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  4. The Top Ten: Jobs To Get Your Home Autumn Ready - Part 1

Homeowner Advice

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

Homeowner Advice

The Top Ten: Jobs To Get Your Home Autumn Ready - Part 1

Just as we were getting acclimatised to the hot summer, autumn has hit with a vengeance. Almost overnight, the weather changed, leaves are falling, and the landscape is turning beautiful autumnal hues of red and orange. It is important that you are ready for autumn and winter; failure to prepare could result in damage to your home. Get organised and be prepared with our autumnal home maintenance to-do list.

Just as we were getting acclimatised to the hot summer, autumn has hit with a vengeance. Almost overnight, the weather changed, leaves are falling, and the landscape is turning beautiful autumnal hues of red and orange. It is important that you are ready for autumn and winter; failure to prepare could result in damage to your home. Get organised and be prepared with our autumnal home maintenance to-do list.

  1. Outdoor render and painting. Top of the list is anything outdoors. If you need to finish painting or rendering the exterior of your home, make the most of any dry days and get it done before the temperatures drop too much. If you are aware of damage to your exterior, get it fixed as soon as possible as continuous rain on damaged render can lead to damp problems and further damage. Minor repairs should be fairly quick and inexpensive; speak to a trusted local builder for a quote.
  2. Repair fencing. Your fencing will take a beating in the autumn and winter (as well as the summer and spring!). Get out and make any repairs now to avoid having to replace panels entirely after the next storm. If you’re not sure who is responsible for your boundaries – you or your neighbours – check the deeds of the house or have a friendly chat with the neighbours to confirm.
  3. Mow the lawn. Seize the opportunity during any dry weather to give your lawn its final mow. Mow short – 2 inches or less – to help prevent matting or mould growth underneath. If temperatures continue to drop, you might not need to mow again until spring.
  4. Rake and tidy. Autumn is probably the messiest season! It can be challenging keeping on top of garden debris, but little and often should do the trick. Rake lawns to get rid of leaves, flowers and fallen fruit. Clean paving, give decking a scrub and weed your flower beds to give yourself a fighting chance of maintaining order next spring.
  5. Check windows. Depending on the age and condition of your windows, you might want to give them a once-over and check for perished, cracked or damaged seals. If you do spot damage, get it repaired as soon as possible; a couple of heavy showers could make the damage worse. Sometimes, it is as simple as a quick reseal; a local handyman will be able to do that quickly and easily.

Next week we’ll give you the next five jobs you need to do to get your home ready for autumn. Follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter for more useful tips and advice on keeping your home and garden in top condition and finding a trader that you can trust.

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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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