Summer seemed a little shorter this year than some others. However, the reprieve from smoke was welcomed in comparison to the past few summers. As our nights get cooler and we move into fall, it’s a great time of year to look around the house and start thinking about some fall maintenance items before winter hits.

Your home’s heating system is a great place to start. Change out any filters and consider having an annual service and cleaning performed by a professional. A well-running heating system operates more efficiently and can help prevent those late-night failures. This can also be a good time of the year to have your dryer vent cleaned. Lint build up in dryer vents is a leading cause of house fires.

After the leaves have fallen, clean the gutters and take a look at downspouts to ensure water has a clear route away from the foundation. Ensuring the gutters are operating properly is crucial before the roof has a couple feet of snow on it.

If left connected, garden hoses will freeze the exterior hose bibs. Disconnect and drain all exterior hoses. If you own rental properties, remind your tenants to do the same. If your home has underground sprinklers, they’ll need to be blown out and winterized as well.

Prep garage items by winterizing any small gas engines like lawnmowers and weed eaters. Paint and other similar items should also be brought indoors to prevent freezing.

If you own a wood-burning fireplace or stove, inspect and clean the chimney, or hire a professional if you’re not keen on the task yourself.

With a few hours on an evening or weekend, you can ensure your home is ready to take on the upcoming Montana winter, leaving you time to go play in the snow!

As usual, I have included the latest Real Estate statistics. The Real Estate market has stayed busy through the summer as prices have continued upwards. 690 homes have sold in Bozeman since the first of the year through September 1st, outpacing last year’s numbers by a single sale. The median sold price is up to $494,950, up 10% from this time last year when it was $449,900. In addition to the homes sold in the first 8 months of 2019, another 150 home sales are currently pending or under contract.

The included data reflects sales of homes in the greater Bozeman area, including Four Corners, Gallatin Gateway, Bridger Canyon, and Bozeman city limits. The data includes home sales reported through the local Big Sky Country MLS, and does not include private party sales, Condominiums, or Townhouses.