Summer and early autumn on the north coast bring heavy rain. Most of what goes wrong during it was already wrong before the first storm. This is a list of things to look at beforehand.
Not all of it needs a tradie. Plenty is a Saturday morning with a ladder and a bucket.
Gutters and downpipes
The big one. Clear leaves and seedlings so water runs where it should. Make sure downpipes aren't blocked and that water leaves the area around the house. If you'd rather not be on a ladder, see gutter cleaning.
Trees and branches
Look for dead branches over the roof, car and paths. Small stuff can be pruned. Large limbs need an arborist, not us. See garden and hedge care for what we cover.
Drains and low spots
Clear any grates and drains in the yard. Walk the garden after a heavy shower and note where water pools, then check it's not pooling against the house.
Decks, paths and fences
Wet timber and mould mean slippery surfaces. A clean before the wet means they stay safer. Loose boards and rusty fixings are worth fixing now. Pressure cleaning and small repairs are easy to book together.
Lawn and garden
Everything grows hard in warm, wet weather. A tidy-up before it starts means you're keeping it in shape instead of fighting it. Check irrigation too, so you can turn off or reduce watering when the rain arrives.
Outdoor items
Anything that'll blow around in a storm: furniture, pots, bins. Tie it down or store it. Check the clothesline and letterbox are solid.
Check the roof
Look for loose or cracked tiles, lifted metal sheets, rusty screws and a build-up of dirt or leaves in the valleys where water runs. You can often see a lot from the ground with binoculars. Anything that looks like a leak or a lifted sheet is a job for a roofer, not a handyman, and it's worth doing before the heavy rain, not after.
Insurance and a plan
Read your insurance policy before a storm, not during one. Check what is covered and that the sum insured is still right. The NSW SES publishes free guidance on household emergency plans, and the Hazards Near Me NSW app sends warnings for areas you choose. For help in a storm or flood, the SES number is 132 500, and in a life-threatening emergency call 000.
Ladders and safety
Wet roofs and ladders are a bad mix. If you're cleaning gutters yourself, work on firm, level ground, don't overreach, and don't climb in wet or windy weather. SafeWork NSW has a free ladder safety guide. If the roof is steep or the gutters are high, it's a good job to book out.
It's already storm season
The official NSW storm season runs from October to March. If you've read this late, don't wait for next year. Gutters, loose items and overhanging branches are the three jobs that make the biggest difference, and they can be done any week of the year.
After the storm
Once the rain's gone, check the gutters again, clear debris, and look for anything that's moved or shifted. A short walk round the property is enough.
Related: How often to clean gutters, Annual home maintenance checklist, Holiday home maintenance.