Fall Home Checklist: 10 Jobs to Book Before Winter in Southeastern PA

Every winter in Southeastern Pennsylvania tells the same story: the first hard freeze finds every weak point in a house, and every good contractor's phone rings off the hook at the same time. Fall is when you get ahead of it — pros still have schedule openings, prices aren't emergency prices, and most of these jobs take a day or less. Here are the ten worth booking before the cold sets in.

The checklist

1. Gutters cleaned and checked. Clogged gutters overflow against fascia and foundations, and they're ground zero for ice dams. Clean them after the leaves fall, and confirm downspouts carry water away from the house.
2. Roof inspection. Loose shingles, tired flashing, and small leaks are fall-sized repairs. In January they're interior water damage. A quick inspection now is cheap insurance.
3. Furnace or heating tune-up. A serviced system fails less, runs cheaper, and — if it is going to fail — fails on a mild October day with a tech available, not during a cold snap.
4. Chimney sweep and inspection if you burn wood. Creosote buildup is a fire risk, and blockages send smoke and carbon monoxide the wrong direction.
5. Radon test. Fall and winter are when homes are closed up tight — and when indoor radon levels run highest. If you've never tested, this is the season to know your number.
6. Basement moisture and mold check. Summer humidity and fall rains leave basements damp. Catch moisture — and any mold starting — before the house is sealed for winter.
7. Exterior pipes and hose bibs. Disconnect hoses, shut off and drain exterior faucets, and insulate exposed pipes. A burst pipe is the most expensive sentence on this list.
8. Tree work. Dead limbs over the roof are a storm away from being in the roof. Fall is a good season to trim, and arborists book up after the first ice storm.
9. Sealing and weatherstripping. Caulk gaps around windows and doors, check attic insulation, and seal where pipes and wires pass through. It's the cheapest comfort upgrade there is.
10. Sump pump test. Pour water in the pit and watch it run. Winter thaws and spring rains are coming; the time to find a dead pump is a dry Tuesday, not a flooded Saturday.

Book them the easy way

You could spend the next two weekends researching and calling around for each trade — or make one request per job through Gold Star and get matched instantly with insured, verified local pros. It's free for homeowners, and your information goes only to your matches. Start with the request form, and if you want the full picture of how it works first, our how it works page explains it in a minute. Fall schedules fill fast — this week beats next month.

Questions & Answers

Carli James writes for Gold Star Referrals.