The house needs things done and nobody is holding the list.

Start here

• Home maintenance checklist by month (short version)5 min read
• How to make a home binder: what goes in and what stays out5 min read
• New house checklist: what to do in the first week6 min read

Keeping up with maintenance

Start here for what a house needs across the year, how often, and how to note it down.

• Home maintenance checklist by month (short version)January to December in one short list: only the jobs that belong to a month and cause damage if skipped. US home, northern hemisphere.5 min read
• Home maintenance schedule: how often to service each systemService intervals for heating, cooling, water, structure and safety, plus the jobs tied to a season, not a date. Your own manual wins over any table.7 min read
• Home maintenance jobs that cost the most to skipNine home maintenance jobs where a normal delay turns into real damage: how often each is really due, and what a missed one turns into.4 min read
• How often to change a furnace filter (and the size to note)Check it once a month and change it at least every three months, per ENERGY STAR and Carrier. How to read the size and where to write it down once.5 min read
• Home maintenance log template: what to write each timeA home maintenance log is four fields and one note: date, what was done, who did it and what it cost. Example entries show how much to write.4 min read

Building a home binder

What to gather about the house itself so you can find it in a hurry.

• How to make a home binder: what goes in and what stays outFive sections cover almost everything a home binder needs, and one category of thing should never go in. Build one in an afternoon.5 min read
• Where is your main water shutoff? Find it before you need itWhere the main valve usually is, the two valve types, how to tell if it is stuck, and the one page to write it on so anyone can find it.5 min read
• What to keep after a home repair, besides the invoiceThe invoice says what you paid. Write down what was wrong, what was replaced, and what the technician said comes next, the same day.5 min read

New to a house or a rental

What to do, find and document when the place is newly yours or newly rented.

• New house checklist: what to do in the first weekShutoffs, meter readings, alarms, appliance labels and the inspection report: what to capture in the first week, while it is all in front of you.6 min read
• Inherited a house with no records? Where to startNo manuals, no service history, no idea how old the furnace is. How to date what you have, typical service lives, and what to check first.5 min read
• Moving into a rental: what to document on day oneDated photos, lease dates, the deposit and a log of what you report. Four records made on day one settle most deposit arguments later.5 min read

Appliances, models and warranties

How to find model numbers, and what to write down when you buy something.

• How to find the model number on any applianceWhere the data plate hides on a fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher, range and water heater, and what to do when the label has worn away.6 min read
• What to write down when you buy an applianceBrand, model, serial number, purchase date and warranty end: five facts to write once, while the machine is in front of you, before its first repair.5 min read
• How to keep track of appliance warrantiesWhat to record at purchase, the service condition that catches people out, and when to check the expiration date before you pay for a repair.5 min read

Getting ready for the cold months

Jobs that belong to a season, and are easier to finish before the weather turns.

• Fall home maintenance checklist by monthSeptember, October and November in order: heating and safety first, then outdoor equipment, gutters last. Built around jobs that prevent damage.5 min read
• Winterize your house: jobs to finish before the first freezeFreeze jobs have a deadline, and the weather sets it. What to do, in what order, and what to write down so next year takes five minutes.7 min read