Short answer: The winter home maintenance checklist in short: clean the gutters, check the roof, trim branches, drain outdoor faucets, stock salt, service the heat, insulate pipes, know your water shut-off and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
A few hours before the first hard freeze can save a lot of money later. Maintenance is the biggest hidden cost of owning a home: about $11,171 a year for a typical U.S. home, according to Zillow’s 2026 research. Here is the short list.
Outside
- Clean the gutters and downspouts so melting snow drains away from the house instead of backing up under the roof.
- Look at the roof for missing or lifted shingles.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof, the driveway or wires.
- Shut off and drain outdoor faucets and put the hoses away.
- Stock salt and a shovel before the first storm. In New York City the owner is responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of the home after it snows.
Inside
- Service the boiler or furnace and change the filter.
- Insulate exposed pipes in the basement, garage and crawl spaces.
- Know where your main water shut-off is, so a burst pipe is a small problem, not a big one.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and change the batteries.
- Seal drafts around windows and doors.
- Clean the chimney if you use a fireplace, and keep space heaters away from anything that can burn.
Paperwork
Insurance is now the fastest-rising cost of owning a home: premiums are up 54% in five years nationally, Zillow found. Winter is a good time to review your policy and compare quotes. Keep receipts for your boiler service and any repairs; buyers ask for them when you sell.
Checklist source: Zillow, how to prepare your home for winter.
Curious what all that care has done for your home’s value? Ask us what it is worth this month.
Quick answers
How do you keep pipes from freezing?
Insulate exposed pipes in the basement, garage and crawl spaces, shut off and drain outdoor faucets, and know where your main water shut-off is.
Who clears the sidewalk on Staten Island after snow?
In New York City the owner is responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of the home after it snows.
How much does home upkeep cost a year?
About $11,171 a year in maintenance for a typical U.S. home, according to Zillow’s 2026 research.
Keep reading
- Selling your Staten Island home this winter
- Home projects that will not pay you back when you sell
- How much down payment do you need for a Staten Island home?
- What is my home worth?
- Staten Island property taxes
Questions about your own move? Call or text the office at 718-490-0393, or send us a note.
Sources: Zillow, read November 8, 2026. National figures.
RE/MAX Edge · 651 Willowbrook Rd, Staten Island, NY 10314 · 718-612-3088. Each office independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
