Getting your home and garden ready for winter

Winter is well on the way, and it's time to pull out your winter wardrobe. It's also time to take stock of your home and garden and consider what you need to do to get winter-ready. If you're planning to sell your home this winter, it's important that you set the stage as cosy and welcoming. If you're just looking to make the most of winter in your home, these tips will help you create a great haven from which to enjoy the colder months. Jawitz Properties has put together a checklist of #RealTips to get your home and garden winter-ready.

Starting inside...getting your home ready for winter

If the wind is howling outside, you don't want it to find ways into your home. The first step to getting your home ready for winter is ensuring that doors and windows are well sealed and that unwanted cold air isn't getting in. Once that's taken care of, it's time to turn your attention to winter décor. Throws, carpets, rugs, quilts, scatter cushions and blankets can all add to an ambience of warmth and homeliness this winter. Place a throw or two over the back of the couch and a rug on the floor (especially if your floors are tiled). Layer your bed with quilts and blankets.

With the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2023 being Viva Magenta, there is a great incentive to choose warm shades of reddish pink to warm up your home this winter. Depending on your overall colour scheme, other great colours for winter accents include crème, grey and earthy brown tones.

Another great way to make your home look cosier this winter is to incorporate extra lighting into your living space. Put a few lamps on and make use of your fireplace if you have one. You can maintain the warm lighting in your home even during loadshedding by investing in warm white rechargeable light bulbs. As these do not depend entirely on electricity, they provide much-needed light during power cuts. When the power is on, these bulbs automatically recharge.

In homes that don't have a fireplace, a gas heater is a great option to keep yourselves warm this winter. Gas heaters produce more heat than electric heaters and, of course, have the advantage of working seamlessly during loadshedding

Preparing your home's exterior to withstand winter

By tackling a few end-of-season practical tasks in and around your home, you can look forward to a season uninterrupted by emergency trips outside into the cold. Here are eight things to do as the cold winter weather begins to set in:

1. Check your roof and exterior walls. Make sure that all roof tiles are in their correct places and that there are no cracks or damp spots on your exterior walls.
2. Clear leaves and debris out of your gutters. This is especially important if you live in an area like Cape Town, where lots of winter rainfall is expected.
3. If you have a fireplace and chimney, ensure that they are clean and clear of any blockages.
4. If there's no insulation in your roof, consider having this put in. At least 25% of your home's warmth is said to be lost through the ceiling.     
5. Winter means it's getting dark earlier, so make sure that all your outside lights are working. Consider installing a few solar lights outside, as they will stay lit even when Eskom turns off the lights.
6. In frost-prone areas, don't plant anything that's not frost hardy unless you're prepared to provide protection. It's advisable to cover susceptible plants with lightweight gardening fleece.
7. Water plants and lawns once or twice a week, preferably early in the day. Don't leave sprinklers and irrigation systems on overnight, as the water can freeze and damage your plants.
8. Always put hosepipes away before dark. If yours is frozen, don't move it until it has thawed. If you do, it may crack and break - which will add to your winter maintenance expenses.

Tips for selling your home in winter

While winter may not feel like the ideal time to sell, buyers are looking for properties all year round. While your garden may not be flourishing, make sure that it is kept neat and well-swept. The most important aspect of staging the interior of your home for a winter sale is to make it feel as cosy as possible. Switch the heater on or light a fire if you have a fireplace. Turning on as many lights as possible is a great way to create a warm, homely glow that will enable people viewing your home to visualise living in it. You can also highlight any backup power systems that you've had installed.

The Jawitz Properties team has spent decades helping people to buy and sell property in all seasons. If you're looking for a new home - or to sell your current home - contact us today.