If you are a homeowner, you know a lot goes into keeping your home in good shape and taking care of all of the maintenance. It may seem like a never-ending battle, keeping things working, running and efficient. The best way to make sure things stay on track and that you get everything done that needs to be done is to create a plan. If you are able to stay on schedule and focus on things that are a priority from year to year, you will have a comfortable home that retains its value and serves as a heartwarming living space for your family. There is a lot to remember for homeowners. Everything from duct cleaning to heat pump repair needs to be taken care of, so you should develop a strategy that ensures all of the work gets done.
Get organized by creating a master list of home chores. This may take awhile to get in order, but it will be a blessing once you have created it. You can even pass it on to the next set of homeowners, should you ever decide to sell your home. If you sell to inexperienced homeowners, they will love you for taking the time to create something like this. Even the most experienced owners may have a hard time keeping track of everything, so a list will serve as a reminder and allow you to tick off items as they are completed.
Once your master list is complete, break the tasks on the list into seasonal jobs. Keep in mind, this is not a list of to-do's that get done one time, like repairing a broken gutter or replacing an old appliance. These are items that need to be done on the yearly or bi-yearly basis. Of these, you may need to only do one thing one time all year. For instance, if you clean your furnace in the fall, before winter sets in, you will likely not need to have it cleaned again until the following year. Organize your master list into seasonal tasks, so you can follow the list at the start of each season to ensure your chores are completed.
Remember, there is nothing wrong with calling in the pros for a certain job. Some homeowners, especially if they are proactive and organized, like to handle things on their own. This is fine for small jobs and things you are familiar with doing. However, when it comes to more complicated items on the list, contact the pros for a job done right.
Finally, do an overall evaluation once a year to make sure nothing new needs to be added to the list. You may also get to subtract things, should you upgrade or remove something from your home. For instance, if you install siding that eliminates the need to paint the exterior of your home, you can remove items from your list. Take a few minutes to look over your list annually to make sure it is still a complete list.
