What’s worth repairing with a $200 budget this fall

When fall rolls around, there’s always a list of things that need fixing before the weather turns cold—and you don’t need a huge budget to make real progress. With $200, you can handle several small projects that keep your home in better shape long-term.

These aren’t flashy upgrades, but they’re the kind that save you money later by preventing bigger issues down the line. A little maintenance now can make the house, yard, and everything around it hold up better through winter.

Reseal doors and windows

Air leaks are one of the biggest causes of high heating bills. Sealing up gaps around doors and windows with new weatherstripping or caulk keeps your warm air inside where it belongs.

You can get rolls of weatherstripping and tubes of sealant for well under $50. The difference you’ll notice in comfort and efficiency makes it one of the smartest seasonal fixes you can do for the price.

Clean and repair gutters

Clogged or sagging gutters cause serious water damage when leaves pile up in fall. Taking a day to clean and reinforce them keeps water flowing away from your home instead of down your siding or into the foundation.

If you already have a ladder, you’ll spend maybe $50 on new hangers, sealant, and gloves. That’s a small investment compared to the cost of repairing rotten fascia or water-damaged walls later.

Service your mower or trimmer

Fall is a great time to do small maintenance on outdoor tools before storing them. Changing oil, sharpening blades, and replacing air filters helps them start easily next spring.

You can get most tune-up supplies for under $50, and doing it yourself saves a trip to the shop. Keeping your equipment in shape also extends its lifespan—meaning fewer big purchases down the road.

Patch driveway cracks

When temperatures drop, water seeps into small cracks and freezes, making them worse fast. Filling those gaps before winter can save you from having to resurface the whole thing later.

A few tubs of crack filler and a trowel are all you need. Most homeowners can do a basic patch job for under $100, and it instantly improves how your driveway looks while protecting it from further damage.

Replace worn weather seals on the garage door

Garage doors lose efficiency over time as their bottom seals flatten and crack. Replacing that strip keeps drafts and small pests out while protecting whatever you store inside.

Replacement kits are inexpensive and easy to install with basic tools. For $30 to $60, you can keep your garage warmer, cleaner, and ready for colder weather.

Recaulk the bathroom or kitchen

Old caulk around tubs and sinks breaks down and lets moisture in, which leads to mold and peeling paint. Recaulking gives those areas a fresh, clean look and better protection.

A few tubes of quality caulk and a smoothing tool cost under $25, and it’s one of the easiest DIY jobs you can do. It’s small work that makes a big difference in how polished those spaces feel.

Fix squeaky doors and loose hinges

Squeaky doors and wobbly hinges might not seem like a big deal, but they wear down over time and can cause alignment problems. Tightening, lubricating, or replacing a few parts can solve it.

You can get hinge kits, lubricants, and new screws for less than $30 total. The result is smoother doors that don’t grind, stick, or wake the whole house every time someone walks through.

Clean and reseal wooden decks

Wood decks take a beating through summer sun and rain, and a quick reseal before winter helps prevent rot and fading. A good scrub and a coat of sealant are often all it takes.

You can find gallon-sized sealers for around $40 and apply them yourself with a roller or sprayer. It’s a few hours of work that’ll extend the life of your deck by years.

Replace broken outlet covers and switch plates

Cracked outlet covers or mismatched switch plates make rooms look neglected. Swapping them out is an easy upgrade that costs almost nothing but instantly cleans up your space.

Most hardware stores sell multi-packs for under $15. A screwdriver and 10 minutes later, and your walls look a whole lot more finished and consistent.

Lubricate locks, hinges, and garage rollers

Cold weather can cause metal parts to stiffen or rust. Spraying lubricant on door locks, hinges, and garage rollers helps them move smoothly through winter.

A can of silicone or graphite spray costs less than $10 and can be used all around the house. It’s one of those small fall habits that keeps everything working properly when temps drop.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.