Home Maintenance Checklist

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How to use this checklist

Choose your home type and tell us about your yard, fireplace and basement. Press the button to get a checklist split into monthly jobs, the four seasons and once-a-year jobs. Tick the tasks as you finish them and print the list if you like.

Why seasonal maintenance matters

Small regular jobs prevent big repair bills. Clearing gutters, servicing heating and cooling and checking for leaks help protect your home and keep your family safe.

How to use your home maintenance checklist all year

Your checklist splits jobs into monthly, seasonal and once-a-year tasks. Most monthly jobs take a few minutes. Seasonal and yearly jobs take longer, so it helps to put them on a calendar as soon as you print the list.

What changes your checklist

Each answer you give adds or removes tasks:

  • House or apartment: A house adds roof, gutter, siding and exterior jobs. An apartment or condo keeps the tasks inside your unit.
  • Yard or garden: Adds lawn, irrigation, tree and hose bib tasks, such as shutting off outdoor faucets before the first freeze.
  • Fireplace or chimney: Adds a yearly chimney inspection and cleaning, which is usually done before the heating season.
  • Basement or sump pump: Adds checks for damp spots and a sump pump test, usually by pouring a bucket of water into the pit to see that the pump starts.

Tips that make the list easier

  • Pair monthly jobs with an existing habit, such as paying a bill. Check the furnace filter and test alarms on the same day.
  • Keep a small kit ready: spare filters, batteries, caulk, a flashlight and a step stool.
  • Write the date and filter size on each new filter with a marker.
  • Take photos of your water shutoff, gas shutoff and electrical panel so anyone in the home can find them.

Common mistakes

  • Skipping fall jobs. Gutters, outdoor faucets and heating service matter most before cold weather.
  • Ignoring small leaks. A slow drip under a sink can rot a cabinet floor over a few months.
  • Painting or caulking in wet or freezing weather, when the product will not cure well.
  • Climbing onto a steep or wet roof. Check gutters and shingles from a ladder or with binoculars instead.

Planning the bigger jobs

Some items on the yearly list are better left to a licensed pro. Furnace and boiler service, gas appliance checks, chimney sweeping and electrical repairs fall in this group. Book them a month or two ahead of the busy season, since heating and cooling companies fill up fast in fall and late spring.

For example, if you have a house with a yard, a fireplace and a basement, plan for two gutter cleanings, one chimney service, a heating tune-up in fall and a cooling tune-up in spring. Grouping these into two weekends a year keeps the workload predictable.

Keep the printed list with your receipts and service records. A clear maintenance history is useful when you sell the home or make a warranty claim.

Frequently asked questions

What should be on a home maintenance checklist?
Safety checks, filters, gutters, heating and cooling service, plumbing and appliance checks, and seasonal outdoor work.
How often should I change my furnace filter?
Check it every month and change it every 1 to 3 months, depending on the filter type and pets.
How often should I test smoke alarms?
Test them every month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Replace the alarms every 10 years.
When should I clean my gutters?
At least twice a year, in spring and fall, and more often if you have many trees.
Is this checklist for renters too?
Yes. Pick Apartment or condo to hide tasks that belong to the building owner and keep the tasks you can do yourself.
What home maintenance should I do before winter?
Clean the gutters after the leaves drop, disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor faucets. Have the heating system serviced and replace the filter. Seal drafts around doors and windows. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and check that the sump pump works if you have one.
How much should I budget for home maintenance each year?
A common rule of thumb is about 1 to 2 percent of the home’s value per year. On a $300,000 home that is about $3,000 to $6,000. Older homes, large yards and harsh climates usually need more. Set the money aside monthly so a repair does not come as a shock.
Which home maintenance tasks should I hire a pro for?
Hire a licensed pro for gas appliance and furnace service, electrical work, chimney sweeping, major plumbing and roof repairs. These jobs carry fire, shock or fall risks and often need permits. Simple tasks like changing filters, testing alarms and cleaning dryer lint traps are fine to do yourself.