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Fall in Arizona doesn’t look quite like fall in places such as Minnesota, Illinois or Colorado.
We’re probably not preparing the snowblower.
But after months of extreme heat, dust and summer storms, fall is an excellent time to give your home a little attention.
As our mornings cool down and outdoor living season returns, here are the seven things I’d put on your fall checklist.
1. Give Your HVAC System Some Attention
Your air-conditioning system has worked hard all summer.
Check your filters first. After a season of dust storms, they may need changing sooner than you’d expect. Then consider scheduling seasonal service, particularly if your system hasn’t been looked at recently.
And before that first surprisingly chilly Arizona morning arrives, make sure the heating side of the system is working properly too.
2. Look at the Roof After Monsoon Season
Summer storms, wind and blowing debris can be hard on roofs.
You don’t need to climb up there yourself. Look from the ground for anything that seems out of place, and have a qualified professional take a closer look at anything that concerns you.
Also check gutters, scuppers and drainage areas for debris left behind by summer storms. On flat roofs especially, water needs a clear path to drain.
3. Check Doors, Windows and Caulking
Walk around your home and look at exterior doors and windows.
Worn weatherstripping and deteriorated caulk can let cooled or heated air escape, and let dust and pests find their way inside.
Small maintenance now can sometimes prevent a larger repair later.
4. Inspect Your Irrigation and Landscaping
Our desert landscaping needs attention too.
Look for damaged irrigation lines, clogged emitters and signs of leaks. Then adjust your watering schedule. As temperatures cool, most plants need water less often than they did in summer, and fall is the natural time to change the timer. Local water providers publish seasonal watering guides if you’d like a starting point.
It’s also a good time to look over trees and larger plants for storm damage and trim dead or damaged branches before our outdoor season gets into full swing.
5. Get the Patio Ready
This is the part of Arizona fall maintenance I enjoy most.
After months of looking at the patio through the window, we’re entering the season when outdoor living becomes one of the best parts of living here.
Clean the patio furniture, check outdoor lighting, inspect shades and screens, and make sure your fire feature or patio heater is ready if you use one.
Then enjoy it!
6. Test Your Home Safety Equipment
Here’s something many of us who moved here from other states don’t think about: Arizona doesn’t change its clocks. So the old “change your clocks, check your smoke alarms” reminder never comes.
Let fall be your reminder instead.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace batteries when needed. Fire-safety agencies actually recommend testing every month, so fall is a good time to start the habit. While you’re at it, check the date on the back. Smoke alarms are generally meant to be replaced about every 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms have their own lifespan listed by the manufacturer.
Check exterior lighting as our days become shorter, and make sure walkways and entrances are well lit.
These aren’t glamorous home projects, but they’re important ones.
7. Walk Around Your Home Like a Buyer Would
Here’s my real estate addition to the list.
Walk outside and pretend you’ve never seen your home before.
What do you notice?
Peeling paint? Cracked caulk? A tired front door? Overgrown landscaping? Exterior lights that don’t work?
We get used to our own homes and stop noticing the little things. A seasonal walk-around is an easy way to catch maintenance items before they become bigger ones, and staying on top of them is part of keeping the true cost of owning a home manageable.
And if you’re ever thinking about selling, it’s exactly how buyers will see your home for the first time.
A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way
One of the best things about owning a home is taking care of the place where life happens.
Arizona fall gives us the perfect opportunity to address the wear and tear of summer and prepare our homes for the beautiful months ahead.
And then there’s only one thing left to do:
Get outside and enjoy why we live here.
If you’re curious what your home might be worth after a summer of care, my Instant Home Estimate is a simple place to start. And if you’re considering a move in Rio Verde, Tonto Verde, Trilogy at Verde River, Fountain Hills, North Scottsdale or Troon North, I’d be honored to help you discover the Arizona lifestyle that feels like home.
Life’s Next Adventure may be closer than you think.
Monica Condomitti
Luxury Real Estate Advisor
MC Luxury Real Estate at Coldwell Banker
Rio Verde / North Scottsdale, Arizona
www.MonicaCondomitti.com
480-822-9553
Featured image created with AI for illustrative purposes; it does not depict a specific property or community.
