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We don't want to be the first to say it but we must—fall is here, which means Edina homeowners must prep their homes for the Minnesota winter ahead. Take some of the headache of the season away by going through this home exterior fall checklist to get your house ready to prevent surprises this winter.

•  Clean and check the gutters. Fall is a tough time for gutters—they get all those leaves and twigs and gunk in them. If they stay clogged through the winter, they can cause ice dams. Ice dams are large swaths of solid ice that build up along the eaves and that, when left unattended, can tear off gutters, loosen shingles and cause water to back up and leak into your house. Also make sure to tighten all the screws on the gutters and downspouts so everything is up and ready for spring thaw.
•  Check your roof for missing or loose shingles. Repairing any damage can help prevent water from leaking into your attic and insulation. Any moss or lichen growing on your roof may be a sign that part of the material is decaying; ask a professional roofer for a further inspection, if that’s the case.
• Examine the paint on your siding. Any peeling or chipping could mean the paint film is failing and can no longer protect the siding from the elements. This could lead to deterioration of the siding, causing expensive repairs later.
• Check your foundation for cracks and caulk any place where heat can escape, like where masonry meets siding, pipes or wires enter the house, and around windows and doors.
• If you are very fortunate and fancy to have a pool, check you pool cover for any cracks or holes, and repair or replace if needed.
• Weather strip around your garage door to keep out cold air and small critters
• Inspect your driveway for cracks. Clean out and repair any cracks, then coat the entire driveway with commercial sealer.
• Weather strip and caulk any areas around windows and doors that may let in cold air
• Empty the fuel from your summer equipment (lawnmower, leaf blower), gas up and test your winter equipment (snowblower) and organize your equipment so your winter gear is up front and summer gear is out of the way until spring.
• Reseed patchy areas on the lawn and plant spring flowering bulbs
• Check porch and deck railings to make sure they aren’t wobbly, and that they’ll be able to support someone if they slip on ice
• Clean, cover and store outdoor furniture
• Empty soil from planters; soil expands in the cold and can crack the planters
• Drain the sprinkler system and any hoses. Store hoses away and turn off any exterior valves or exterior faucets