A home maintenance schedule is the best thing I’ve created for myself as a homeowner and a busy mom. Whether you have a family or not, taking care of a home can be stressful at times. If not downright overwhelming. Between daily chores, deep cleans, and organizational headaches, it’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture. How do you find the time to rest or spend quality time with your family if dishes and dirty laundry are piling up?
Maintaining a set schedule for taking care of my home, whether for large or small tasks, has allowed me to prioritize free time for myself and my family. The key to achieving this balance is having control over home maintenance, which can be achieved with the aid of a simple schedule. If you’re tired of being overwhelmed by household chores and want to focus on more important things, let’s get started.
Creating a Sustainable Home Maintenance Checklist
Before you start scheduling chores to do around the home, you need to see the big picture. Having an idea of everything that needs to be done is a must.
Staying on Top of Homeowner Responsibilities
The first step is to come up with a full checklist.
I recommend approaching this task with your partner or a trusted friend. Facing the complete scope of all the homecare that needs to be done is a little scary. I find that sharing the burden with my husband and planning together makes the whole process easier.
To reduce your mental load, set some time aside to sit down with the people you live with and create your checklist. I recommend planning out the year ahead. For a more in-depth process, check out this guide NEW YEAR, NEW HOME: MAKING YOUR HOUSE A HOME.
Creating Your Own Home Maintenance Schedule
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With a checklist in hand, you know what chores you want to focus on. Now the question is, what’s your timeline?
Everyone has different standards when it comes to home care tasks. As such, creating and implementing a schedule is highly subjective. My tip? Divide your checklist into categories that make sense to you. My favorite? A simple time frame. Think daily tasks, weekly tasks, monthly tasks, seasonal, etc.
Once you’ve set out a plan, consider adding to your schedule tasks that may require outsourcing.
Take Inventory of Hired Out Services
As a homeowner, it is crucial to prioritize maintaining the well-being of your home. It is highly recommended to allocate a specific time annually to service your furnace and AC unit, guaranteeing optimal protection and functionality of your home. Did you know that proper maintenance can save you up to 30 percent in energy bills each year? That’s something worth doing!
I also suggest cleaning out your gutters and air ducts every season.
Don’t Forget To Change Your Filter
Changing your furnace’s air filter is a must, especially if your family is prone to allergies. I follow the general guideline of changing it every 2 to 3 months for the best air quality. It’s helped tone down our allergy systems a lot.
Audit Your Home for Small Handyman Projects
You don’t need to be thinking about ever selling your home to invest in a home audit. A professional’s input might help you see problem areas that aren’t apparent yet to the untrained eye. Thus offering you a chance to address them before it’s too late. Or progresses to even more costly repairs instead of a quick fix now.
Consider Paying for a Few Routine Services
We can all agree that routine chores can be more bothersome than tackling bigger tasks. Nobody enjoys cleaning the gutters, but once it’s done, it’s done for a while. Similarly, dishes piling up in the sink can be a recurring nightmare.
If you suffer from a chronic disease or an executive dysfunction issue (hello ADHD), those maintenance tasks can overload you. I feel you. There’s no shame in getting help for day-to-day chores.
Reach out to family and friends or pay a cleaning crew to take over once or twice a month.
Keep a Running List of Repairs
Maintaining a separate list of repairs that need to be done, in addition to your home maintenance checklist ensures that nothing gets overlooked. Keeping in mind that some repairs may need to be timed based on the season. For example, you wouldn’t want a faulty sump pump when spring flooding occurs, or damaged gutters as winter approaches.
You Have a Home Maintenance Schedule: Now What?
As you establish a consistent home maintenance routine, your household will operate efficiently, allowing you to dedicate more time to your loved ones and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with an organized and well-maintained living space.
What do you think?