Author: Phil Hall

Fall Home Prep

September 15, 2024 / Phil Hall

As the vibrant colors of autumn settle over Southern WI, it’s time to shift focus from summer adventures to preparing your home for the colder months ahead. Fall is a crucial period for home maintenance, and addressing key tasks now can help ensure your home remains warm, safe, and efficient throughout the winter. Below are some essential fall home maintenance tips tailored for our area.

Inspect and Clean Your Heating System
Before the chill of winter sets in, schedule a professional inspection for your furnace or heating system. Wisconsin winters can be harsh, and ensuring your system is running efficiently will keep your home cozy and help avoid unexpected breakdowns. Change or clean filters, and consider having the ducts cleaned to improve air quality and system efficiency.

Check Insulation and Weatherstripping
Proper insulation is vital for keeping your home warm and energy-efficient. Inspect attic insulation and seal any gaps or cracks in walls, doors, and windows. Adding weatherstripping to doors and windows can prevent drafts and reduce heating costs. Pay special attention to areas prone to cold spots or moisture accumulation.

Clean and Inspect Gutters and Downspouts
With the leaves falling, it’s crucial to keep your gutters and downspouts free of debris. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage and ice dams, which are especially problematic during Lake Geneva’s winters. Ensure water flows freely away from your home’s foundation by cleaning gutters and checking downspouts for proper function.

Prepare Your Fireplace and Chimney
If you use a fireplace for warmth or ambiance, have your chimney inspected and cleaned before you light your first fire of the season. A professional chimney sweep can remove soot and creosote buildup, reducing the risk of chimney fires. Also, check for any damage to the chimney cap and flue.

Inspect Roof and Siding
Autumn is a good time to inspect your roof for damaged or missing shingles that could lead to leaks during snow and rain. Additionally, check the siding for signs of wear or gaps that might let in cold air. Addressing these issues now can prevent more significant problems later.

Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Irrigation Systems
To prevent pipes from freezing and bursting, drain and disconnect garden hoses. If you have an irrigation system, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for winterizing it. Insulating outdoor faucets with foam covers can also provide added protection against freezing temperatures.

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
With the heating season starting, it’s essential to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if necessary, and ensure these detectors are functioning correctly to keep your home safe from fire and harmful gases.

Prepare for Snow and Ice
Ensure you have snow shovels, salt, or sand on hand for the first snowfall. Check that your snow blower is in good working condition and consider having it serviced if it hasn’t been used for a while. Being prepared for winter weather can make the season more manageable and less stressful. If salt and snow isn’t your cup of tea, the RTH Team can handle all your snow removal needs.

Clean and Store Summer Equipment
Before storing summer items like lawn mowers, grills, and patio furniture, clean and properly store them. For lawn mowers, consider getting them serviced and ensuring they’re in good condition for the next season. Covering or storing outdoor furniture can protect it from the elements and prolong its lifespan.

By tackling these fall maintenance tasks, you’ll ensure your Lake Geneva home is ready for winter’s challenges. Not only will this help keep your home comfortable and efficient, but it can also save you from costly repairs down the road. Embrace the fall season with a well-maintained home, and enjoy the beautiful autumnal scenery Lake Geneva has to offer. If at any point you have questions, need help with a fall project, or just a professional opinion, please let us help you make the most of your fall season. So enjoy the leaves, the jack-o-lantern carving, and relax…we’ll take care of everything.

Thank you,

RTH Property Management

A Sunset on Summer

August 28, 2022 / Phil Hall

The end of August and the coming of Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. School is back in session, football is back on television, and pretty soon we’ll be putting away the summer toys and getting out snow shovels and snow blowers. But before summer and fall officially leave us, there are still plenty of fun things to do and things around the house we can do to prepare for next summer.

Have one final summer BBQ and cook out

Use the end of summer as an excuse to fire up the Barbie one more time before putting it away for the winter. Find a new recipe, invite your friends and family over, and have a last hurrah before winter sets in. Setting up a tent or slip and slide is generally less harsh on your lawn in the late summer / early fall. You may also be able to get a better deal on a rental at the end of the season when rental items are less in demand.

Sharpen your mower blades and set you mower to mulching mode

Sharpening your mower blades now means one less thing to do next spring. If you’ve been bagging your lawn clippings all summer, put away the bagger and change your mower over to mulching mode—if you can keep up on mowing your lawn this fall you can mulch your leaves and never even have to rake them up. Lastly, when the fall is over, make sure to run your mower out of gas or add some fuel stabilizer so it will fire right up next spring.

Use the change in season as a time to update your home

– With kids back in school and off to college your house will be a little quieter and ready for that update you’ve been wanting to make. It could be a simple as pressuring washing your house / deck, painting a room or two, or a full blown kitchen reno, but regardless, use this fall as a time to update your home ahead of the busy December / January holiday season. If you need any help locating a contractor or managing bids / materials / work, RTH Property Management can be as engaged as your home improvement project requires.

We hope everyone has had a great summer and that you can enjoy these last few weeks of warm weather and the beautiful fall season. If there’s anything at all that you or your home need, give us a call and relax…We’ll take care of everything.

Until next time,

RTH Property Management

Fourth of July

July 3, 2022 / Phil Hall

The Fourth of July is upon us! Break out the bathing suits, watermelon, ice cream, and get ready to watch the fireworks! The Fourth of July is the unofficial benchmark that spring is (hopefully) behind us and summer is in full swing. With some good weather in the forecast, be sure to take advantage of the outdoors—play a round of golf, go for a picnic, take a swim in the lake.

Summer is also an excellent time to spruce up your yard, do a little painting, or start planning that big project you’ve been putting off for so long. Whether it’s a little help painting the pier, lining someone up to help mow your grass, or something as simple as helping put in a new fire ring for marshmallows, RTH is here to make it happen for you.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the long holiday weekend. We’ll take care of everything!

Winter is on its Way Out

April 3, 2022 / Phil Hall

With April snow this year, spring and summer certainly seem a ways off. Even though we thought we were done with the shoveling for the year, we certainly don’t need to set aside the spring and summer plans we had.

If you haven’t started spring and summer planning yet, here are a few easy things to help get the ball rolling:

Test your smoke detector batteries and furnace filters. With Day Light Savings Time happing recently, spring is a great time to test all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change out any batteries that are low. With spring pollen underway, it’s also a good time to change your furnace filter and set your calendar to change filters every three months. This helps keep pollen, dust, and pet dander out of the air and keeps your home heathier, happier, and cleaner.

Start up your lawnmower and take it in for a tune up (if needed). Prior to your grass growing with the spring rains, pull out your lawn mower and start it up for the first time this season. Make sure it’s running right, has a sharp blade, and a mower deck set to at least 2-1/2 inches. This is also a good time to put up your snow blower for the summer and either run the gas tank dry or add fuel saver to the tank.

Do a little spring gardening. With the winter weather subsiding, now is a good time to clean up plating beds, cut back any shrubs or trees with dead or broken branches, and mulch any beds that need re-mulching. Take some time to focus on pots and window planters as well. Add a little plant fertilizer if you’ve used them for several seasons to help plants get a good start once planted. To ensure good drainage in your containers, place broken pieces of pottery or gravel at the bottom of your containers. If you’re worried about soil running out of the bottom when you water them, place a layer of landscaping fabric or cheesecloth between the gravel and the planting soil.

While we haven’t quite shaken winter just yet, getting a head start on some spring and summer plans will help take your mind off winter and help you enjoy the good times to come even more. If you need any help with spring cleaning, summer projects, or just need someone to keep an eye on your place, RTH Property Management is here to help and serve you. So finish shoveling, put away your winter clothes, and then relax….we’ll take care of everything.

Fall Roundup

August 8, 2021 / Phil Hall

With the summer season turning the corner and heading towards fall, its time to start thinking about the wrap up of summer and the approach of winter. And while that doesn’t mean you need to immediately picture cold temps, icicles, and snow-covered driveways, it also doesn’t hurt to start that end of summer / early fall checklist. Here are a few things to consider as the dog days of summer wind down:

Take care of your lawn

Summer runs through the sprinkler, lawn games, and the hot weather have given your lawn a workout this summer. Consider some end of season maintenance such as aeration and fall fertilizer to prep your lawn for winter and help it pop next spring.

Prep for the snow

With winter on the horizon, think about pulling that snow blower out and making sure its ready to roll. Checking early will make sure there’s plenty of time for any necessary tune ups as well as being ready for any unexpected fall snow storms.

Clean your gutters

Keeping gutters clean will help water flow off your roof and to the ground. As the leaves begin to fall, make sure your gutters are properly cleaned to prevent water / ice build up. If you don’t have a blower, a plastic spatula makes a great tool to get any difficult leaves and debris out of your gutters.

Change your smoke detector batteries

As fall and daylight savings time approach make sure to have batteries on hand to change out your smoke and CO2 detector batteries. If you have any battery operated home security systems, fall is also a good time to change those batteries as well.

Bring in temperature sensitive items

Look around your house for anything that shouldn’t stay outside this winter. This can range from patio furniture, to hoses, to latex paint from a summer project. Keeping temperature sensitive items in the correct location / temp will help to improve their service life and also prevent any messes / unwanted surprises in the future.

Check your furnace and change the furnace filter

With the cold temps approaching, do a test run of your thermostat and furnace on “heat” to make sure your home will heat as it should. If it’s time for a new furnace, or if you think yours needs a tune up, schedule an appointment with one our trusted partners to keep your home warm and snug this winter. Don’t forget to change out your any filters as well!

With plenty of summer still left, we hope these few things will help you prep for fall without causing any late fall / early winter panic. If anything on this list, or your own to-do list for that matter, seems too daunting to completely, RTH Property Management is here to help with all your fall round up needs. So sit back, relax, enjoy the rest of summer, and give us a call—we’ll take care of everything!

Early Spring Clean Up and Prep

February 28, 2021 / Phil Hall

With spring right around the corner, now is the time to get some early spring clean up done before the growing season gets into full swing. Here are a few things that can be done around the house to get your home ready for spring:

In beds, plantings, etc. remove dead material from last year and apply an even layer of much. Prune any shrubs or trees with broken or dead branches but be careful when pruning spring flowering trees and shrubs; trim back too much and the plant won’t flower this year. If you’re unsure of how far back to prune, let us help you get in touch with a certified arborist for any pruning / tree trimming needs.

Spring is a great time to plant new trees and freshly much planting beds.

Out in the lawn spring is a good time to apply a pre-emergence herbicide to help control weeds and invasive grasses. It’s also a good time to aerify and dethatch your lawn to help open up the soil and promote root growth, air exchange, and water infiltration.

Make sure you prep your lawn mower as well. Change the oil and air filter on your mower and make sure your blades are good and sharp. Set your mower deck height to at least 2-1/2 inches tall—the longer the grass the deeper the roots and the less watering you’ll need to do later in the summer.

Setting your mower deck 2-1/2″ or taller will ensure a healthy lush lawn all summer lawn
Photo by Daniel Watson on Unsplash

Doing these few simple things won’t take more than a weekend and can set your yard up for a successful spring and summer season. If you need help with anything, whether it’s servicing your mower or installing an entire new planting bed, give us a call. We’re happy to help and want your house to be the envy of the neighborhood.