/hose bibs - in regions where temperatures drop below freezing, it is important to disconnect and drain your garden hoses, and either wrap hose bibs or cover them with insulating covers to prevent freezing pipes. A quick inspection for other exposed pipes that may need insulating will prevent the headache of dealing with broken pipes later.
• Sprinkler systems - in colder climates, sprinkler systems will need to be drained to prevent water from freezing and causing cracked or broken pipes. You may be able to drain the water yourself, or you may hire a professional to winterize it by blowing the water out of your system with an air compressor.
• Roof - inspect your roof for any loose, missing, worn or damaged shingles, tiles or other roofing material and have any needed repairs made to prevent unwanted water damage.
• Clean your gutters and downspouts - after leaves and other tree debris has fallen and collected in your gutters, it will be important to clean the gutters and downspouts to prevent water from backing up and causing water damage or overflowing during winter storms.
• Clean landscaping tools - when storing your landscaping tools for winter, take the opportunity to clean them well, apply a light coat of lubricant on tools such as pruning shears to keep them operational and to extend their lifespan, and replace tools that are in poor condition so you'll be prepared next spring when your landscaping begins to come to life once again.

Prepare winter equipment - now is the time to test winter equipment that you may need in the coming months and make any necessary repairs ahead of time. Knowing that the snow blower or back-up generator will work and are in good repair and that you are prepared for inclement weather will provide peace of mind. It is also a good time to place this equipment along with shovels and salt in an accessible location so it is readily available when it is needed.

 

• Winter fertilizer - an application of winter fertilizer to lawns will promote stronger roots and help produce a healthier lawn in the spring.
• Plants - take a look at your landscaping and determine if there are plants that may be sensitive to cooler weather and require special preparation. While some plants may need to be trimmed, others may require additional composting materials around their roots to protect them during freezing temperatures, and others will need to be moved to a sheltered area or indoors. This is also a good time to lift bulbs that won't survive the colder temperatures such as dahlias and to consider planting spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils.

 

Have Your Home Say "Wouldn't You Love To Live Here"

Spruce up the Grounds.
For love at first sight, neatness counts. Trim bushes and shrubs. Clear the driveway. Place a pretty welcome mat by the front door.

Coordinate the hardware.
Don’t mix and match metals. Brass locks, silver door handles and a black mailbox will clash. For a coordinated appearance, all outdoor metals should be the same color.

Change the color.
Go with a neutral, traditional gray or beige. Classics don’t go out of style. Color is key. The same house may look like a dream in sage green, but a nightmare in brown.

Make a great first impression.
The front door is the most telling detail of your house. Give your entryway an instant makeover by choosing a handsome wood such as mahogany, or cut-glass storm doors

Fall Gardening Tips

1) Using small leaves or shredded large leaves from maples, spread evenly over exposed soil. The nutrients in the leaves will decompose and the minerals will leach into the soil. Worms will later turn it into fertilizer.

2) This is the time to purchase ever green trees and shrubs. The cool autumn soil is best, too allow the root system to grow strong. Remember to water heavily to get the roots activated to allow deep growth into the soil.

3) Watering any plant, tree or shrub should be done heavily. What I mean by this, is to water for long periods of time to saturate the root base to train the roots to dive deep into the soil to keep wet. Most trees or shrubs die because they have been trained to create a shallow root system, and when the climate experiences a drought, the tree or shrub dies of thirst so to speak. So remember to always water heavily to penetrate well below the roots. Do not in any way water with a fire hose as this will destroy the earth around the roots and the roots themselves.