During the summer, the last thing you think about are the repairs you have to do around the house. But what do you do if winter catches you on the wrong foot?

Autumn is here and, from now on, the temperatures will only go down. If you do not identify the things that must be fixed around the house in time, the condition of your home may worsen dramatically during the winter.

Here are the steps you need to take right now, before it is too late:

• Inspect the roof

Summer storms can affect the condition of your roof. In order prevent these problems from getting worse in winter, the condition of the roof must be inspected by Highlands Ranch roofing specialists before the first snow fall, and broken or cracked materials must be replaced.

• Check the condition of the chimney

The chimney can become clogged, preventing proper evacuation of hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by different heating systems and endangering your life.

• Hurry up the yard maintenance work

Fallen leaves can clog the building`s drainage system, causing flooding and destruction, especially when impressive amounts of snow melt. Make sure you do a general cleaning of the whole yard before the first snow falls, to avoid such unpleasant situations. Also, now is the time to store outdoor furniture that may be vulnerable to winter weather.