Let's face it. For most of us, home maintenance chores are a pain in the neck. They require that we take time from already over-booked schedules, they usually involve tasks that are unpleasant to do, and they cost us money we hadn't planned on spending.

But what can you do? Keeping your home in good shape is as important as keeping yourself healthy. And your investment in this home is substantial so upkeep is not an option—it's a necessity.

Here are some ideas about how to manage your basic home maintenance tasks so that you can be vigilant and responsible without too much bother.

FIND OUT WHERE THE CONTROL POINTS ARE

If you still have the original architectural blueprints, or can get a set from the builder, review them. Find out where the main plumbing valves are and which electrical breakers control which devices or lights. Keep these drawings in a safe place. They will not only inform you, they will inform a contractor who needs to do a repair, and that will save you money.

If you don't have the blueprints, inspect your home or have a professional do it for you. Ask them to identify all of the essential control points, and draw a dimensioned floor plan that indicates where these points are. You only have to do this one time, and it will pay you back handsomely.

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE

Check your smoke detectors from time to time. There's a little button on the face of the detector that ought to set off the alarm when you punch it. If the alarm doesn't sound, ask an electrician to check the wiring or replace the unit. If it does, punch the button a second time to turn off the alarm.

Keep fire extinguishers somewhere near the kitchen, and somewhere near the bedrooms, and be sure that everyone in the house knows where they are and how to use them.

Be sure that windows are fully operable and weather tight. These openings provide an emergency exit in case of trouble, and ought to keep bad weather, bugs and burglars out.

If your home was built before 1978, hire a state certified hazardous materials inspector to check for asbestos, lead-based paint, mold and mildew, and other health hazards. You can get more information about this from the Department of Health & Human Services in your state; ask for the Health Hazards Control Unit.

INSPECT REGULARLY

Keep an eye on the kinds of problems that can cause real trouble; things like water in the wrong place, or uneven flows of power. Fire and moisture are your worst enemies.

Have your home inspected by a professional when it's about 5 years old, then every 3 years or so as it ages, then every year after it reaches it's 25th birthday. Think of this inspection just the way you would think about having a complete physical exam by your doctor. It's always nice to get that clean bill of health, but it's also a very good idea to catch any problems early, when they're easiest to cure.

UNDERSTAND THE NATURAL LIFE-CYCLE OF YOUR HOME'S COMPONENTS

Nothing lives forever.

• Your refrigerator probably has a useful life of 12-15 years
• Your water heater, 10-12
• Your roof shingles ought to last 20 years
• Carpeting will probably need replacing after about 7-8 years
• Paint after 3-4
• Plumbing systems may last about 25 years before corrosion rots the connectors or the seals begin to go
• Electrical wiring will probably be safe for about 15-20 years before connections begin to wear
• Your furnace may function efficiently for 15-20 years if you change the filter each month and have it serviced every year

Your home inspector can provide you with more information about the life expectancy of every element in your home. Ask them for that information the first time you have them do an inspection.

BUY A HOME WARRANTY POLICY

There are companies that offer a sort of insurance policy that will help you monitor and maintain your home. For a fixed price, they will inspect and service all of the major appliances and systems in your home on a regular basis, and charge you only a small additional fee for repairs. Consider purchasing one of these warranty policies once your contractor's warranty has expired. The older your home, the more value these policies will have to you.

BE PREPARED TO DO THE LITTLE REPAIRS YOURSELF

Put together a tool box that includes:

• Two screwdrivers; a flat-head and a philips-head
• A light weight claw hammer
• Two pairs of pliers; one small enough to fit in tight spaces, and a larger one with a lock that can double as a clamp
• A small hand saw with an edge that will cut plastic pipe and small pieces of wood
• A pair of wire cutters
• Picture wire, twine, duct tape, wood glue and a tube of caulk
• A 12" level
• A stud-finder
• An electrical outlet tester
• A 3-foot straight-edge ruler

Take a few classes at the local home improvement store or the community college, so that you have some of the basic skills. You ought to be able to tighten screws in a loose hinge, replace damaged window screens, stop a toilet from running, replace cracked grout in the bathroom tiles, clean the gutters (if you live in a single-story home), shut off main plumbing valves if you find a leak, and flip the right breaker if you have a power problem.

DON'T BE SHY ABOUT CALLING IN THE MOUNTIES

Plumbers, electricians and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) contractors are required to be licensed by the state for a reason. They do work that can be difficult or dangerous, and they have special training and experience. Don't try to work on your furnace, don't try to clear out a backed-up plumbing waste line, and don't try to re-wire a circuit yourself if you are not a licensed contractor. Call in the qualified professionals.

Find some great contractors, including handyman services, and keep their names and numbers firmly affixed to the refrigerator door in case of emergencies. Be sure to check references ahead of time, and find craftsmen with good references and lots of experience.

SET ASIDE A FUND FOR HOME MAINTENANCE COSTS

Professional property managers estimate that setting aside about 18-cents per square foot of heated space per month, for the first 20-25 years of the life of a home, will give you a maintenance fund adequate to replace the roof and major appliances when you need to, without taking out a loan or pillaging your retirement account. If you do the math, and use the life-cycles listed above, you'll see that this fund will hit somewhere close to zero in the 20th year, but be sufficient to maintain the home throughout that cycle.

Add a few extra pennies per square foot if you live in an older home or if you plan to do any small remodeling projects.

Invest the money. In the first 12 years, you'll be saving much more than you use, but when the whopping expenses hit, you'll be happy you were disciplined … and meanwhile, you can take little vacations on the dividends.

THE WAY YOU MAINTAIN YOUR HOME IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL STYLE

Everybody's different. If you want to make home maintenance chores a seasonal ritual, there are hundreds of checklists available on the Internet. If you’re not the handy sort, there are (thankfully) others who are; hire them. Either way, your home is probably your largest personal asset: it deserves some TLC.

MORE INFORMATION

You’ll find lots more information about the home remodeling process in Managing a Renovation: Staying in Charge and Out of Trouble, our friendly and comprehensive homeowner’s guide to remodeling project management. Download the table of contents and a sample chapter, or go to the order form to purchase the book.

We offer ready-to-use construction forms, including a complete remodeling contract, in our Bookstore, as well. Have a look.

And, you may want to look at our list of More Resources for some great design ideas.

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