Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start thinking about your next home upgrade – whether you’re prepping the house for company, making it easier to cook a large meal, or performing routine maintenance ahead of the winter weather. Check out these 11 projects to help make this Thanksgiving your best yet.

Imagine committing to a specific haircut for the next 20 to 30 years. Or a particular model of car. Or limiting yourself to eating at one restaurant. Would you ever agree to that? Of course not.

Yet that’s similar to what happens when a homeowner buys a new roof. They pick one color and one style that will influence the appearance of their home for many years. Of course, that’s a small price to pay for the protection of a great roof. A well-installed, high-quality roofing system is simply too durable — and too expensive— to replace just because you want to try something new.

So when it comes time to buy YOUR new roof, you’ll need to consider lots of factors, including materials, warranties, integrated solar, and more. Once you’ve made those decisions, be sure to take the time to choose a style and color that reflect your taste, your home’s architecture, and the look and feel of your neighborhood.

Follow these three Cs to choose the roof style and color that will suit your home for years to come.

Every year, millions of homeowners find themselves in need of a major roof repair or full-on roof replacement, but they aren’t prepared for the financial burden of such a job. Replacing a roof can be expensive, depending on the nature of your home and the extent of the damage, and most people don’t have access to that kind of cash.

However, it’s usually vital for you to replace your roof as quickly and efficiently as possible. Fortunately, there are forms of financial assistance that can help you replace your roof.

So you’re getting ready to put your house on the market. Moving is a big decision, whether you’re upsizing to fit your growing family, moving to a new city, or looking for somewhere smaller to settle during your retirement.

You want your house to sell for the best possible price – and you’re wondering whether redoing your roof will have a significant impact on the resale value of your home.

Well, one of the most important things that contribute to your home’s value is how well it has been maintained and kept up. Smart home buyers know that a house in good condition will serve them better in the years to come than one that is aesthetically pretty, but full of structural issues.

Fancy upgrades are nothing in the face of making sure the basics are in prime condition. The roof is absolutely one of those essential basics that must be addressed if you want to get top dollar for your property.

A roof leak is extremely aggravating. It can cause water damage to your ceilings and walls, mold in your home’s insulation, or rotting rafters and roof sheathing. Something that starts as a small problem (a roof leak) can lead to big damage (and even bigger headaches!).

It’s pretty frustrating trying to figure out what’s wrong, particularly because the spots where you notice signs of leakage usually don’t correspond to where the leak actually is.

So, what are the most common areas you can check if you notice a leak in your roof?

Do you make sure your home is kept up throughout the year with regular maintenance?

If you do, you can save yourself the hassle and cost of big fixes down the road. Having a regular maintenance schedule and performing small repairs will ensure you stay on top of any potential problems with your home.

Now that there’s a chill in the air and winter is on the horizon, we have a few maintenance tips to help you get your home’s exterior ready for the season ahead.

Checking up on these simple things every fall will help to keep your home in good condition:

This Indiana cold snap has us digging out sweatshirts. Invites for backyard meetups are becoming BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket), and mugs of hearty chili are replacing summer IPAs. Fire pits and firewood are hot items as we look for ways to make patios and decks cozier on brisk nights.

We wonder: Will we be eating Thanksgiving dinner swaddled in puffy coats, sitting 6 feet from one another or sipping chicken soup while watching gram live stream her Cajun turkey?

In early spring, we found freedom outside where we could see a few friends in a safe way. Now, people are looking for ways to carve out a little bit of seating, a little bit of dining, and a place to keep living into the fall.