Fall Exterior Checklist: 6 Things to Do Before Winter Hits Your Michigan Home

Spring gets all the attention for exterior cleanup, but fall is when you actually protect your home. What you do in October and November decides whether you’re dealing with ice dams, a wet basement, or a green, streaked house come March. Here’s the short list, in the order that makes sense.

1. Clean the Gutters — After the Leaves Drop

The single most important item on the list. Wait until most leaves are down (late October to mid-November for most of Metro Detroit), then get the gutters and downspouts fully cleared and flow-tested. Clogged gutters heading into a freeze are the #1 cause of ice dams and foundation water we see every winter. Our gutter cleaning starts at $125.

2. Consider Gutter Guards While You’re At It

If you’re under heavy trees or you’re sick of the twice-a-year routine, fall is the ideal time for gutter guards: clean the system once, cover it, and skip next spring’s cleaning entirely. Guards start at $600 depending on your linear footage, and we’ll be honest if your home doesn’t need them.

3. Get One Last House Wash In

Algae, mold, and mildew don’t die over winter — they sit on your siding and pick right back up in spring. A fall soft wash removes the season’s buildup so your home goes into winter clean and comes out of it looking sharp instead of green. It’s also far more pleasant (and effective) to do before hard freezes than to wait for a damp April.

4. Clear the Driveway and Walkways

Wet leaves and organic buildup on concrete get slick, and once it freezes, that’s a fall hazard on your own front walk. A cleaning of your driveway, steps, and walkways removes the grime and organic growth before the ice arrives — and removes the leaf-stain tannins before they set over winter. (Oil, rust, or salt-set stains are a separate treatment; ask us and we’ll tell you what’s realistic for your surface.)

5. Check Where Your Downspouts Point

Free and often overlooked. Walk the house and make sure every downspout sends water away from the foundation — at least a few feet out, ideally onto a splash block or extension. A downspout dumping right at the wall is a basement leak waiting for the first thaw.

6. Book Holiday Lights Early

If you want professional Christmas lights, the good late-November install dates go by mid-October. Booking early gets you the dates you want and a dry, safe install before the ice. Pro tip: schedule your gutter cleaning first so the lights clip to a clean, dry line.

Put It All Together

You don’t have to do this in six separate appointments. Bundling a fall gutter cleaning with a house wash, a walkway cleaning, or a light install usually means a better overall price and one visit instead of several. Reach out for a free estimate and we’ll build the fall package that fits your home — and get it done before winter does its worst.