Regular exterior maintenance helps protect your greatest investment—your dream home, because it minimizes damage to your home and yard. Now that the leaves have begun falling in Southeast Michigan, it’s time to clean your gutters and downspouts.

Forgoing this task can cause detachment of the gutters away from your house and also damage the roof and fascia. Clogged gutters—especially during rainy days, can cause leaks because an obstructed water path forces the water to leak into the roof or overflow all the way down to your home’s foundation. This moisture causes mold growth and rot which ultimately affects the structural integrity of your home and can even negatively impact your family’s health.

Fall officially begins on Wednesday.  With kids back in school and the weather cooling off, it’s an ideal time to start tackling small projects with big payoffs. Here are four fast fixes to spruce up the neglected areas of your home this fall.




​1. Fertilize your lawn for less. Most large home improvement and local hardware stores begin marking down yard tools, mowers and more on Labor Day weekend. Now is a great time to save on a fertilizer spreader if you don’t already have one. If you don’t regularly fertilize, it’s time to start! The hot Michigan summer days forced your turf into dormancy, but September’s cooler weather marks a peak time to revive your lawn’s growth with a nitrogen rich fertilizer. Experts recommend a 20-8-8 formula. Follow-up in two months with a phosphorous rich fertilizer which is a 13-25-12 blend sure to stimulate root growth before winter begins. Next spring, your lawn will look better than it ever has and your family will enjoy it all summer long.

Article by: Jennifer Elkow