Condo Living

November 12, 2025 Published by Golden Horseshoe Chapter - By Carole Booth, Maria Desforges

Preparation for Fall and Winter: Check List for Corporations and Unit Owners

From the Volume 25, Fall 2025 issue of the CCI GHC Condo News Magazine

Each season triggers certain items that management, superintendents, and/or unit owners need to do to prepare the property for the upcoming seasonal change. The amenities and features your condominium has, will determine what needs to be done to prepare your property for the fall/winter season.

The Manager or Superintendent with Board members will review the corporations fall/winter “to do list” and/or do a walk around to do a visual check of the grounds (i.e., drains. sidewalks, roadways, trees), building (i.e., windows, caulking, downspouts/eaves, roofs), etc.

Be prepared! Start the process early. Book dates with vendors in plenty of time to make sure everything is completed before the weather changes and may impact getting the work done. By beginning the process early, it allows time to make any needed repairs before the weather prohibits the work being done.

As well, a reminder newsletter/notice should be sent to unit owners reminding them of their responsibilities of preparing their unit and or exclusive use common element for the fall/winter season to help avoid any weather-related damages.

The information provided has been divided into two main categories – the responsibilities of Management and/or the Superintendent and the responsibilities of the Unit Owner. Some of the items listed under Unit Owners, may be included in the corporation’s rules.

Management/Superintendent:

1. Discuss and coordinate additional items that might need attention with the landscapers/snow removal company for the fall cleanup and snow removal (i.e., location/placement of snow). Inform owners of the snow removal company’s criteria for salting of walkways, plowing and salting of roadways and the location(s) for the placement of excess snow.
2. Arrange to have the eaves and downspouts inspected, cleaned and rinsed/flushed out to remove any blockages to avoid overflow, which could cause damage to the roof, siding and foundation.
3. Have outdoor pools, hot tubs and water features checked and winterized.
4. Arrange to have lawn/flower garden sprinkler systems turned off and serviced for the winter.
5. Turn off the water to outside water taps and drain the system to prevent freezing pipes. Be sure to leave the outside tap open. Wrap any exposed pipes with appropriate insulation.
6. All exposed pipes (outside walls) or unheated areas (i.e., unheated garages) should be wrapped with appropriate insulation to winterize.
7. Tag hoses/hose holders and store them for the winter.
8. Send a reminder to owners who are responsible for an outside water tap to turn it off and prepare for the witer.
9. Remind owners who have wood burning fireplaces to have them checked and cleaned before using. Ask for a copy of the work done, if required by the corporation.
10. Remind owners who have gas fireplaces to have them checked and serviced.
11. Clear all flat roof top drains of debris.
12. Clean all drains and catch basins of debris.
13. Check walkways for heaving/cracks that could be a trip and/or slip and fall hazard. Arrange for required repairs.
14. Check roadways and repair/patch any holes in the asphalt to avoid further deterioration during the winter months.
15. Check trees for the winter. Be proactive and trim branches if required - be prepared for snow storms, wind and ice.
16. Boilers should be checked and serviced for the winter.
17. Have the HVAC system checked and serviced for the winter.
18. Building generators should be checked and serviced – ready for any power outage.
19. Sprinkler systems for parking garages need to be checked, winterized and in working condition.
20. Ramp heaters need to be checked and turned on - readied for the snow and ice.
21. Outdoor lighting on timers or solar components need to be checked to make sure that they are coming on at the appropriate times. Timers will need to be adjusted during the winter months. The solar component may also need to be adjusted.
22. Heat tracking cables should be checked and turned on,
23. Etc.

Owners:

1. Store patio/balcony furniture securely to avoid any damage as the result of high/strong winds.
2. Clean/winterize outdoor flower pots/containers on patio/balcony and store securely to avoid damage from wind.
3. If you live in a townhouse be sure to turn the water off to outside water taps and drain the pipe. Be sure to leave the outside tap open. Wrap exposed pipes with appropriate insulation.
4. If you own a town house and have a woodburning fireplace, you must have it checked and cleaned. Provide the information re work done to the corporation if required.
5. Townhouse owners who have a gas fireplace should have it checked and cleaned.
6. Gas furnace/HVAC systems need to be checked and cleaned. Be sure to change or clean the filters every couple of months during the winter for better efficiency.
7. If you live in a townhouse, check outside vents (i.e., gas) during the winter months and remove any icicles that have formed. Vents should not be obstructed.
8. Check windows and doors for drafts and seal with caulking and/or weather stripping. If you notice any other issue, let management know so repairs can be done.
9. Townhouse owners may, or may not be responsible for clearing the snow and salting the walkway/sidewalk to their front door. Even if you have snow removal to your front door, it is still advisable to have a small bag of environmentally friendly salt to use if needed between the applications provided by the snow removal company.
10. If you are travelling, for safety, security and insurance requirements, notify the manager/superintendent in writing when a unit will be unoccupied for a designated number of days or longer (to be determined by Management/Board). Notification should include the contact information (name[s], telephone number[s], email address) of any person(s) responsible for the unit during the owner’s absence, together with vehicle details if the owner’s parking space is to be used during their absence.
11. Check with your household insurance company re their policy regarding the frequency your unit needs to be checked in your absence. Generally, when a unit is unoccupied for 2 days (48 hours) or longer, the requirement is to have the unit checked every 2 days (48 hours) in order for the insurance coverage to be valid.
12. As well, check with your household insurance company re their policy on shutting off the main water tap when away and if there is a designated timeline. It is generally recommended that unit owners turn off the water in the unit when away in order to ensure the insurance coverage is valid.

Carole Booth, B.Sc. in Education; MA, is a retired teacher. As a past member of the GHC-CCI Board of Directors, she continues to participates on the communication and education committees. Carole lives in a 69-unit condominium where she served as president for 12 years.

Larlyn PropertyMaria Desforges GL, RCM, ACCI , has been in Property Management since 1993, a condominium owner for 32 years and has served on her Board. Maria obtained her RCM in 2006 and her ACCI in 2008. She sat on the Golden Horseshoe Chapter of CCI Board of Directors for 18 years and was a member of the Education committee for years. Maria strong proponent of Director’s education and for empowering the Board with knowledge to assist them govern. Her team approach has promoted high client retention and achieves success solving all situations.