DIY home guide: Winter

How to protect the value of your property, cut energy costs, avoid costly repairs, and spiff up your surroundings this winter.

7 of 8
BACKNEXT
Patrol for pests
Patrol for pests
Cost: $100 to $200 for a single visit from a pro

Mice and other vermin like to come in from the cold too, says building inspector Dick Edwards, vice president of Pacific InterWest Building Consultants. If your home has a crawlspace, check inside it for signs of animals, such as droppings, smells, or noises, and look for holes in the screens of the foundation vents.

Your garage is another weak point. Once there, pests can climb into your walls and attic, where they'll be harder and more expensive to remove. The gap between any garage doors and the slab should be no more than half an inch.



NEXT: Tighten the seals
Last updated January 28 2011: 4:46 PM ET
DIY home guide: Spring In spring, it's time to get out and repair any winter damage. More
DIY home guide: SummerSummertime and outdoor do-it-yourself chores beckon. More
DIY home guide: Autumn Autumn is the time to tune up the house for winter. More
  • Find Homes for sale
    Real estate and homes for sale on Trulia

  • Property Type
  • Find a home in:
  • New York | Atlanta | Chicago | Los Angeles
  • Washington D.C | Houston | Philadelphia | More options
Overnight Avg Rate Latest Change Last Week
30 yr fixed3.80%3.88%
15 yr fixed3.20%3.23%
5/1 ARM3.84%3.88%
30 yr refi3.82%3.93%
15 yr refi3.20%3.23%
Rate data provided
by Bankrate.com
View rates in your area
 
Find personalized rates:
Special Offer

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.