Winter is just around the corner and with the gorgeous winter can come some bitter cold. The last thing you want in your apartment is all of that cold seeping in through windows or cracks and finding out your heat is not working when you really start to need it. By following these 5 quick and easy steps to winterize your apartment, you can count on being able to sit toasty in your home, drinking your hot cocoa, just as it should be.

Step One.

Check windows.

Windows can be a root cause of numerous issues. Leaky windows can cause drafts which in turn make your heat work over-time which then causes your heat bill to go up. Nobody likes that. A clever way to check your windows if you can't feel a draft directly, is by making sure they are closed tight, then carefully light a candle and promptly blow it out. Hold the smoke next to them to see if the smoke is blowing directionally away from the window. If so, you have a draft. Simply having your maintenance team caulk the windows will most likely do the trick. If not, they can investigate further to see what the resolution may be.

Step two.

Check doors.

Just like windows, doors are a huge factor in protecting your home from the cold. If your weatherstripping is bad, contact your leasing office and put in a service request to have it replaced. You can even take it one step further and get a door draft guard for any doors leading outside. These will help tremendously in preventing the cold air from seeping in and making you shiver.

Step three.

Check the thermostat.

So one of the main things is to check and make sure that your heat is working. Even if it is not cold outside, go ahead and turn it on. It's one less thing you will have to think about as winter approaches. That way if there is an issue, you can call maintenance to fix it before you find out it is not working when you truly start to need it.TIP: Purchase a digital, programmable thermostat if you don't already have one. Of course, always make sure this is okay with management first. These provide more accurate readings than the old school thermostats and you can set the temperatures to your schedule - you know - to start warming up by the time you get home and to help control the heat from running all day when it may not be necessary.

Step four.

Buy rugs and heavier curtains.

A lot of communities boast awesome apartments without carpet or only carpet in the bedrooms. If you live in one of these homes, buying rugs can greatly reduce the amount of cold that comes into your home as well. A lot of heat is lost through the flooring of homes so this will ensure to trap it. Another idea is to get heavier curtains for the winter because even though your windows may have been checked and good to go, the curtains help contain the heat that you are pushing through out your home. TIP: During the day, don't leave your curtains closed. Allow the sun to penetrate your home and heat it up.

Step five.

Insulate outlets.

Drafts can come in from anywhere. Places you may have never even thought of before, like your outlets. They make foam gaskets that you can place behind the actual outlet and switch covers. They are amazing. Think of them as a sock for your socket (see what I did there?). I recently purchased these Duck brand seals from Amazon. They provide the insulation that you need and can be easily removed in the warmer months or when you move out as they are not permanent.

Now that you have these handy dandy tricks up your sleeve, get ahead of the season by acting now rather than later. Doing these 5 things will make absolutely sure you are all set because (in my best Game of Thrones impression)...winter is coming.