Back to school sneaks up fast. Suddenly, your home has to keep pace with the morning rush, backpacks, and weeknight chaos. A little prep now makes the season smoother (and saves your sanity).
Here are a few quick wins you can use to prepare your home for fall and back to school.
Fall Home Prep Checklist
15 Fall Home Prep Tasks Every GTA Homeowner Should Do:
1. Declutter High-Traffic Areas
Back-to-school chaos = piles of shoes, jackets, and backpacks. Clear entryways and mudrooms to save your sanity.
2. Create a Homework-Friendly Space
Whether it’s a desk, the dining table, or the kitchen island, carve out a distraction-free zone for the kids (and maybe for your own laptop too).
3. Refresh Safety Checks
Test smoke detectors, swap furnace filters, and make sure you’ve got a fire extinguisher handy.
4. Stock Up on Quick Dinner Essentials
Busy weeknights hit hard in September. Keep a stash of frozen meals, pasta, or crockpot favorites ready to go. Link to our fav chicken marbella recipe below:
5. Seal Drafts Before It Gets Cold
Check weatherstripping around doors and windows. A $10 roll of foam tape can save you hundreds on heating bills.
6. Clean & Reverse Ceiling Fans
Dust them off and flip the switch so they push warm air down during winter. Small step, big comfort.
7. Prep Your Lawn & Garden
Fertilize before the frost, plant bulbs for spring, and cover delicate shrubs. It’s like tucking your garden into bed.
8. Service Your Fireplace/Chimney
Whether it’s wood or gas, a quick inspection prevents smoke backdrafts and (in the worst case) chimney fires.
9. Drain & Store Garden Hoses
Disconnect, drain, and store hoses so they don’t freeze and crack. Bonus: shut off exterior faucets.
10. Wash & Store Patio Furniture
Wipe down and cover or store furniture so it doesn’t rust or mildew over the winter.
11. Check Smoke & CO Alarms
Batteries die at the worst times—swap them now and test the alarms.
12. Stock Up on Winter Essentials
Salt, shovels, windshield washer fluid—it’s better to have them ready than to fight your neighbours for the last bag of salt during the first storm.
13. Deep Clean Carpets & Upholstery
Freshen things up before you’re stuck indoors all winter. Plus, it’s easier to dry out carpets in fall than in January.
14. Review Your Home Insurance Policy
Fall is a great time to make sure your coverage still matches your home’s value and contents (especially if you’ve renovated).
15. Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up
Your heating system is about to do the heavy lifting. Get it serviced before the first cold snap.
Here’a an easy make-ahead weeknight recipe for chicken marbella:
Chicken Marbella Recipe
