Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Autumn Home Maintenance - The Ultimate To-Do List

13th November 2020

Check out our top tips for sprucing up your home and garden ready for the colder months.

Whether you are working from home, furloughed, or carrying on (almost) as normal, it is likely that you will be home more over the next month or so, which is a great opportunity for you to get your home ship-shape by doing all those niggling jobs that you mean to do each year, but which always end up at the bottom of the list. Read on for inspiration on jobs that you can do during Lockdown II.

In the house

Bleed your radiators. Traditional central heating is pretty simple: your radiators are filled with water, which is heated up by the boiler. If your radiators seem to be hot at the bottom but cooler at the top, this could be down to air in the radiator. It is easy to bleed your radiator yourself or contact your local plumber for advice. The difference in heating efficiency will be instant.
Get your boiler serviced. This should be something that you do every year. if you haven’t done it yet, call your local gas engineer now.
Sweep your chimneys – another job that should be done at least once a year; contact your local chimney sweep and book it in ASAP.
Ventilate – if condensation is a problem in your home, you could end up in a vicious cycle: you want to heat your home, but the heating causes condensation, so you open a window, which causes the room to cool, so you switch the heating on… If this is an annual battle, get it fixed while you have the chance! Contact a damp specialist about installing some kind of ventilation, or invest in a dehumidifier.

Outside the house

Clear your gutters – autumn may be a beautiful month, but those golden leaves aren’t so beautiful when they are blocking your gutters. Blocked or damaged guttering can lead to poor drainage, which can result in damp; get your gutters cleared and checked by a professional to prevent potentially serious issues.
Clear debris – leaves, fallen fruit, storm debris should all be cleared away before they start to rot on your lawn. Compost them or use them as mulch in beds.
Mow the lawn – wait for a dry day to do your final mow of the year. If your lawn is longer than usual, don’t be tempted to go straight for the short winter length, mow in two phases. If your mower isn’t up to the job, consider hiring a gardener to get your garden looking tidy for the winter.
Cover up furniture – if you don’t have space to store garden furniture inside, cover it up to protect it from the elements. If you have summer accessories such as large barbecues or a hot tub that you are unlikely to use later in the year, now is the time to clean them down and pack them away for winter.

Government guidelines state that, even during lockdown, you can have traders to do work in your home unless you are isolating or feeling unwell. By asking a local trader for support you can get all of your dreaded jobs done and support your local economy, too. For more tips and advice, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter.

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Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.
Should I renovate my home or move house?

There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

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