Need help on your latest project? Check out Planitdiy.com!
Brought to you by Modern Hardware & Paint Co., PlanItDIY.com is not only your source for how-to video and step-by-step project guides, but, a truly unique resource connecting you directly to local hardware retailers and other DIYers in your community.

First on the list of fall home improvements is to get our furnace thoroughly checked and make sure it is in fine running order. Yes, it is a bit uncomfortable to have the heat running at full blast when it is a hot day -- all to make sure the furnace is working fine. But we're always grateful we've taken this step when the snow falls (along with the temperatures) and we have a warm, comfortable home. We've suffered through the results of neglecting this step. Going through it before was enough to put it on our to do list for fall home maintenance projects. Cost for getting a furnace checked and maintained: Again, this can vary widely but many furnace companies have fall specials so look for those. By the way, every single repair person we've used has told us they'd prefer to check furnaces before the weather gets terribly cold and they seem willing to spend more time outside when they aren't shivering with cold.

Second on the fall home maintenance list? We make sure the chimney is clear of bird nests and that the chimney cap is still in place. We also call a chimney sweep and make sure we don't run the risk of any fire hazards that spread to the rest of our house. One year, we didn't call a chimney sweep or home inspector and had a family of raccoons make a home in our chimney. One of the babies actually fell down into our living room during the day, scaring me and putting our cat on high alert. It was a wild, chaotic experience and not one I'm eager to repeat. I could only imagine what might have happened if we'd had a roaring fire in the chimney or the potential risks of bird nests in the chimney opening with a fire in the fireplace. Cost for a chimney sweep: We paid $200.

Next on the list of fall home improvement projects is to take care of any window problems or issues. It is a rare year when we don't have to fix at least one of our windows. We have quite a few of them and it is a routine task to make sure they are caulked and the seals between the windows are nice and tight, unable to let in water. This is an excellent time to check for drafty windows, too. Cost to check the windows: Because we do this ourselves, it takes time to inspect each window carefully. We set aside a good two hours for the process and it can take longer. If everything is in place, we don't have to spend another cent. If we need exterior or interior caulking, then we have to pay for that as well as any wood to replace broken or chipped window boards or trim. Replacing a window can cost anywhere from $200 to $400 or more, depending on the window and the trim chosen.

We'd never go through list of fall home improvement projects without checking our programmable thermostat -- or adding one to our home. We've changed our regular thermostats to programmable ones and got a tax deduction or energy credit for making the switch. Each year, we make sure that their thermostats work correctly and we do test them out during the fall season. They've ended up saving us money on our heating bills although it has been hard to figure out exactly how much we've saved because gas costs have gone up and they do vary from year to year. Some fall and winter seasons are milder than others. Cost for programmable thermostats: Ours cost about $70 each, and we did get to list them for potential tax deductions, an extra tax savings.

Next step on our fall home maintenance list? Winterize our pipes. This is a fairly easy fall improvement and one that pays off big time. You can actually buy insulation that is pre-fitted to wrap around your pipes. You'll want to check out the variety of types at your local hardware or home improvement stores like Lowe's or Home Depot -- or even Wal-mart. If you can't afford to winterize all your pipes, try to cover the ones that are most likely to freeze or are most exposed to the cold. You'll be glad when you don't deal with a frozen pipe later. (Yes, we've faced that problem, too.) Cost to winterize pipes: If you call a professional, it can be expensive but this is an easy DIY (do it yourself) project. Simply go to Home Depot or Lowe's or another store and buy the material. You can adjust what you purchase to your budget, covering all your pipes or just the ones most likely to freeze.

An absolute necessity when it comes to fall home chores is cleaning out our gutters. Because our home is a bit contemporary, we have relatively few gutters but it is still vital to make sure they get cleaned out during the fall season. If we forget this step, we can wake up to gutter fall of frozen leaves, ice and snow and increase the risk of a roof leak. This is one fall home improvement project that definitely can save hundreds of dollars. Cost to clean out the gutters: Our time and energy and a good ladder, plus some strong plastic or other gloves to avoid getting germs on our hands.

Don't forget to repaint or repair any interior or exterior doors while completing your fall home improvement projects.
If you're clever enough to save leftover paint in small cans or bottles, you'll save yourself time and money each year. If not, it isn't hard to find matching paint to cover any worn sections of your doors and windows. Winter can be brutal and you'll be well-served if you make sure your doors are fully protected. Cost to repaint or repair interior and exterior doors: It can cost $10 or less, depending on any paint you have on hand. Of course, if you are repainting or replacing doors, the costs can be significantly more.