There are certain things every homeowner should do yearly, monthly, weekly and daily to keep their home in tip-top shape. Since that list can feel daunting, I’ve put together a homeowner to-do list of just the essentials. Here are the top 12:
- Annual Homeowner To-Do List
Schedule pest control maintenance. This one’s non-negotiable. Get your house inspected once a year for termites, even if you don’t spot them outright. I recommend using the Sentricon system, a trusted and proven termite baiting system. The system effectively eliminates those pesky colonies and protects your home from future colonies moving into the neighborhood.
Inspect the roof. Thanks to good ole Mother Nature, your roof takes a beating here in Santa Barbara. That’s why it’s critical to inspect for holes, cracks and water damage.
Check the foundation.Don’t freak out. This is easier than it sounds. All you need to do is walk around the outside of the house and look for overgrown vegetation around the exterior of the foundation. - Monthly Homeowner To-Do List
Clean your washing machine. Yep, wash your washing machine. All those sudsy cycles can cause mold and mildew, which in turn causes your “clean” clothes to—eeeuw!—smell.
Disinfect your range hood and oven. These heavily used appliances can become caked with grease and grime.
Clean faucet aerators. Over time, aerators can become clogged with mineral deposits, causing compromised water flow. It’s not difficult, I promise. - Weekly Homeowner To-Do List
Wash your bedding. Even if you shower before hopping into bed, your sheets and pillowcases still collect dirt, debris, and dead skin cells. Yuck! Toss your bedding into the washer once a week on a hot or warm cycle to kill any germs.
Wipe down ceiling fans. They might be out of sight, out of mind—until you give that baby a whirl and start an indoor allergen tornado.
Clean the garbage disposal. Simply use a knife to strip off a lemon rind and drop it down the disposal followed by tap water. Run the disposal for a few seconds and revel in the fresh scent of lemony goodness. - Daily Homeowner To-Do List
Reset the room. Before going to sleep, take a moment to reset. This way, everything will be nice and neat when you wake up.
Wipe down surfaces.You’d be surprised how dirty all your surfaces can be. Put on some music, grab a bottle of disinfectant and start wiping.
Check your fridge before you take out the trash. If anything smells funky or is clearly past its prime, chuck it now while you have the trash bag in hand.
Keep this list of things every homeowner should do handy. When it comes time to sell, you’ll be glad you kept up on these simple home maintenance tasks. By the way, if you are considering selling your home in Montecito, Hope Ranch or any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities, please call me at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I’ve been selling real estate in Santa Barbara for more than 25 years and am happy to help you with all your real estate needs!