Home Notes
Simple, honest guides for looking after your home
Checklists and how-tos for new homeowners, seasonal maintenance and first renovations. We say plainly which jobs belong to a licensed pro.
Home Maintenance Checklist: A Simple Month by Month Schedule
Most home repairs don't start big. A clogged gutter, a dirty filter, or a slow drip under the sink turns into a bigger job when nobody notices it for a year....
New Home Checklist: What to Do in Your First Week, 30 Days and 90 Days
The keys are yours. The boxes are everywhere, the paperwork is in three different places, and you are not quite sure where the water shutoff is. That's...
How to Set a Christmas Budget You'll Actually Stick To
The holidays have a way of costing more than anyone planned. It's rarely one big purchase. It's the extra gift for a coworker, the second trip to the store...
Moving Checklist: What to Do 8 Weeks, 4 Weeks and 1 Week Before Moving Day
A move has a way of turning into one giant to-do list that lives in your head at 2 a.m. The fix is not working harder. It's breaking the list into weeks, so...
How to Plan a Renovation Budget Before the New Year
The end of the year is a great time to plan a renovation. Contractors' schedules start filling up for spring, you've had a few months to learn what bugs you...
How to Fix Drafty Windows and Doors: Supplies to Look For
You know the feeling. You're sitting near a window on a cold evening and there's a little chill on your arm, even though the heat is on. Drafty windows and...
How to Winterize Your Home: A Beginner's Checklist
If you did a fall cleanup already, you're ahead of the game. If you missed it, the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist covers gutters, filters, and alarms. This...
Best Tools for a First-Time DIY Bathroom Refresh
A bathroom refresh is one of the best first projects in a new home. It's a small room, so the materials don't cost a fortune, and a few changes like fresh...
Essential Tool Kit for First-Time Homeowners
When you move into your first home, the to-do list shows up before the boxes are unpacked. A loose cabinet hinge, a picture that needs hanging, a wobbly...
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners
Your first fall in a new house can feel like a pop quiz nobody warned you about. The leaves come down, the nights get cold, and suddenly you're wondering...