Are you as obsessed with lists? I am. I have an arsenal of lists. To-do list. Grocery list. Favorite wine list. Books-I-want-to-read list. Yup, you get the idea. Today I want to introduce you to my Free Fall Home Maintenance Checklist in 3 (that’s right you read that correctly, THREE!) different formats – pdf, Excel, and Google sheets. BOOM! I just blew your mind right there, didn’t I! ?
Why a Checklist in pdf, Excel AND Google Sheets formats?
To-do lists shouldn’t take forever to create, nor be complicated. Every minute you spend setting up your checklist is time wasted actually ticking off those tasks.
My mission is to make your home maintenance seamless and easy. And let’s face it, the average homeowner is not ecstatic about home maintenance. (I’m not exactly jumping out of bed on a Saturday morning saying “Let’s clean the gutters – Hooray!!!”). The point of to-do list? Help you be productive, organized and stay motivated!
But why all 3 formats for a fall maintenance checklist? Flexibility. We all work best with different tools. Some homeowners prefer paper to track maintenance, while others track electronically. These 3 different formats give you flexibility to work how you need to, and then get on with checking off those tasks!
So pick the format that best works with your home maintenance tracking system.
What You Need to Know about this Fall Home Maintenance Checklist?
Lots of home bloggers have fall home maintenance checklists out in the bloggerverse (wait, is that a word? Did I just make up a new word? Quick – call Webster’s Dictionary!)
There are some great fall checklists there, but I wanted to throw mine out into the ring. I believe my checklist addresses a few needs for some homeowners where other checklists fail.
Admittedly I’m not a professional graphic designer. I’m an average homeowner. So while my checklist doesn’t have graphics with pizzazz, it’s practical, functional, and most importantly, gets the job DONE!
What else do need to know about the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist? 5 things
1. It’s Simple.
You don’t need experienced DIY skills to complete this checklist. I’m an average homeowner, with limited knowledge and skill (but learning more everyday!). While I’m frequently inspired her to grab the toolbox and do some DIY, I also know when it pays to hire a pro. So I don’t attempt anything complex, like cleaning my furnace or servicing my snowblower. That’s best left to the professionals.
2. It’s Short.
Some fall home maintenance lists are more comprehensive. These fall home maintenance lists include deep cleaning the kitchen, washing windows and doors, etc….. If you do want to roll your sleeves up, I highly recommend this Home Maintenance and Deep Cleaning Checklist for the Fall by Cynthia in pdf form (if you email her she will send you a editable version).
This is more a “Lazy Homeowner’s Checklist to Fall Home Maintenance”. This checklist sticks to just autumn-related tasks.
But don’t worry – I didn’t miss any major fall home upkeep tasks (although if you think I did, please let me know!). You can rest assured knowing that with my Fall Home Maintenance Checklist your home is “buttoned up” and ready for winter.
BTW, if you are looking for other checklists to tackle other household tasks they are available – like How to Deep Clean a Bedroom in Under 2 Hours. Or they on my to-do list to develop ? (Did you like that? How I snuck in another list?)
3. It’s Quick.
You can probably tackle all these items in one weekend. Like the sound of that? Me too. That leaves more than enough time to head out and enjoy all the gifts that autumn brings. Go pick some apples, carve some pumpkins, leaf-peep or get lost in a corn maize (If you live up North like me. If you live in the south you can go to the beach. And then send me an email and invite me down for a visit – I’ll need a winter getaway come February or March).
4. You Can Tailor It To YOUR Needs.
This is the Number 1 reason I decided to post my Fall Home Maintenance Checklist. I hate checklists where there is no place for me to tailor it to my needs. So I added the following to my checklist.
Add Tasks
Not every home, nor every homeowner is the same (wouldn’t it be boring if we were?) Space to add tasks specific to my list that work for me, but not others. For example, maybe you have a fireplace and stockpile wood? Rain barrel that needs to be stored for the winter? Or have an old house with cast iron radiators that need to be bled? Personally I add “winter driving kit for my car” to my fall checklist. It might sound random to you, but it’s not to me. I winterize my car the same way I winterize my house by placing a snowbrush, shovel, blanket, and de-icer in the trunk of my car.
Keep Notes
Don’t you wish there was a place to add notes to remind you to things? This checklist has a dedicated space to add notes to help jog your memory next fall. For example, an area of the roof that you want to keep an eye on for potential damaged shingles. A tally and location of all gutters.
Manage Contractor Contacts
For the fall maintenance tasks that require professional services, add the name and number of all the your contractors. Isn’t it easier to have all your contractors’ information stored in the same place? And faster to schedule all those calls at once?
5. It’s Consistent Year After Year.
You’ll notice that I put in three columns for “Date”. Why? Two reasons.
- It keeps you organized and consistent from year to year. This ensures you are tackling everything that needs to be done to get your home ready for winter year after year. No tasks will fall through the cracks.
- If you decide to sell your house, it’s quick and easy snapshot to show potential buyers that you were consistent with home maintenance. That year after year, you kept your house and property in peak shape. It’s a clear running tally of your home’s health.
I’m no realtor (nor play one on tv), but I image that documentation might help sell your house for more money or faster? According to real estate website Opendoor, “maintenance and repair issues are one of the primary reasons why pending home sales fall through at closing.”
PDF Version – Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Google Doc &Excel Versions – Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Click on the following links for each version:
IMPORTANT: Note that for the Google Docs and Excel, you need to save a copy. How exactly do you do that?
File -> Make a a Copy or File -> Download
If it doesn’t work, please let me know!
What Tasks Are Listed on the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist?
I’ve divided the checklist into Outdoor and Indoor tasks.
1. Outdoor Fall Maintenance Tasks
For tips, trick and tutorials be sure to check out 12 Tips to Prep You Home’s Exterior for Fall.
- Remove or cover window air conditioners.
- Inspect roof and chimney for cracks/damage.
- Clean downspouts and gutters (or schedule service).
- Remove screens and install storm windows and doors.
- Clean and store outdoor furniture and grill.
- Rake leaves/other lawn debris. Shred or dispose as per town ordinance.
- Trim bushes, trees, and shrubs, especially where hitting house.
- Remove hoses from spigots, drain and store. Turn off outdoor water.
- Clean and store lawn mower, string trimmer, and other equipment.
- Test snow blower and schedule tune-up if necessary.
- Seed and aerate lawn.
- Check and seal cracks in driveways and walkways.
2. Indoor Fall Maintenance Tasks
- Check windows and doors for weather tightness. Caulk or install weatherstripping.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries.
- Replenish Emergency Preparedness Kit.
- Schedule professional inspection and servicing for furnace and boiler.
- Schedule professional chimney inspection and sweep.
- Program thermostat for cooler temps
Use this Fall Home Maintenance Checklist to tick off your tasks this autumn and be ready for the winter within just one weekend!
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