Winter is Coming… Is Your Home Ready?

It is a beautiful fall day here in Western New York… hard to imagine that before we know it, we’ll be buried in snow!

Fall is coming to a close – this is the perfect time to prepare your home for the winter with preventative maintenance!  Whether you’ve just moved into a new home, you are a first time home-owner, or you’ve lived in your home for years, it is a smart idea to take care of some simple preparations in order to avoid the risk of expensive repairs down the road.  Here are 10 quick, inexpensive tips for preparing your home:

1.  Check and seal your windows and exterior doors.  Test for drafts on the inside of your windows.  (Hold a lit candle close to the window seems, if it flickers you may have to repair the exterior seal).  Check the caulk on the outside of the window frames (look for gaps & cracks).  If repairs need to be made it is easiest and most efficient to remove the old caulk with a caulk softener so that you may re-seal the window.  The new caulk will stick and seal best to a clean surface.  Check your local home supply store for materials.  How about Chautauqua Brick!

2.  Replace your window screens with storm windows.  Consider covering window wells in your basement with plastic shields.

3.  Have a HVAC professional inspect your furnace.  It is a good idea to clean the ducts and replace the filter to help it work more efficiently through the winter months.

4.  Consider installing a programmable thermostat.  This will allow you to automatically create a heating schedule for your home.  For example, I have programmed my thermostat to raise the temperature slightly around 6:00 AM when I wake up, decrease slightly at 8:00 AM when I leave for work, increase again at 5:00 PM when I return home from work and decrease again at 10:00 PM when I go to sleep at the end of the day.  This way, my thermostat is not being overused when I am not home or do not need the extra warmth.

5.  Have your chimney cleaned and inspected to avoid unwanted fires or fumes entering your home.  Chop and store firewood in a dry area.

6.  Inspect your downspouts and gutters.  Clean the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear out the debris.  This will allow melting snow and ice to melt and drain properly.

7.  Replace any worn, loose or missing shingles.  It’s better to fix them now and prevent the potential damage caused by the weight of the snow!

8.  Install smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and test them to make sure they are working properly.  Replace any fire extinguishers that are 10+ years old.

9.  Clean and store your porch/patio furniture.  It will be much easier to take care of this without battling the snow!

10.  Bring any of your weather sensitive potted plants indoors.  Clear plant debris away from your house to allow proper air circulation and avoid pooling of water against your house when the snow and ice start to melt.

I hope these tips will be useful to you!  Taking advantage of some of these ideas will help you maintain your home’s value!  Spend a little money in prevention and avoid spending much more $$$ in repairs if winter damage were to occur.

Did we miss anything?  What are your creative ways of preparing for the winter season?

Wine Weekends in Western New York

Are you looking for a fun fall activity?  Take advantage of our local wineries and breweries at these great events the next 2 weekends!  Want to turn your trip into a weekend getaway?  Call Team VP and we can help you find the perfect place to stay!

November 6th & 7th or 13th & 14thVisit the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail for their Harvest Wine Weekend!  Visit 21 wineries for $35/ticket: enjoy wonderful food & wine pairings, receive a commemorative wine glass, a gift and a $5 voucher.  Pre-purchase tickets online at www.chautauquawinetrail.org or call 877.326.6561

*Featured Properties for rent along the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail (all less than 5 min. from Mazza Chautauqua Cellars on the Wine Trail)

88 Stoessel, Chautauqua  sleeps 10

 

  • 5 bedrooms
  • 4.5 baths (2 with jacuzzi tubs)
  • 3 separate living areas
  • large deck w/ gas grill

Hunt Lea Condominiums  sleeps 8

  • brand new condominium!
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 baths
  • open living area & full kitchen

NorthShore Townhome  sleeps 8

  • 2 bedrooms + loft
  • 2.5 baths
  • living/dining area with gas fireplace

 

November 12th & 13th   3:30 – 7:30

The 7th Annual Beer and Wine Festival, hosted by Ellicottville Brewing Company and Southern Tier Brewing Company, will be held at Holiday Valley Ski Resort’s Yodeler Lodge in Ellicottville, NY.  Guests will be able to sample hand-crafted beers from over 30 of the best NY State and American craft breweries and wines from New York State, Southern Ontario and Ellicottville vintners.

Pre-sale tickets: $40  Purchase Online HERE
Ticekts at the door: $47

*Featured properties for rent near Holiday Valley Ski Resort

Winter Winds Chalet  sleeps 10  (Walk to the Yodeler Lodge!)

  • 4 bedrooms
  • 3 baths
  • woodburning fireplace
  • gorgeous views of the slopes and winter foliage!

Valley Village # 3  sleeps 8  (Walk to the Yodeler Lodge!)

  • 3 bedrooms + loft
  • 2.5 baths
  • 3-level townhouse
  • rear deck w/ Hot Tub & gas grill

Valley Village # 17  sleeps 11  (Walk to the Yodeler Lodge!)

  • 3 bedrooms + loft
  • 2 baths
  • beautiful hardwood floors & leather furniture
  • gas fireplace
  • beautiful slopeside location

 

Have you been to any of these festivals in the past?  What were your favorite wines and/or craft beers?  We’d love to hear from you!

We’re Still the Same Great Team!

ERA Team VP Real Estate & Vacation Rentals… (formerly ERA Vacation Properties) we have refreshed our name & our logo to reflect all that our team has to offer you!

ERATeamVPlogo

And guess what??  Our BRAND NEW website has officially launched!  Visit www.myteamvp.com to easily search all properties listed for sale in both Chautauqua & Cattaraugus Counties.  Looking for a house in Jamestown, Chautauqua, Bemus Point, Mayville, Lakewood, Ellicottville, Salamanca, Great Valley, etc, etc… our website will give you the ability to view property pictures, details, a map & directions, a satellite image, community info… see for yourself!

Looking for a Vacation Rental near the ski slopes in Ellicottville, on Chautauqua Lake, in Chautauqua Institution, or any of the surrounding areas?  View all properties available and easily book online!

We also provide full service property management, including: property association management, repair & maintenance and cleaning and housekeeping services!

Take a look at our website and let us know what you think!  We hope you’ll continue to use our site as your favorite place to search for properties, vacation rentals or area information! server ip domain expiring . webhosting info . compare hotel prices . domain analysis