When you get an unseasonably gorgeous weekend like the one we just had, the last thing you want to be doing is housework. Understood. Since this week looks like it will also be pretty mild, you have another opportunity to spend some of those waning daylight hours preparing your home before the white stuff arrives. Here are some to-dos:

1- Turn off the water for your exterior spigots and drain what's left in the pipes. Standing water in your pipes can freeze and cause a pipe to burst this winter. Not pretty.
2- Clear your gutters. If your gutters are clogged with leaves and debris, water will back up and sit there just waiting to freeze when it's cold enough. Frozen water in gutters can cause cracks and damage to your house.
3- Clear the leaves away from your house. Same principle as the gutters - leaves collect water which will freeze when it's cold enough, causing cracks in your foundation if they're close to your house.
4- Check your seals. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed tight - keeping critters looking for warmth out and keeping your warm air inside where it's supposed to be.
5- Clean your windows. A clear window lets in more sunshine, which will warm up your house on chilly days, at no charge.