Home Maintenance Items to Budget & Complete

Home improvements are a great way to increase the value of your home. However, many homeowners neglect an equally important factor: home maintenance. Not only will it add value to your home, but it will also add life to your home and all components. We’re giving you some items below you’ll want to budget for and complete on a routine basis…

For ideas on how to budget for home maintenance, click here to read an article we previously wrote.
 
Below are maintenance items to consider adding to your list, depending on what applies to your specific home. You can adjust frequency as you see fit. We’ll refrain from explaining the benefit of each maintenance item and stick with just providing a list of ideas for simplicity!
 
Weekly

• Restart router and computers
• Mow lawn
• Check & adjust pool/spa chemicals

 
Monthly/Quarterly

• Replace air filters
• Clean or replace kitchen vent/range hood filter
• Check for leaks around toilets & sinks
• Fill water softener with salt crystals as needed
• Clean pool/spa filters with hose & spray cleaner (and clean covers)

 
Annual

• Replace smoke alarm batteries
• Check fire extinguisher gauges
• Power wash house
• Clean windows & sills
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust
• Lubricate garage door tracks & bearings
• Inspect grout & caulking
• Clean fridge (inside, behind, coils, etc.)

 
Long-Term (don’t forget to budget for these!)

• Paint exterior
• Replace appliances
• Replace hot water heater
• Replace garage door opener
• Replace roof
• Replace HVAC system

 
Below is a list of seasonal items, pending your location/weather.
 
Winter Items

• Review caulking & window/door sealing for air gaps
• Close foundation vents
• Adjust ceiling fan direction to clockwise
• Blowout sprinkler pipes (cold weather homes)
• Empty & refill spa water

 
Spring

• AC tune-up
• Inspect roof & exterior siding
• Clean gutters
• Aerate, dethatch, & fertilize lawn, as needed
• Sharpen mower blades
• Adjust temperature down on water heater
• Spray for pests

 
Summer

• Adjust temperature on water heater
• Adjust ceiling fan direction to counter-clockwise

 
Fall

• Adjust temperature up on water heater
• Furnace tune-up
• Aerate, dethatch, & fertilize lawn, as needed

 
While this isn’t an all-exhaustive list (although we tried!) and your specific home may vary, we hope this helps keep your home in great shape!!