Maintaining a home is work
Whether you are a homeowner or live in an apartment, there are big projects that need to be done once or twice a year.
When was the last time you hand-scrubbed your floors or changed the batteries in your smoke detectors?
After learning that it had been years since I had cleaned out the pantry, I created a schedule to assure the big projects, which tend to be put off, are done more often.
Spreading the cleaning/maintenance tasks over the course of the year is less overwhelming.
This is a work in progress, and I’m sure I will be adding to it.
Download the schedule
Excel version so you can adjust it to fit your needs: Big Project Schedule
PDF format if you want to follow my schedule: Big Project Schedule
Got other “Big Projects” to add to this list?
Feel free to add them in the comments section.
On Stumbleupon, under the “home improvement” category. I don’t know that I want a schedule – I know I’d take one look at it and start watching tv, myself. But I do know that it is really helpful to have these things down as a list, particularly if areas of the house are at risk for wearing away/developing pest problems/etc.
LOL! Although I think I like your philosophy better, I’m trying to stick to the schedule. 🙂
nice thoughts put together, i appreciate that.
Listing things down help in a big way. But with home maintenance being outsourced, homeowners are choosing to sit back and relax with professionals doing the cleaning up 🙂
I seriously can’t get through the month without a schedule. It of course make a list for the smaller daily bits. But for the larger more important stuff I like to map it out.
I find using an online calendar system works really well. I know it is a bit geeky, but it means I can sync stuff with my wife and ensure that everything gets done.
I wish I didn’t need to do it, but I just think I would be in a real pickle without.
Melinda, this is great. I’ve already loaded it into my Google Docs. I think I’ll use it for big AND small projects though 🙂 Thanks
This is a great idea. You would think that I would already use something like this because I did require the use of checklists and schedules at both my small business and at my rental property. But somehow I have managed to avoid putting a schedule together for my own home! Probably a subconscious way of “forgetting” that things really needed to be done. Looking at your list and my house, it looks like I have some work to do! Thanks.
Admittedly I am a control freak and a compulsive list / label maker, but I have found that a home maintenance schedule is truly indispensable. There are just so many little things that if not taken care of regularly can accumulate into a bigger (usually more expensive) problem. I have worked it out to where my husband and I spend about one Saturday a month performing home upkeep. I don’t consider that too much to sacrifice for a little peace of mind and organization. However, my husband feels like we should pay someone to keep up with these types of chores. What do you all think? Is the extra money worth having one extra Saturday off a month?
One thing I’ve learned about owning a home is that if you don’t develop a home maintenance schedule, things get behind and before you know it you are buried in stuff to do. This can impact your health, value of the property, and enjoyment of the living space in general. And its hard to find the time to catch up once you realize how far behind you are.
For me, a basic annual schedule is important to making sure things get done.
This is a great list, I really appreciated that you included changing your air filter! I am sure that following it will help keep my house in great shape!
I think that annual maintenance of your heating and air conditioning system (especially if you have a gas furnace) it really important. While not usually something you can do yourself, making a note to schedule them is really important!
What a great idea – this way you will always be prompted when jobs need completed around the home – I am starting writing my schedule after reading this great article
Maintenance work is essential for all homeowners. Having a routine would give a clear view on what will be doing on an specific day. This post give me a good sample on how to make my own home maintenance routine on my day off. Thanks for sharing.
Nice share thanks! I certainly need to organise my home maintenance better and I agree that it’s very important.