Home Maintenance Checklist

Most homeowners recognize that regular maintenance is priority to keep their home in tip top condition. Just a little attention at key times of year can stave off costly renovations and prevent potentially dangerous conditions from developing. You should keep a constant eye on the condition of your home throughout the year, but in the spring and fall there are regular maintenance routines you should follow to ensure your home can stand up to the passing of time and the vagaries of the weather. This is particularly true in locations where severe weather can be expected. If you receive large amounts of snowfall in the winter or rain in the spring if you can expect temperatures to swing wildly between seasons. This checklist can help you get started and keep you on the right track; not every item on it will apply to your specific situation, but most of these tasks should be carried out on a regular basis.

Tips

If you live in a region where hurricanes or tornadoes are frequent, you will want to safeguard your home against such events. Even if you simply have extremely high humidity, or live close to the water where salt spray is an issue, you will find there is need to do more rigorous home maintenance on a more frequent basis.  On the other hand, if you reside in a more moderate climate, your home maintenance regime may be limited to a touch up once in a while and a quick overview of the basics in the spring and fall. Still, there are always items that should be checked on a regular basis, inside and outside your home, to ensure your family's safety, the integrity of your home, and energy efficiency.  Doing home maintenance regularly can save you lots of time and money over the years, as you take care of small issues before they turn into large, expensive ones.

This Home Maintenance Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.

• Avoid forgetting - keep all your Home Maintenance essentials in one place (external memory)
• Save time - start from a proven Home Maintenance structure instead of a blank page
• Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
• Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
• Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time