How to Create a Home Maintenance Checklist

Whether you’re a first time homebuyer, or you’ve owned your Boerne home for many years, there’s no doubt that the “To Do” list has become overwhelming at times. It probably feels like the list is insurmountable. The truth is that owning your own home IS a lot of work. You can do that work yourself, or hire it out, but the work still needs to be completed to maintain what is most likely, your largest investment. The good new is that not everything on your list needs to be done every single day, or all at once. The trick is creating a schedule for regular and long-term maintenance. There isn’t a right way, or a wrong way to create this schedule. You just need to find what works for you, your family, and your home. Here are a few recommendations to consider, when creating your home’s maintenance checklist.

List all items to be done

This task is best completed alongside your family, because one person cannot remember everything, which is why you’re creating a maintenance checklist for your home in the first place. While this task might seem daunting, or tedious, it is a necessary step to ensuring that your home stays in tip-top shape. Items to be considered run the gamut from small things like: checking the smoke alarms and having the carpets cleaned, to replacing weather stripping and inspecting gutters.

Determine the frequency

This particular component is very important for every San Antonio homeowner’s stress levels. Not every item on your checklist needs to be completed every week, or even every month. If you look at your entire list of items, it might feel like they’ll never all be accomplished; and some of the items won’t make sense to complete at certain times of the year. Take the time right now to input the frequency for each checklist item, and then erase the worry from your mind.

Create a calendar

Whether you prefer a soft copy calendar on your computer or a hard copy wall calendar, it does not matter. All that matters is that you find a method that works for your family to maintain your home.

Consider making it seasonal

Seasonal checklists come in handy for a multitude of reasons. According to BHG, homeowners should revisit this checklist every month, or at the beginning of each season to ensure that their home either recovers from the previous season’s issues (summer storms, winter snow and hail), or is prepared for the coming season. Additionally, some checklist items are more important during specific seasons, such as inspecting the fireplace.

Reminders

This calendar won’t do anyone much good, unless you remember to check it. Consider putting a reminder on your phone/computer calendar with a few alerts leading up to the dates. This way, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a service technician for anything that might require a professional. (Some of your home’s checklist items, such as servicing the air conditioning unit, or the furnace have maintenance packages through a local company. You might want to consider signing up for one of those and then inputting their scheduled maintenance on your calendar.)

Lastly, we would encourage you to consider creating a file, or binder, that includes the owner’s manuals for each of your appliances. Many of these recommend periodic maintenance, as well, so they can be added to the calendar. In addition, should an issue arise, you’ll know exactly where to look for some helpful information.