Home Maintenance Checklist: A Guide for Homeowners

Our Home Maintenance List Will Help Keep Your Home in Top Shape All Year

To keep your most significant investment in good repair and avoid unnecessary costs, you’ll want to stay on top of home maintenance throughout the year. While it may feel daunting, breaking the to-do list down into bite-sized tasks can help you easily maintain and enjoy your home for many years to come.

A season-by-season checklist can also help you potentially avoid expensive issues down the road. While responsibilities may vary if you have a condo, townhome or other dwelling, the list for a typical single-family home can help keep you organized. Read on to learn what tasks should be on your home maintenance checklist throughout the course of the year.

What Is a Home Maintenance Checklist?

A home maintenance checklist helps you keep your home in good working order.

There are many systems and components within your home, from air conditioners to front lawns to gutters and more. Keeping everything in good condition and proper working order can make life easier, improve the value of your home, and allow you to comply with any HOA rules you might have.

A home maintenance checklist can be helpful for both first-time home buyers and seasoned home buyers alike. Doing preventive maintenance on a schedule can be cheaper and less stressful than reactive maintenance, or only making fixes after an issue arises.

Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist

If you want to make it easier to maintain your home, here are some seasonal maintenance tasks that you should consider doing on a set schedule. You can divide the tasks by month if you prefer.

With a list in hand, you can ensure you don't miss anything that could cost you. For example, hot water heater maintenance, like flushing the tank, can help your heater keep working in optimal form, extending its life and reducing utility costs.

Spring Home Maintenance

Once the weather starts to warm up and the ground thaws, it’s time to head outside and see how your property fared during the winter months. When you’re sure that the snow isn’t making a surprise comeback, you’ll be able to tackle some of these springtime chores.

• Store your snowblower: Once the season is over, don’t forget to properly store your snowblower. Start by draining the fuel and cleaning the parts. You can also take it to a professional to clean it and make sure it’s in good shape for next season.
• Check your mower: Make sure that your lawn mower is ready to work before the grass starts growing. If you use a service to do the tune-up, confirm that your contract is in place. You or your service can sharpen the blades and check all the plugs.
• Tidy up the yard: Start cleaning the lawn of any debris and put fertilizer down. This will help bring back nutrients and revitalize your lawn for faster growth.
• Check play equipment: If you have play equipment in the backyard, make sure it’s safe before letting the kids on it. Check bolts and screws to confirm that they are tight and secure. If it's looking rough after the winter, reseal or repaint it to freshen it up.
• Put down seed: If your lawn is missing some grass, put seed down to boost spring growth. It’s also a good time to start planting spring flowers after the threat of frost has passed.
• Check your gutters: With the rainy spring weather, it’s important to check your gutters to ensure they aren’t clogged or damaged. If many trees hang over your roof, this should be done at least twice a year.
• Change the air filter in your HVAC system: Spring is a good time to change your air filter, especially if you often ran your heat during winter. A clogged filter can cause maintenance problems and increase your energy costs.
• Service your air conditioning: Before the summer heat sets in, confirm your air conditioner is working. Homeowners often don’t know they have a problem until the weather gets hot, and they turn their system on.

Summer Home Maintenance

In the heat of the summer, with vacations and relaxation on your mind, maintenance is probably the last thing you want to deal with. Still, there are a few summer tasks you should keep on your list.

• Control pests: Many creepy critters come out in summer. Look for cracks along the foundation, windows, and door frames and gaps in cables or pipes that lead into your home. Check the attic, basement, and garage for signs of damage. If you spot anything unusual, call a professional. An annual pest control contract can help you manage pests all year.
• Keep your plants hydrated: Summer is a drier season in much of the country, so if you have a garden or plants that need water, consider adding a sprinkler system. A professional landscaper can install underground sprinklers, or you can set up a system yourself using timers to help keep your lawn hydrated.
• Maintain the pool: Pools need to be cleaned throughout the warmer months. Skim the top regularly to remove leaves, bugs, and other debris. Clean the sides to prevent algae from growing and frequently check the water and chemical levels.
• Replace windows or doors: The warm weather is a great time to tackle a project, such as replacing windows or doors. Replacing them with more energy-efficient ones will save money on heating and cooling and could improve curb appeal. If you don’t plan on replacing windows, check your screens for holes so you can open them when you want to without pests getting in.

Fall Home Maintenance

Fall is an important time for home maintenance as the temperatures are cool enough to take care of projects comfortably. More importantly, you can prepare your home for the winter before rougher weather arrives.

• Close the pool: In most climates, pool season is over by September. In the fall, you’ll need to clean and cover the pool or have a maintenance company close it for you.
• Rake leaves: Leaving all the fall leaves on your lawn could lead to mold growth, so aim to eliminate most of them. If you don't have too many, just mow the leaves with your lawn mower to break them down, provide nutrients to the grass, and save time.
• Clean leaves and debris from gutters: A clogged gutter filled with leaves can cause damage to your roof or siding and leaks inside your home. Wear safety glasses and gloves when pulling out debris. If you’re not comfortable on a ladder, hire a professional.
• Check your heat sources: Ensure your chimney is in top shape for winter use and that there isn’t damage or too much soot built up from the previous year. Make sure that your furnace or boiler is in working order before you need to turn the heat on.
• Change the air filter in your HVAC system: Replacing the air filter is one of the easiest ways to maintain your HVAC system and is especially important if you often used your AC in summer. A clogged filter makes your system work harder, causing maintenance problems and higher energy costs.
• Seal windows and doors: Look for any cracks that will cause a draft in your home, raising the cost of keeping warm. Caulk or place weather stripping around the edges to seal any gaps. You can also put draft blockers at the bottom of your doors to keep heat from escaping.

Winter Home Maintenance

Winter is when we typically retreat indoors and take a break from outdoor tasks, but you'll still want to be prepared for any weather-related maintenance issues.

• Get the snow blower ready: Make sure it’s in proper working condition before the first storm hits. You’ll want to get a tune-up and confirm that you have enough gas and motor oil ready.
• Stockpile supplies: Try to replenish specific necessities before the first storm, such as ice melt for walkways and driveways, a good shovel (if you don’t have a snowblower), and a scraper for car windows. Have an emergency kit that includes water, canned items, batteries, a radio, and a first-aid kit.
• Check the generator: A portable generator is necessary in many areas where extreme weather conditions and power outages are more prevalent. Test yours regularly to confirm it's working and cover it when not in use. After you use it, empty the gas into a separate tank and confirm you have enough gas for backup.
• Move outdoor items inside: Before the snow and ice start falling, move outdoor items inside a shed or garage to make sure they stay in good shape. This includes any outdoor furniture, portable firepits, portable outdoor play equipment, and garden hoses (be sure to drain them first).
• Inspect trees: Call a professional if you suspect a tree is dead, at risk of falling, or in need of trimming. Heavy ice or snow can bring down branches and trees and damage property.

Home Maintenance Tools You Should Own

Many maintenance tasks can be done without much specialized knowledge or equipment. However, it's a good idea to have a few essential tools for homeowners on hand to help with the process of maintaining your home. These include the following:

• Hammer
• Screwdriver set
• Wrench
• Drill set with multiple drill bits
• Nails and screws in assorted sizes
• Level (laser or bubble)
• Tape measure
• Pliers
• Utility knife
• Stud finder
• Clamps
• Safety goggles and equipment
• Work gloves

Final Thoughts: What’s Your Home Maintenance Checklist?

Home maintenance isn't most people's favorite part of owning their own property, but it's essential to keep it safe and comfortable and maintain its value.

If you are ready to become a homeowner, you'll need to find the right mortgage first.

Freedom Mortgage is here to guide you through your home buying journey so you can get the right financing and make your dream home a reality. Reach out to a mortgage loan professional today to learn more.