{"id":9047,"date":"2019-02-22T12:37:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T20:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=9047"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:41:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T15:41:53","slug":"home-maintenance-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/home-maintenance-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Tailored Home Maintenance Plan that Preserves Your House\u2019s Value"},"content":{"rendered":"

The average American has at least nine 9 unfinished home improvement projects<\/a> or repairs going at one time, according to a survey of 2,000 homeowners by Porch.com. So it\u2019s no surprise that only 1 in 10 homeowners feel like they\u2019re in control of their home maintenance responsibilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But just like our bodies need exercise to stay strong, our homes need regular upkeep or they\u2019ll get \u201cout of shape\u201d and look older than their years\u2014in fact, poor maintenance could knock off up to 10% of a home\u2019s appraised value<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t leave the TLC<\/a> your house needs up to chance or trust your memory alone to keep track of dozens of tasks. Follow these steps to create a tailored home maintenance plan so you can be sure when it\u2019s time to sell, nothing\u2019s gone unnoticed that might hurt the value of your house.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Kristi Blokhin\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Step 1: Do a walking tour to get to know your house better and take notes on your home\u2019s specific maintenance needs.<\/h2>\n

To create a home maintenance plan for any type of property you\u2019ll need a master list of tasks, but first you need to pinpoint the care your individual home requires.<\/p>\n

Many of the tasks on your list will be universal so you can consult guides on the web, such as HomeLight\u2019s comprehensive seasonal home maintenance checklist<\/a>, to get started. Checkups on the heating, ventilation, and AC units; cleaning out the gutters; or checking caulk on windows and doors, for example, will apply to virtually every homeowner.<\/p>\n

However, the specific maintenance your home requires will ultimately depend on factors such as your home\u2019s building materials, age, and unique features such as skylights<\/a>, pools<\/a>, or an unfinished basement.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to customize the plan based on your region and weather patterns. \u00a0Consider how Midwest homeowners need to think about winterizing pipes <\/a>whereas those on the coast may incorporate hurricane preparations<\/a> into their maintenance plan.<\/p>\n

A walkthrough of the house\u2014covering every living space, bedroom, floor, and nook and cranny\u2014will help jog your memory about any easy-to-forget maintenance items. Make sure you grab a notebook and jot down what you see or take notes on your phone.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few of the home-specific types of tasks that could make it onto your list:<\/p>\n