The Best Home Improvement Projects for Fall

September 7, 2020

With its long days and warm temperatures, summer is often thought to be prime time for home improvement. But fall can be a great time to tackle some big projects that can help prep your home for the winter, improve your home’s overall value, and make it run more efficiently.

Here are some good fall projects to tackle:

• Fix your roof. Schedule an inspection to assess whether you need to do any small repairs, replace your gutters or flashing, or do a full replacement. Plan ahead, though, as early fall is prime roofing season. Roofers work year-round, so you might wait until later in the fall, unless you’re concerned that rain may cause permanent damage.
• Freshen rooms by repainting. Cold, wet weather makes exterior painting a bad idea, but it can be a great time to upgrade your interior.
• Inspect your heating system. A good heating system will make winter a lot more comfortable—and potentially more affordable. Get an inspection and do any needed repairs or replace your furnace with a more energy-efficient model. You might also get a programmable thermostat installed to help better manage your heating and cooling needs. You might even find local incentives and tax credits to help offset the costs of an upgrade.
• Spruce up your landscape. Get the landscapers out to prune and maintain trees and shrubs. Plant new trees, plants, and bulbs while the weather is mild to up your curb appeal.   
• Weatherize. Fall is a great time to have the plumber out to check your pipes and protect them from freezing temperatures to come later in the year. You can also install more efficient windows and doors or weatherize the ones you’ve got to help keep more of your heat in when the temperatures cool down. If flooding is an issue, look at installing or upgrading your sump pump to move water out.
  

If you need to finance any of these projects, a home equity line of credit from Maine Savings can be a great way to get the funds you need. With low-interest rates (which may be tax-deductible in certain situations) and the ability to use funds when you need them, a HELOC is a smart choice for home improvement projects. Contact a loan officer today to get started.