It’s always a good time to check your house and have it in peak condition for the cold and wintery weather, and be proactive in preventing costly repairs down the road.

“Homeowners should check their gutters and drainage,” said Julie Sebock, president of the Butler County Association of Realtors. “If a gutter is not draining properly, it can lead to blockage, which can cause roof damage, which is not a cheap fix.”

Sebock recommends homeowners prepare for the effects of winter storms before they hit.

“You don’t want to be the person trying to find a shovel to buy the night before a predicted blizzard,” she said. “Make sure your snow blower, shovels and scrapers are still in working order and have salt on hand.”

Storms can also lead to power outages, so the association recommends making sure to have fresh batteries, working flashlights, blankets and a plan for when a storm knocks out the power. If it’s in the budget, a generator is a great tool to have for your home in these situations.

Checking windows and doors for air leaks is another way to protect your house this winter, Sebock said. Cracks can lead to heat leaking out, making the electricity bill even costlier, or even letting unwelcome pests in.

“Don’t forget about your pipes,” Sebock said. “Frozen pipes can lead to bursting pipes and that’s a headache no one wants to deal with. Open the cabinets to let warmer air in, let cold water drip from the faucet and don’t set your thermostat to lower than 55 degrees.”