A Fall Checklist for Homeowners: Budget and Home Care

As the seasons change, it is the perfect moment for a homeowner checkup. A few hours spent on maintenance and a fresh look at your budget can prevent costly surprises and help you finish the year on solid footing.

Give Your Budget a Tune-Up

Start with the numbers. Pull up your last few months of spending and compare it with your plan.

• Review your mortgage statement: Check your escrow balance. Property tax and insurance changes can raise or lower your monthly payment.
• Automate payments: Setting up automatic mortgage payments helps you avoid late fees and protects your credit.
• Plan for the holidays: Set a spending limit now so the season does not strain your finances.
• Top up your repair fund: Aim to keep money set aside for unexpected home repairs.

Prepare Your Home for Cooler Weather

1. Service your heating system: Replace filters and schedule a checkup so it is ready when you need it.
2. Seal drafts: Check weatherstripping and caulk around doors and windows to keep energy bills in check.
3. Clean gutters and downspouts: Clogged gutters can send water toward your foundation.
4. Inspect the roof: Look for missing or damaged shingles, especially after storm season.
5. Tend the yard: Trim branches away from the house and put away seasonal outdoor items.
6. Test safety devices: Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries.

Small maintenance tasks now are usually far cheaper than repairs later. Keeping a simple log of what you did and when also helps if you ever sell the home or file an insurance claim.

Not sure where to begin? Walk around the outside of your home with a notepad and look for peeling paint, cracked caulk, loose railings or low spots where water collects. Then do the same inside, checking under sinks, around the water heater and in the attic if you can reach it safely. Anything you find goes on a list ranked by urgency. Handle the quick fixes yourself and get quotes for the bigger items so you can budget for them.

Think Ahead to Year-End Goals

Fall is also a good time to look at the bigger picture. Ask yourself a few questions:

• Do you have mortgage insurance you might be able to remove? On conventional loans, you can typically request removal once you reach 80% loan-to-value.
• Would a refinance help you lower your payment, shorten your term or tap equity for a project?
• Are there home upgrades you want to tackle next year that would benefit from planning now?

If a bigger project is on your list, a HELOC can be a flexible way to fund improvements while keeping your current mortgage. To explore whether a new loan makes sense, see our refinance page.

Taking care of your home and your finances go hand in hand. If you have questions about your mortgage or want to explore your options, a FLO Mortgage loan officer is happy to help. Get in touch anytime.

This article is for general education and is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting guidelines and program availability. FLO Mortgage, Company NMLS #1835856. Equal Housing Opportunity.