The arrival of September brings the last part of summer with warm days, flowers in full bloom and delicious fresh fruits and vegetables in season. With fall just around the corner, September is a good time to take advantage of the moderate weather to get your house in shape and make any needed repairs before the first frost arrives. Here are some home maintenance ideas that will keep your home running in peak condition all season long.

Clean Up Your Garden – Trim back flowering plants after summer blooms fade, prune trees and shrubs near house, plant bulbs and lay mulch to protect your plants from cooler weather and prepare your beds for next spring.

Declutter Your Garage – Pack up your beach chairs, beach umbrellas, pool toys and other summer gear. Discard any items that are broken or no longer used. Use walls and ceilings for storage to free up valuable floor space for your cars.

Host a Garage Sale – Unload some of your unused items, either at a community yard sale or one of your own to create more space in your garage and home.

Service Yard Equipment – Keep the parts of your lawn mower and trimmer in good working condition by replacing the oil, spark plugs and air filters before storing them for the winter. Gasoline that is left in a mower over the winter can get stale, clog the carburetor and invite rust, so empty the gas tank prior to winter storage.

Replace Weather-Stripping – Prevent winter drafts in your home by replacing the weather-stripping now while the weather is warm with a good quality vinyl, silicone or metal product.

Tune-Up Heating System – Hire an HVAC contractor to service your system before you have to turn on the heat. Don’t forget to change your filters to keep your system running smoothly.

Whatever your September plans entail, as you transition into fall, take some time to relax and enjoy these last warm days.