The holidays will be upon us before your know it, so don’t forget to do your “Fall” HOMEwork, says Jim Bennett, President with Buyer’s Edge, Inc. When you’ve lived in a home for a while, it’s easy to forget all the things you learned about your home when you bought it. It’s important to evaluate the condition of your home on a regular basis. If you do this, you will be protecting your investment and the future value of your home.

Walk around the outside and inside of your home with a pad and pencil. This will help you keep track of your home’s condition, and could even save you money in the long run. Fall is a good time to prune trees and plants as well as add to your landscaping.

Weeds or grass clippings on your A/C compressor can reduce the air circulation and decrease the life and the efficiency of your unit. Compressors should be level for optimum performance.

Check for positive drainage away from your home’s foundation. Standing water next to the slab could cause uneven expansion of the soil, which could cause unsightly cracks in the exterior brick and sheetrock.

Other items such as termite tracks, sagging utility lines, tree limbs rubbing the roof, small water stains on ceilings or walls and a hundred other things could be overlooked, and become big expensive problems if left undetected.

Have your heating system(s) checked for proper operation. Don’t wait until the first cold front to find out your system needs cleaning or repairs. Cracks or pin holes are common in older heat exchangers. These penetrations could allow harmful gases to mix with the conditioned air you and your family breath.

You should also check your county tax records before the end of the year to verify the appropriate tax exemptions and statistical data used to determine your annual property taxes. Errors in living area square footage, and lot size, could cause you to pay more in taxes.