The Job Everyone Puts Off Until It Leaks: A Hilliard Pro's Fall Home Checklist

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HILLIARD, Ohio: Ask Erik Zirneskie of KWS & Co. which home maintenance job people put off until it costs them, and he does not hesitate. It is the gutters and downspouts.

They do not seem like a big deal, Zirneskie said, until there is a problem. Once leaves and debris build up, water can overflow, freeze, and cause damage around the roofline or foundation, which leads to leaks in the basement. Taking care of them before winter, he said, is a relatively simple way to avoid a much bigger repair later.

The October list

Beyond the gutters, Zirneskie points homeowners in suburbs like Hilliard, Dublin, Upper Arlington and Powell to the edges of the house. Check exterior doors and windows for gaps, damaged caulking and weatherstripping that needs replaced. Then head downstairs: inspect the basement for moisture and test the sump pump to make sure it is working properly. A little preventive checking now, he said, saves homeowners a lot of trouble once freezing temperatures arrive.

Houses, rentals and campers

KWS also handles property turnovers, and Zirneskie says the mindset is different from a family home. A rental turnover is about getting the unit functional and ready for the next tenant without letting the schedule drag out, prioritizing repairs and documenting everything, because every extra day affects the owner’s timeline. A family home job focuses more on the homeowner’s immediate needs, comfort and plans for the house.

The same water-first thinking applies to RVs and campers headed into storage. Zirneskie recommends a camper tarp or cover, a careful check of the roof and seals for cracks where water could get in, a winterized plumbing system, a cleaned interior and dry storage. Mold and rot set in fast over a stored winter, he said, and he would rather see someone catch a failing roof seal in the fall than discover water damage in the spring.

Know when to call

His rule for the do-it-yourself line is practical. A straightforward job with the right tools, knowledge and time can make sense on your own, and basic hardware and minor cosmetic repairs are manageable for most people. But work involving electrical or plumbing connections, structural repairs or water intrusion is worth bringing in a professional, because a mistake can cause more damage than the original problem. Sometimes, he said, hiring a pro is less about whether you can do the job and more about getting it done correctly without having to redo it later.

KWS & Co. can also be found through The Home Depot’s Pro Referral program, the network the store uses to connect local customers with background-checked, insured pros in their area.

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