Break Your Home Maintenance Down into 2 Easy Steps

Let the Season’s Help You in Easy Bites!

If you are like many people, your honey do list is getting longer by the day. We all can sit and think of at least 4-5 if not 10-20 home project we really should work on.

The problem is, the list eventually gets so long that we are now paralyzed with inaction due to so much needing action.

So how do you overcome what feels like a mountain of home maintenance to do?

Easy, you break it down into 2 easy steps.

Step 1:

Tackle it 15 – 30 minutes each weekend (or your normal days off or before work). Most items might seem like a 3-4 hour job and who wants to give up a full Saturday doing work around home? If this is you, then break it down into easy, more manageable time frames. You will be amazed at how much you can get done. While it will not work on larger projects (heck prep time can take that long) it will work with many of the items on your list. Especially anything to do with de-cluttering.

Step 2:

Put your various home tasks into block by season. Just like many of us use the time change to remind us to change our smoke detector batteries, you can use the same system to knock out projects around the home. Plus, now when you see those painful reminders of what you need to do, you can sweep their urgency away by knowing you will get to them in the winter or summer. (Unless they are a fire danger of course).

Here is a great list you can start with and tweak and change to fit your home’s needs:

In the spring:

            Clear gutters of debris.

            Install sun shade on your windows.

            Wash your windows, and check the window      

                    screens.

            Thoroughly clean your home, and clear any clutter.

            Paint your home’s exterior.

            Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

            Change the batteries in them, if necessary.

                  In the summer:

            Install window air conditioners.

            Clean the filters in your home’s HVAC system.

            Drain/flush your water heater.

            Open crawl space vents.

            Look for insect problems, especially termite

                          damage.

In the fall:

            Clear gutters of debris before the weather changes.

            Inspect your roof.

            Have your chimney cleaned and inspected    

Check for leaks and drafts, and repair them.

            Get your furnace inspected and repaired.

            Install storm windows. (if in this type of area)

            Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  Change the batteries

            Paint baseboards (touch up)

            Touch up porches and decks

In the winter:

Cover your central air conditioning unit, or remove your window air conditioners.

            Change/clean furnace filters.

            Clean your kitchen appliances.

            Clean your drains.

            Close crawl space vents.

These are just a few items. Create your own list based of your home’s needs based off age and location.

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So next time you are overwhelmed with home improvement projects, just think of these two easy steps. Remember, the best way to eat an elephant is…on bite at a time!