As summer begins to wind down along the Grand Strand, we turn our focus to helping your prepare your home and property for the fall and winter months. While we enjoy mild temperatures here along the Grand Strand, there are crucial things that you can do to protect the life of your property and systems, and ensure an enjoyable season:

- Have your HVAC unit serviced. This goes without saying, a twice a year service from a trusted, local company will make sure your machine lasts and is working properly. After it has worked hard through the summer heat, make sure that it is well cared for.

- Inspect your roof and flashing. Summer storms and fall hurricanes can give your roof a beating. Checking for lifted or loosened shingles helps avoid bigger problems down the road.

- Clean out the gutters as pine needles and leaves begin to fall. Keeping your gutters clear through the fall as pine needles fall throughout the area makes sure your drains work properly.

- Pressure wash off the salt and mildew that comes with the rainy season and hot, humid months before winter arrives.

- Reverse your ceiling fans. You should change the direction of your fans seasonally to help move the warm air as it needs.

- Clean out fireplaces to ensure no nesting debris and before you enjoy a fire.

- Protect your lawn by aerating the soil and using a slow release fall fertilizer to protect grasses. Remember that centipede grass will go dormant over the cold, winter months.

- Trim up trees and cut back limbs that can cause damage to roofs and other property during hurricane season or the occasional ice storm winter brings.

- Prepare your sprinkler system by draining the system and ensuring it is correctly powered down and protected.

- Make sure that smoke alarm batteries are changed, air filters are changed, and complete any other monthly and seasonal maintenance items that come along with home ownership.

Enjoy cooler mornings and less humidity during one of our favorite times of the year!