Home maintenance checklist: How to maintain your home throughout the year 

Your home is a sanctuary for you and your family to come back to after a day of hard work and labour, to relax in and make countless fond memories. To maintain the sanctity of your safe space, you need to pay attention to its upkeep and maintenance. Making sure that your house runs like a well-oiled machine is also crucial if you want to avoid roadblocks while selling it out in the future. 

Suppose you are the owner of a home. In that case, you need to be prepared to take on this responsibility because, for every creak and breakage, you will need to stay alert and fix the problem in time to avoid bigger, more expensive damages to your property. This may sound intimidating, especially if you have bought a house for the first time, but having a maintenance checklist can help you a great deal. Knowing how to keep a check on various appliances, wiring and networks around the house will help prolong their life, prevent major breakdowns and save you money in the long haul. 

If you are confused about how to put together a checklist, here is a guide on the fundamentals of maintaining your home all year long to save your time and money.

Set aside a maintenance budget 

Typically the highest cost homeowners face is purchasing a property; however, the expenses never end there. There is always an amount of money that goes into the ongoing repair and maintenance of the house that needs to be budgeted for to avoid potential financial constraints. 

We suggest you set aside a yearly budget, usually around one to three percent of your house’s purchase price, so that you can dip into that money if there is an issue that requires your attention around the house. This money is perfect if you need to invest in the daily upkeep of your home, but you would perhaps need to save a more substantial amount in case you run into a bigger, more costly problem. 

Paying attention to your house and making timely repairs can keep it in top shape and prevent you from having to spend more money on bigger damages caused by negligence. 

Know when to call the professionals

For minor repairs around the house, it is perfectly okay to fix them yourself if you have that particular expertise. But when it comes to complex cases, we suggest you take a step back and consider calling in the experts for their professional advice. This will help to get the job done faster and more accurately. Some may argue that contractors are expensive; however, if you are unable to fix an issue yourself and end up creating a bigger problem, the cost to resolve the issue will be far higher. 

It’s recommended that you get in touch with contractors and get an estimate on the task at hand. From electricians, painters to local plumbers, you can go online and understand the cost of hiring such professionals to come in and perform repairs around the house. Be sure to conduct thorough research and check for reviews and licenses before signing them on. 

Create a seasonal maintenance schedule

To stay on top of things around the house and to maximise your efficiency, it is highly recommended that you create a seasonal maintenance calendar that highlights your house’s needs as per the changing seasons and what you need to pay close attention to when it comes to repair and maintenance. Here is the breakdown for each season. 

Spring 

Because your house is transitioning from the wintertime and preparing for the summer, gear up for the much-needed spring cleaning, starting from the exteriors. Take a look at the roof to see if snow or harsh winter winds have damaged the shingles, causing leaks. Similarly, observe if any damage has occurred on the bricks or walls of the house. Notice a chip in the paint? Fix it right away. Does the roof need fixing? Best to call in a professional. Be sure to clean your window ACs and tune your air conditioning system in time for the summer heat to kick in.

Summer 

Before you head out for your summer getaway, make sure you go over the maintenance checklist. Pay attention to insects around the house because summer is their breeding season, which can be very problematic if not looked at. Ideally, because summers are all about the great outdoors, you should look at the upkeep of your lawns and patios. See if the lawn irrigation system is functioning well and if the wood on your patio is free of decay. Go ahead and prune the trees and hedges and inspect if any branches or crawlers are getting in your HVAC units.  

Autumn

The dry and moderate temperatures of autumn make it ideal when it comes to home repair. Begin by inspecting your heating systems and see if you need to call somebody to tune them in time for the chilly weather. Make sure you also have a thorough look at your fireplace and chimney to see if any damage has occurred. You should ideally check if your doors and windows are properly sealed to prevent cold winds from blowing indoors. Be sure to see if your roof, driveways and gutters are free of any leaves that accumulate over time. 

Winter

As the weather turns bad, winter is an excellent time to pay attention to interior repairs that may need to get done. Besides those, keep an eye out for ice dams and icicles that can cause severe damage to your roof and property if left unattended. You should cover your air conditioning units to prevent them from getting damaged in the snow and also cover your foundation vents to lower heating costs. If your home has a sump pump, winter is the best time to make sure it’s up and running. 

Parting thoughts 

If you want to keep your home in top shape for many years to come, pay attention to the checklist above. While the list may seem extensive, there is still a lot that you can do to ensure your house remains safe and functional, so be sure to keep an eye out.

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