Home Maintenance Checklist for August
Following an annual maintenance routine helps you to avoid costly repairs and keep your home a happy, healthy, and safe place to be.
Homeownership comes with a significant responsibility that some people don’t understand when they decide to become homeowners. Home Maintenance is an ongoing, vital part of homeownership. As reported by the National Association of REALTORS®, nearly one in five people said they regretted buying a house because of the chore of maintaining it.[1]
While tidying up messes and washing dishes are a daily chore, there are much larger, important tasks to perform annually. Home maintenance includes surveying and diagnosing what needs attention, and then repairing the problem or hiring a professional who can do it for you.
The consequences of forgoing home maintenance can be devastating. Homeowners reported consequences like water damage, surface damage, mold, structural damage, freeze damage, pest infestation, and fire hazards, not to mention the consequence reported by nearly half of respondents: the additional cost to fix the problem.
The Reward for Home Maintenance
In addition to well-documented cost savings (as small problems are much easier to repair than large ones), you’ll minimize safety hazards and health risks, increase (or at least maintain) your home’s value, and keep your home looking great!
Setting a Month-Based Schedule
Because of the enormity of the task, the only way to truly stay on top of home maintenance is a month-based schedule for what to accomplish inside and outside the home.
August Home Maintenance Responsibilities
As days grow shorter and autumn approaches, this is the time to begin preparing your home for the changing weather, both inside and out.
What to Look for in August:
- Signs of Water Damage, inside and outside the home
- Damage to the Foundation, like large cracks in concrete
- Clogged Drains and Broken, Disconnected, or Clogged Rain Gutters
- Leaky faucets
- High or low water pressure (Why Should You Check the Water Pressure in Your Home?)
- Potential future painting projects
Hold off on performing any large-scale painting projects, especially if you plan to do them yourself. Paint supplies go on sale this month, usually because the high humidity is not ideal for painting. Stock up on supplies now and wait for cooler, drier weather in the fall.
Call a Professional:
- If you see significant water damage or leakage, especially if leaks are near electrical wiring
- To inspect your water heater
- To schedule a roof inspection for September
What to do Inside the Home:
- Deep clean the carpets.
- Empty and clean the refrigerator.
- Tighten or replace faucet washers.
- Clean the washer and dryer.
When it comes to the carpets, you’re probably vacuuming regularly, but nothing beats a deep clean. Machines that are made to shampoo carpets can be rented at most home improvement stores for relatively inexpensive, and they are well worth the rental price. Since it’s also peak pet shedding season, you may decide to wait until your furry friend stops shedding as much, but don’t wait too long.
What to do Outside the Home:
Sweep out the shed and/or garage while lawn furniture, sporting equipment and toys are still outside.
Organize the outdoor storage areas and donate or sell unused items.
Weed and edge the garden beds.
Final Thought for Homeowners
Keep a record of all maintenance checks and repairs, on a calendar or in a notebook that you can easily reference as needed. When home maintenance tasks are weighing on you, you can feel inspired by the growing record of homeownership wins you’ve had. The record is more than just a point of pride, though. As a ledger, it helps you remember what you’ve updated, repaired and replaced for future reference. If you decide to sell your home, this ledger (especially with receipts!) can help to boost the home’s value.
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