Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for GTA Sellers

A successful sale in the Greater Toronto Area starts long before your listing goes live. Autumn gives you the best conditions to button up the house, protect against winter damage, and present a property that feels tight, dry, efficient, and safe. Tackle the right tasks now, and you will prevent the kind of inspection notes—drafty rooms, slow furnaces, damp corners—that buyers use to chip away at your price. The following checklist blends practical, Ontario-specific guidance with what today’s buyers and their inspectors scrutinise. Work through it in order, and you will head into winter (and your sale) with fewer surprises and stronger negotiating power.

Keep Water Out: Drainage, Eavestroughs, and Basements

Clear eavestroughs and downspouts

Wait until most leaves have fallen, then clean gutters thoroughly, flush downspouts, and confirm extensions discharge well away from the foundation. Overflowing gutters dump water along your walls, inviting seepage and ice dams. If a street catch basin near your home is covered with leaves, brush it clear so stormwater drains quickly. These are standard basement-flooding prevention steps recommended by the City of Toronto.

Consider basement flooding protections (and Toronto subsidies)

If you are within Toronto, review the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program. The City offers cost-sharing on backwater valves, sump pumps, and related work (typically up to 80% of eligible costs, with device-specific caps). Keeping receipts and maintenance records for these devices reassures buyers and insurers.

Yard waste and leaves

Bag or bin leaves according to your municipal schedule, and keep drains and walkways clear. A modest layer of mulch in beds is fine, but never allow leaf piles to block grading, downspout outlets, or catch basins.

Winterize Your Plumbing

Shut off and drain exterior hose bibs

Disconnect hoses, close the interior shut-off valves feeding exterior taps, and open the outdoor faucet to drain. In older homes, add insulated covers for extra protection. Toronto’s guidance also stresses knowing the location of your main shut-off valve in case of a burst pipe.

Insulate vulnerable runs

Pipes near exterior walls, crawlspaces, garages, and attics are most at risk. Foam sleeves are inexpensive, and sealing nearby air leaks prevents cold drafts that trigger freezing.

Heat, Ventilation, and Life-Safety

Book a furnace service and change filters

Have a licensed technician inspect your gas furnace before peak season, and replace or clean filters as directed. Regular service improves efficiency, extends equipment life, and gives buyers confidence.

Smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms (Ontario requirements)

Ontario law requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas, and CO alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage. Test all units, replace expired devices, and document locations and install dates so your home clears buyer due diligence without drama.

Wood-burning appliances

If you have a fireplace or wood stove, schedule a chimney inspection/cleaning before winter. Many insurers request current documentation, and a clean flue reduces creosote and odours during showings. (Ask if a WETT report is required by your insurer or buyer.)

Stop Drafts, Boost Comfort, and Lower Bills

Air seal first, then insulate

Air leaks around window and door casings, baseboards, attic hatches, and utility penetrations waste energy and cause cold spots. Caulking and weatherstripping are cost-effective fixes that also make rooms feel tighter during showings. After sealing, check attic insulation levels; in southern Ontario, targets around R-50 to R-60 are common guidance. Ensure proper baffles maintain ventilation between insulation and roof sheathing.

Doors, windows, and garage

Replace crushed weatherstripping, adjust striker plates, and add door sweeps where thresholds are uneven. Lubricate hinges and garage rollers, tighten brackets, and test the auto-reverse on openers.

Roof and Exterior: Small Repairs, Big Signals

Scan the roof and flashing

From the ground (binoculars help), look for missing or curled shingles, exposed fasteners, loose flashing at chimneys and vents, and clogged valley areas. Addressing minor issues now prevents leaks and “active roof leak” flags on inspection reports.

Fix eavestrough slope and seams

Gutters should drain toward downspouts without standing water. Repair leaky seams, replace loose hangers, and consider a second cleaning after trees are fully bare if you have heavy canopy. (Many local pros recommend spring and late-fall service for treed lots.)

Seal exterior penetrations and touch up trims

Caulk gaps around vents, conduits, and meter penetrations. Replace missing parging or cracked caulk, and touch up exposed wood before freeze-thaw cycles lift paint.

Moisture and Indoor Air Quality

Ventilate properly

Run bath fans during and after showers, and use a range hood that vents outside when cooking. In winter, controlled ventilation prevents condensation on windows and discourages mildew—two easy buyer turn-offs.

Whole-home humidity

If you use a humidifier, replace pads and set modest humidity to avoid window sweat and musty smells. Aim for clear glass during cold snaps.

Lighting, Safety, and Everyday Function

• Exterior lighting: Replace burnt bulbs with warm-temperature LEDs so evening showings feel welcoming and safe.
  
  

• Stairs and railings: Tighten handrails, repair spalling steps, and add anti-slip treads where needed.
  
  

• House numbers: Make them visible from the street, day or night, for emergency crews and buyer agents.
  
  

• Electrical panel: Label circuits neatly and replace missing cover screws—small, confidence-building details.
  
  

Curb Appeal That Survives November

Prune branches away from the roof, edge beds, and clear dead growth. Power-wash salt-stained walks and the porch, then add a clean coir mat and a seasonal planter. Shorter days amplify first impressions; thoughtful lighting and tidy sightlines help photos and in-person showings.

Create a Simple “Home Care Dossier” for Buyers

Put a slim binder or folder on the kitchen counter with:

• This season’s furnace service receipt and your filter schedule,
  
  

• Model/expiry details for smoke and CO alarms, with a quick location sketch,
  
  

• Any chimney service or WETT documentation,
  
  

• Notes and invoices for gutter cleanings, roof touch-ups, or exterior caulking,
  
  

• If applicable in Toronto, Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy paperwork.
  
  

Clear documentation signals a well-kept home, speeds up buyer diligence, and can smooth the path to a firm offer.

The Bottom Line

Autumn is your moment to lock down water control, tune the mechanicals, satisfy Ontario life-safety rules, and eliminate easy buyer objections. Work from the outside in—drainage and roof, then plumbing and heating, then drafts, lighting, and documentation. You will feel the difference immediately, and your eventual buyer will feel it during the first showing.

Thinking about selling? The Johnson Team is one of the GTA’s top-performing real estate teams, led by Jeff and Liz Johnson, known for market knowledge, creative marketing, and client-first service. If you want expert advice on which pre-sale fixes actually pay, strategic staging, and a launch plan designed to maximise your sale price, connect with The Johnson Team today.