Over at Shakhammer, the word is fall home improvement. Things like repairing fences and cleaning out the gutters (as well as some powerwashing for the house) are on the list. But there are other things you can do. Autumn is the time to reseed your grass, or even lay down some sod. It’s also a good time to plant trees. There are other projects, such as re-insulating and upgrading your windows to make your home more energy efficient for the winter as well. And it might be a good time to make sure your furnace is in working order.

Home improvement often means money, though. While you can do a great deal of it yourself, sometimes a professional is needed. You can usually get a home equity line of credit to help you with those jobs, and if you are striving to make your home more energy efficient, green mortgages come with special rates and waived fees in some cases. Just make sure you can handle the payments, and be aware that tightened credit is a reality for home equity loans as well.