Fall is officially in full swing, which means winter isn't too far away. For homeowners, this means getting your house ready for the season. Snowy winter weather, while beautiful, can cause damage to your property, which can be costly and time-consuming to fix. However, if you tackle some of these maintenance tasks before the first frost hits, your home is more likely to stay in good shape. Here are the outdoor home projects to complete before winter, so you can avoid major repairs next spring.

Seal the gaps

It's crucial to check and seal the gaps around your windows and doors, according to interior designer Nancy Dow of Sierra Living Concepts. "Replacing worn weatherstripping and refreshing exterior caulking can help keep cold air and moisture out and make the home more energy efficient," Dow says. This might not seem like a major issue, but ignoring gaps can create larger problems in the long run. Water can freeze inside small cracks, Dow warns, and cause more serious damage to your home. Getting a lower energy bill is just the cherry on top.

Inspect your gutters and roof

Clearing your roof and gutters might not be glamorous, but it's absolutely essential. Brandon Bryant, president and partner of Alair Asheville Red Tree, explains that these areas are often overlooked. "Make sure your gutters are cleaned out and, just as importantly, make sure the downspouts aren't clogged. The gutter can be spotless, but if the downspout isn't moving water away from the house, you've still got a problem." After that, take a good look at your shingles. "Missing shingles and small issues have a way of turning into bigger ones once the weather changes," he says.

Consider repainting the exterior of your house

Philadelphia-based interior designer and founder of Studio W, Courtney Klinger, tells me that if you've been thinking about painting the outside of your house, it's best to do it ASAP, before the temperatures drop. "The ideal exterior paint temperatures, according to the Benjamin Moore Paint Specification Guide, range between 40 and 90 degrees with low humidity for best results."

Check your outdoor lighting

"As daylight dims, lighting becomes essential to make your home's exterior inviting. Now is the perfect time to call the electrician and plan for those darker months ahead," notes Klinger. "This includes landscape lighting to highlight greenery, outdoor task lighting around the grill or lounge, and holiday outlet planning to avoid all of those pesky extension cords," she adds. Or, at the very least, check and replace as necessary any exterior lightbulbs on your property, including sconces on your house.

Prep your garden

While it may feel as if spring is a hundred years away, it's closer than you think. There are several things you can do to prep your garden now. "The best time to plant new trees, flowers, and bulbs is four to six weeks before the first frost. This gives your plants time to root properly and settle in before spring bloom," says Courtney.

Clean the chimney

Making Santa slide down a dirty chimney will definitely get you on his "naughty list" next year. Todd Tripp, home improvement expert at JustAnswer, says it's best to call that chimney sweep in the fall. An expert will make sure the chimney is free from soot and birds' nests and ready for cozy winter afternoons spent reading by the fire.

Maintain your fence

Fence maintenance should also be high on the pre-winter checklist, says Brad Ledford, senior franchise operations manager at Top Rail Fence. "Start with the basics: tighten any loose hardware, trim back tall growth or branches hanging over the fence line, and clean or pressure wash the fence, applying stain or sealant if it needs it," Ledford says. "The single most important step is replacing any broken or missing pickets and panels. If you're in an area prone to harsh winter weather, it's also worth adding stabilizers or brackets for extra reinforcement."

Replace damaged siding

Replacing your siding isn't just an aesthetic project, it's also a functional one. "When you replace siding, you aren't simply replacing the material you see. You are upgrading what I call the entire siding assembly," says David Ferraro, president of Good Guys Contracting. "That begins with the weather-resistant barrier, or WRB, behind the siding. A quality WRB, combined with proper air-sealing techniques, can make a substantial difference in home performance, especially regarding drafts and heating efficiency," he explains. You'll be glad you checked this off the list when your home is warmer and cozier this winter.

The bottom line

Winter is coming, and the time to act is now. Sealing gaps, cleaning gutters and roofs, repainting exteriors, checking lighting, prepping the garden, cleaning the chimney, maintaining the fence and replacing damaged siding are all tasks that can save you money and stress next spring. These projects not only protect your home from winter damage but also improve energy efficiency and curb appeal. Tackle them before the first frost, and you'll be able to enjoy a warmer, cozier home all winter long, with fewer repairs to worry about when spring arrives.