November in South Carolina is a funny month. It can be 75 degrees on Tuesday and frosty by Thursday. In Columbia, the average first freeze arrives around early November, which means the stretch between now and the holidays is the perfect time to get your home ready for colder nights, a houseful of guests, and maybe a little holiday travel.
Here are ten quick, practical things to do this month. Most take less than an hour.
1. Protect your outdoor faucets and pipes
Disconnect garden hoses, drain them, and store them. Then cover outdoor faucets with an inexpensive foam cover from any hardware store. If you have pipes in a crawlspace, garage, or along an exterior wall, pipe insulation is cheap and easy to install. A single hard freeze can crack a pipe, and a slow leak inside a wall can do a lot of damage before you notice it.
2. Change your HVAC filter and schedule a tune-up
Your heating system is about to work harder than it has all year. A fresh filter helps it run efficiently and keeps dust down. If it's been more than a year since your system was serviced, now is the time to call, before the first real cold snap fills up every technician's schedule.
3. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Press the test button on every smoke alarm. If you have gas appliances, a gas fireplace, or an attached garage, make sure you also have working carbon monoxide alarms on each level of the home. Replace batteries as needed, and replace any alarm that's 10 years old or more.
4. Make your kitchen holiday-ready
- Stay in the kitchen while anything is cooking on the stovetop.
- Keep a lid within reach to smother a pan fire, and never put water on a grease fire.
- Keep towels, oven mitts, and packaging away from burners.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen, and make sure everyone knows where it is.
5. If you're frying a turkey, do it far from the house
Turkey fryers belong outside, on a flat surface, well away from the house. Never use one in a garage, under a carport, or on a wooden deck. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dry, and don't overfill the oil. Water and hot oil don't mix.
6. Clean the gutters after the leaves fall
Wait until most of the leaves are down, then clear the gutters and make sure downspouts point water away from your foundation. Clogged gutters can lead to water in the crawlspace, rotted fascia boards, and ice buildup on the rare nights it gets cold enough.
7. Clear the dryer vent
Guests mean towels, sheets, and a lot more laundry. Clean the lint trap every load, and once a year clean the vent duct that runs to the outside. If clothes are taking longer than usual to dry, that's often a sign the vent is clogged.
8. Check your holiday lights before they go up
Before you decorate, look over each strand for cracked or frayed wires and loose bulbs, and toss anything damaged. Use lights rated for outdoor use outside, don't overload outlets, and turn decorations off when you go to bed or leave the house. A simple outlet timer makes this automatic.
9. Get the house ready before you travel
Heading out of town? Set your thermostat no lower than the mid-50s so pipes stay protected, put a couple of lamps on timers, pause your mail and packages, and ask a neighbor to keep an eye out. It's also smart to wait until you're home to post vacation photos on social media.
10. Put your property tax bill on the calendar
In South Carolina, property tax bills go out in the fall and are due by January 15. If you have a mortgage, your lender may pay it for you from your escrow account, but it's worth checking. If you bought a home this year and it's your primary residence, make sure you applied for the 4% legal residence assessment with your county. It can make a big difference in what you owe. Check your county's website for details.
Thinking about a move in the new year?
The holidays are one of the quietest times of year in real estate. For buyers, that can mean less competition and more motivated sellers. For sellers, the people touring homes in December are usually serious. If you're wondering whether a move in 2027 makes sense, we're happy to talk it through, with no pressure and no obligation.
Talk with a local agent
Buying, selling, relocating, or investing, our team is here to help. Tell us about your move and we will help you build a plan, whether you are ready to tour this month or just starting to research.
