How to Maintain Your Property

Are you finding it difficult to organize your home maintenance? I would bet many homeowners are. Each home has its own individual needs and it is hard to find a comprehensive task list on the internet to suit your very special home. That is why we suggest making your own list, and we are going to give you the framework to create it.

We will take a look at the components of a home, but before we go down the list, we would like you to consider time horizons. We suggest using monthly, quarterly, and yearly time horizons to manage your home. This spacing ensures that no important maintenance is missed and that everything is taken care of in a timely manner.

The Process

Write down:

• Monthly maintenance
• Quarterly maintenance
• Annual maintenance

Under each bullet point, you are going to fill out your tasks.

There are only five components to consider when making your home maintenance list (excluding any external maintenance). First, there is the roof. Start by taking a look at the roof and writing down its key parts: shingles, gutters, solar panels, etc. Take the time to Google what each individual piece needs to run smoothly and write the tasks down under each time horizon.

Here is an example:

• Monthly maintenance
  • Clean the gutters
• Quarterly maintenance
  • Check solar panel functionality
• Annual maintenance
  • Check for leaks

After the roof, there is the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Take the time to call licensed and trusted local contractors. Speak to them about your individual home’s needs and ask them what services they recommend for your systems. Write them down on your time horizons sheet. This practice has a two-fold effect: 1) it helps you complete your list and 2) you may find the exact contractor to use for the job! Contractors who take the time to understand your needs and talk to you are usually your best bet for good work.

The last piece to consider in your home is the structure. This is a tricky one as each home is truly different. The structure could just mean a stuccoed concrete building with windows and doors. It could also mean a wooden house. Hire a friendly and talkative home inspector to assist you. These highly trained professionals can tell you exactly what they would do to maintain the structure of your home. They are trained to look for cracks and breaks and usually have a brain full of solutions for the problem. Inspections are not very costly and they can save you a lot of money in the long run. Let them know you are making your list and you would appreciate their contribution.

Practice Consistency 

Keep in mind that even after all your due diligence, your list may still be incomplete. We suggest keeping your list in an easy-to-reach spot for up to a year for editing. Anytime you do something for the home that was not on your original list, write it down. By the end of the year, you should have everything in one organized place.

Home maintenance can go beyond your immediate building. There is potential lawn, pool, and fencing maintenance, and also financial maintenance to consider. Check out our worksheet on what to do in your first year of owning a home here. Let us know if you have other tips or tricks for home maintenance!