From Summer Shine to Fall Fine: Smart Home Projects to Tackle Before the First Frost
Wyatt Tunnicliffe • August 27, 2025
As patios wind down and pumpkin spice ramps up, fall is the perfect reset for your home—and your homeowner game plan. These quick wins boost comfort, curb appeal, and efficiency now, and set you up for a low-stress winter (and a strong spring market).
1) Safety & “silent leak” checks (Weekend-ready)
- Clean gutters & downspouts. Add leaf guards where trees overhang.
- Roof scan. Look for lifted shingles, cracked flashings, or moss.
- Seal the shell. Re-caulk window/door trim; replace weatherstripping.
- Test alarms. New batteries for smoke/CO detectors; add one near bedrooms.
Why it matters: Prevent water intrusion and heat loss before storms roll in.
2) Heat smarter, not harder
- Furnace/boiler tune-up and filter change.
- Smart thermostat with schedules and geofencing.
- Draft hunt. Foam gaskets behind outlets, door sweeps on exterior doors.
ROI tip: Efficiency upgrades lower monthly bills and can improve lender ratios if you’re eyeing a refinance later.
3) Fall-proof your yard (so spring you says “thanks”)
- Aerate + overseed + fall fertilize for thicker turf next year.
- Trim trees/shrubs away from siding and power lines.
- Mulch perennials and plant spring bulbs now.
- Shut off/bleed exterior taps and store hoses to avoid burst pipes.
4) Extend outdoor season (cozy edition)
- Portable fire pit or propane heater + layered blankets.
- Path/step lighting for darker evenings (solar or low-voltage).
- Weather-resistant storage for cushions/tools to preserve value.
Neighborhood curb appeal: Warm lighting and tidy beds make a big first impression if you list in shoulder season.
5) Water management = winter peace of mind
- Re-grade low spots and add downspout extensions (2–3+ metres).
- Check sump pump (and backup).
- Look for efflorescence or damp corners in the basement.
6) Mini-renos that punch above their weight
- Entry/mudroom upgrade: hooks, bench, boot trays, closed storage.
- Laundry room tune-up: counter over machines, sorting bins, task lighting.
- Kitchen refresh: new hardware, tap, and under-cabinet lighting in one afternoon.
Budget guide: Many of these land under a micro-reno budget—perfect for a modest line of credit.
7) Indoor air quality tune-up
- Deep clean vents and dryers (including the rigid duct).
- Add door mats (exterior + interior) to catch grit/salt.
- Houseplants or HEPA purifier for closed-window months.
Fast Timeline (pin this to the fridge)
Late August–September
- Gutters/downspouts, roof/caulking, HVAC service, lawn care, plant bulbs, exterior tap shut-off plan, path lighting.
October
- Weatherstripping/sweeps, fire pit setup, organize mudroom/garage, test alarms, sump check, downspout extensions, dryer vent cleaning.
Financing smarter: make your mortgage work for your home
- Annual mortgage check-in. As rates, income, and goals evolve, a quick review can free up cash flow or open options for a small fall project budget.
- HELOC vs. top-up refinance. For bite-size projects, a HELOC can be flexible. For bigger renos you plan to pay down, a top-up refi might make more sense.
- Bundle & prioritize. Knock out the high-impact, low-cost items first (air sealing, safety, water management) before the cosmetic upgrades.
Not sure which route fits your fall plans? We’ll run the numbers and map the best financing path for your specific budget and goals.
Quick Checklist (copy/paste)
- ☐ Clean gutters/downspouts; add guards
- ☐ Roof & flashing visual check
- ☐ Re-caulk, weatherstrip, add door sweeps
- ☐ HVAC service + new filter
- ☐ Aerate/overseed/fertilize; trim trees; plant bulbs
- ☐ Path & entry lighting
- ☐ Drain/bleed outdoor taps; store hoses
- ☐ Downspout extensions; sump test
- ☐ Dryer vent cleaning
- ☐ Mudroom/garage organization
- ☐ Schedule mortgage review / discuss HELOC vs refi
Ready to make fall your low-stress season?
Book a quick fall mortgage check-up—15 minutes to see if a small credit line or a tweak to your current mortgage could cover your priority projects without straining cash flow.
Bank of Canada lowers policy rate to 2¼%. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Relations Ottawa, Ontario October 29, 2025 The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. With the effects of US trade actions on economic growth and inflation somewhat clearer, the Bank has returned to its usual practice of providing a projection for the global and Canadian economies in this Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Because US trade policy remains unpredictable and uncertainty is still higher than normal, this projection is subject to a wider-than-usual range of risks. While the global economy has been resilient to the historic rise in US tariffs, the impact is becoming more evident. Trade relationships are being reconfigured and ongoing trade tensions are dampening investment in many countries. In the MPR projection, the global economy slows from about 3¼% in 2025 to about 3% in 2026 and 2027. In the United States, economic activity has been strong, supported by the boom in AI investment. At the same time, employment growth has slowed and tariffs have started to push up consumer prices. Growth in the euro area is decelerating due to weaker exports and slowing domestic demand. In China, lower exports to the United States have been offset by higher exports to other countries, but business investment has weakened. Global financial conditions have eased further since July and oil prices have been fairly stable. The Canadian dollar has depreciated slightly against the US dollar. Canada’s economy contracted by 1.6% in the second quarter, reflecting a drop in exports and weak business investment amid heightened uncertainty. Meanwhile, household spending grew at a healthy pace. US trade actions and related uncertainty are having severe effects on targeted sectors including autos, steel, aluminum, and lumber. As a result, GDP growth is expected to be weak in the second half of the year. Growth will get some support from rising consumer and government spending and residential investment, and then pick up gradually as exports and business investment begin to recover. Canada’s labour market remains soft. Employment gains in September followed two months of sizeable losses. Job losses continue to build in trade-sensitive sectors and hiring has been weak across the economy. The unemployment rate remained at 7.1% in September and wage growth has slowed. Slower population growth means fewer new jobs are needed to keep the employment rate steady. The Bank projects GDP will grow by 1.2% in 2025, 1.1% in 2026 and 1.6% in 2027. On a quarterly basis, growth strengthens in 2026 after a weak second half of this year. Excess capacity in the economy is expected to persist and be taken up gradually. CPI inflation was 2.4% in September, slightly higher than the Bank had anticipated. Inflation excluding taxes was 2.9%. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation have been sticky around 3%. Expanding the range of indicators to include alternative measures of core inflation and the distribution of price changes among CPI components suggests underlying inflation remains around 2½%. The Bank expects inflationary pressures to ease in the months ahead and CPI inflation to remain near 2% over the projection horizon. With ongoing weakness in the economy and inflation expected to remain close to the 2% target, Governing Council decided to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points. If inflation and economic activity evolve broadly in line with the October projection, Governing Council sees the current policy rate at about the right level to keep inflation close to 2% while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment. If the outlook changes, we are prepared to respond. Governing Council will be assessing incoming data carefully relative to the Bank’s forecast. The Canadian economy faces a difficult transition. The structural damage caused by the trade conflict reduces the capacity of the economy and adds costs. This limits the role that monetary policy can play to boost demand while maintaining low inflation. The Bank is focused on ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval. Information note The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is December 10, 2025. The Bank’s next MPR will be released on January 28, 2026. Read the October 29th, 2025 Monetary Report
When calculating if you can afford to purchase a property, don’t just figure out a rough downpayment and quickly move on from there. Several other costs need to be considered when buying a property; these are called your closing costs. Closing costs refer to the things you’ll have to pay for out of your pocket and the amount of money necessary to finalize the purchase of a property. And like most things in life, it pays to plan ahead when it comes to closing costs. Closing costs should be part of the pre-approval conversation as they are just as important as saving for your downpayment. Now, if your mortgage is high-ratio and requires mortgage default insurance, the lender will need to confirm that you have at least 1.5% of the purchase price available to close the mortgage. This is in addition to your downpayment. So if your downpayment is 10% of the purchase price, you’ll want to have at least 11.5% available to bring everything together. But of course, the more cash you have to fall back on, the better. So with that said, here is a list of the things that will cost you money when you’re buying a property. As prices vary per service, if you’d like a more accurate estimate of costs, please connect anytime, it would be a pleasure to walk through the exact numbers with you. Inspection or Appraisal A home inspection is when you hire a professional to assess the property's condition to make sure that you won’t be surprised by unexpected issues. An appraisal is when you hire a professional to compare the property's value against other properties that have recently sold in the area. The cost of a home inspection is yours, while the appraisal cost is sometimes covered by your mortgage default insurance and sometimes covered by you! Lawyer or Notary Fees To handle all the legal paperwork, you’re required to hire a legal real estate professional. They’ll be responsible for transferring the title from the seller's name into your name and make sure the lender is registered correctly on the title. Chances are, this will be one of your most significant expenses, except if you live in a province with a property transfer tax. Taxes Depending on which province you live in and the purchase price of the property you’re buying, you might have to pay a property transfer tax or land transfer tax. This cost can be high, upwards of 1-2% of the purchase price. So you’ll want to know the numbers well ahead of time. Insurance Before you can close on mortgage financing, all financial institutions want to see that you have property/home insurance in place for when you take possession. If disaster strikes and something happens to the property, your lender must be listed on your insurance policy. Unlike property insurance, which is mandatory, you might also consider mortgage insurance, life insurance, or a disability insurance policy that protects you in case of unforeseen events. Not necessary, but worth a conversation. Moving Expenses Congratulations, you just bought a new property; now you have to get all your stuff there! Don’t underestimate the cost of moving. If you’re moving across the country, the cost of hiring a moving company is steep, while renting a moving truck is a little more reasonable; it all adds up. Hopefully, if you’re moving locally, your costs amount to gas money and pizza for friends. Utilities Hooking up new services to a property is more time-consuming than costly. However, if you’re moving to a new province or don’t have a history of paying utilities, you might be required to come up with a deposit for services. It doesn’t really make sense to buy a property if you can’t afford to turn on the power or connect the water. So there you have it; this covers most of the costs associated with buying a new property. However, this list is by no means exhaustive, but as mentioned earlier, planning for these costs is a good idea and should be part of the pre-approval process. If you have any questions about your closing costs or anything else mortgage-related, please connect anytime; it would be great to hear from you!
