Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and for Portofino homeowners the "fall back" weekend is the easiest annual reminder to do a home check while the clocks are already on your mind. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, outdoor lighting, thermostat schedules, and the garage can all get a quick once-over at 297 Bonaventure Dr in under an hour. Here is the checklist that pairs with the time change.
Start with the detectors
The classic rule is worth keeping: change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every time the clocks change. North Carolina requires working smoke alarms in every home, and CO detectors are especially important in a home with attached garages and gas appliances. At 297 Bonaventure Dr, that means a quick pass through the main floor, the upstairs hallway, and the bedrooms, pressing the test button on each unit. If a detector is more than 10 years old, replace the whole unit rather than just the battery.
Light for the shorter evenings
With sunset moving to just after 5 p.m. in early November, exterior lighting does more work than at any other time of year. Walk the front walk and the side yard after dark and confirm the porch light, garage lights, and any path lighting cover the entry points. This is also the moment to check timers and photocells so they track the new schedule automatically. Inside, the plantation shutters at 297 Bonaventure Dr do double duty this time of year: they let in the low morning sun for warmth and close tight against the cold evening air.
Thermostats, filters, and the heating system
The fall back is the natural moment to flip your thermostat into its winter schedule. Before the heating season ramps up, change the HVAC filter, clear the area around the indoor unit, and schedule a quick heat pump check if you have not had one this fall. NC homes mostly heat with heat pumps, and small habits here show up directly on the winter bill. For a full rundown on thermostats, filters, and draft sealing, see our winter heating savings guide.
The garage and the EV charger
The garage at 297 Bonaventure Dr includes a Level 2 EV charging connector, and the time change is a good moment to give it a once-over: confirm the charger's connection is clean, test the garage door's auto-reverse by placing an object in the door's path, and check the weatherstripping along the bottom of the door. With shorter evenings, the garage light and entry to the mudroom matter more, and a clean, well-lit transition from car to home keeps winter mornings simple. For more on the charger, see our EV-ready garage guide.
A crawl space and moisture check
The walk-in crawl space at 297 Bonaventure Dr is genuine, accessible storage, which makes it easy to inspect heading into winter. Spend five minutes checking for standing moisture, condensation on pipes, or signs of pests, and confirm vents and the vapor barrier are intact. Catching a moisture issue now is far cheaper than dealing with it in the middle of a cold snap. For the longer version of seasonal crawl space care, see our crawl space care guide, and for full first-freeze prep covering pipes and the HVAC system, our winterizing guide.
Make the most of the extra morning light
The trade for shorter evenings is a brighter start to the day, and on a half-acre wooded lot that early light is worth using. The extra morning is a good time to enjoy the back porch with coffee, take the trails before the day fills up, and knock out the last outdoor tasks on the half-acre while the days are still warm enough. For the seasonal list on leaves, gutters, and first-freeze prep, our October maintenance checklist covers it in order.
The whole fall-back list fits in one weekend, and it pairs naturally with the shift into Portofino's holiday season. If you are thinking about a home that makes seasonal maintenance this easy, with a walk-in crawl space, an EV-ready garage, and a screened porch built for all four seasons, schedule a private tour of 297 Bonaventure Dr or book a consultation with Phil Slezak.
Schedule your tour today: Book a meeting with Phil Slezak
Call: 919-899-2320
Email: info@philslezak.com
Phil leads one of the top-producing real estate teams in the Greater Triangle and Brunswick County areas, with over $200 million in sales and a growing footprint across North Carolina.