Buying your first home is a big deal. It’s a major achievement in the journey of life, and your main asset for the security and longevity of your family. That said, it’s a lot of work.
Once the dust has settled and the novelty has worn off, you’ve got the task of maintaining it. From basic cleaning schedules to more complex DIY jobs, there’s a lot to consider here, and it’s easy for new homeowners to become overwhelmed with all that has to be done, especially when you have work and family commitments to attend to.
Thankfully, once you split everything up into more manageable, bite-sized chunks, you’ll find the process to be much more manageable. It’s all about getting into a good routine. To help you begin, here are ten tips for staying on top of everything.
1
Outline a Clear Schedule
In the beginning, the best method to get organized is to outline a basic but clear schedule for the most common household tasks. A great way to start is by using the stock calendar on your phone: mark the three tasks you know you’ll need to tend to on a weekly basis, set them to recur, and make sure you have notifications turned on. This will ensure you never forget anything.
You can also use this method to break larger tasks into smaller ones, splitting something laborious over the week so that it’s not as difficult to complete. Some people also like to keep a physical calendar on their kitchen wall or on the fridge, so that’s an option if you’d prefer it.
A simple maintenance framework to get started:
Weekly: Cleaning, vacuuming, wiping down kitchen and bathrooms
Monthly: HVAC filter check, appliance wipe-downs, checking under sinks for leaks
Seasonally: Gutter cleaning, exterior inspection, weatherstripping check
Annually: Boiler service, roof inspection, smoke detector battery replacement
2
Look After Your Appliances
Modern appliances mostly run themselves after the pressing of a few buttons, but it’s still important to care for them properly. While it might be boring, be sure to read the manual for each appliance carefully to make certain you’re doing what you can to prevent excessive wear on the components, and with equipment like washing machines and dryers, never exceed the stated capacity.
Beyond the manual, a few habits go a long way: clean your dryer lint trap after every load, descale your washing machine monthly, and check refrigerator door seals annually. Appliances that are well maintained last significantly longer and use less energy, which adds up considerably over the years of homeownership ahead of you.
3
Get Plumbing Problems Fixed Early
It’s likely that at some point during your time in the home, you’ll experience a plumbing problem. Usually, it’ll just be something small, like a leaky fixture, but even these minor issues should be fixed as soon as possible. It’s very easy for a problem like this to turn into a disaster later on down the line, and you don’t want to ever be in the position where yo
