Even if you aren’t planning to sell your house any time soon, you can save yourself a lot of headaches as a homeowner if you are diligent about home maintenance. Every season brings with it a different list of home chores and landscaping duties. We stay on top of many of these tasks without a second thought – spring cleaning, mowing the lawn, pruning shrubbery and planting annuals, snow removal, and installing storm doors and windows. But there is plenty of ongoing home maintenance that, if addressed routinely, will help you get a longer life out of appliances and cut down on big, messy repair or replacement projects.

Here is a checklist addressing just a few of those tasks:

ü  Safety. Most important is your family’s safety, and there are a few items that are easy to address. Periodically check the condition of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace aging fire extinguishers, and keep first aid kits on hand. Keep an eye out for fraying electrical cords and make sure that you regularly remove lint buildup in your dryer filter. Keep your kitchen exhaust hood and filter free of accumulation and clean or replace HVAC filters.

ü  Updates. In order to keep your home properly sealed against the elements, replacing or painting aging siding can add life to your home. Replacement windows can also save you money on energy bills – there are programs in place to make replacing your windows cost effective.

ü  Inspections. You’ll want to check out various household systems on a regular basis. A seasonal inspection of your heating and air conditioning can detect problems before a serious issue arises. Check your roof and attic for leaks or water damage and make sure that there are no areas of moisture cropping up in your basement. If you have a fireplace, it’s a good idea to get your chimney inspected periodically and cleaned if necessary.

ü  Repairs. As a homeowner, you know that some things simply wear out periodically. Replace damaged window screens or screened doors. Clean and repair gutters that are damaged. Replace leaky faucets and worn electrical outlets or fixtures. When you must replace a failing appliance, opt for a newer, energy-efficient version that will save you money and be easier on the environment. If you need to replace your water heater, consider a tankless version.

In addition to ongoing home maintenance, it’s always a good idea to carefully inspect your property whenever harsh weather hits. Exterior features like gutters, screens, and siding can be easily damaged by the elements, while interior devices like sump pumps can take a beating when there is a lot of rain or snow melt. It’s smart – and not that difficult – to keep an eye out for weather damage.

With a little ongoing effort, you’ll save yourself from the big bills associated with major home repairs. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Make yourself a checklist of chart of maintenance chores by season, month, and week. Chances are that if you stay on top of upkeep in the short term, you’ll save yourself from some headaches in the long term.