Funny how the “boring” stuff is always the stuff that comes back to bite you if you ignore it. I used to think I could just focus on the “fun” upgrades—paint colors, new fixtures, all that. But after my first winter in this house, I realized the real money goes into things like insulation, drainage, and making sure the roof isn’t about to spring a leak. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what keeps everything else from falling apart.
I’ve started keeping a spreadsheet for repairs and checks, which might sound a bit much, but it’s helped me catch things before they turn into bigger problems. Like, I almost skipped checking the sump pump last spring—turns out it was clogged, and if I hadn’t caught it, I’d probably have had a flooded basement. Sometimes I wonder if the “boring” stuff is actually the most important part of owning a place, even if it doesn’t make for great before-and-after photos.
I swear, the “boring” stuff is like the secret boss level of homeownership. I tried to ignore my attic insulation for two years, then got hit with a monster heating bill and a family of squirrels moving in. Now I keep a checklist on my fridge—if it’s not in front of my face, I’ll forget. Curious—what’s the one “boring” maintenance thing you wish you’d started tracking sooner? For me, it was gutter cleaning… learned that one the hard way after a mini waterfall off the porch.
Curious—what’s the one “boring” maintenance thing you wish you’d started tracking sooner?
For me, it was caulking around windows. I used to think, “Eh, how bad could a little draft be?” Fast forward to peeling paint and a weird musty smell in the guest room. Now I check seals every spring—learned my lesson after repainting twice. Gutter cleaning’s a classic, though... nothing like an accidental porch waterfall to keep you humble.
Tracking HVAC filter changes was my big miss. I used to just swap them when they "looked dirty," but turns out that’s not even close to a good system. After a couple of units started short cycling, I finally started logging dates and types in a spreadsheet. It’s not glamorous, but it’s saved me a lot of headaches (and money) since. Gutter cleaning is definitely up there too, though—one missed fall and you’re dealing with foundation issues before you know it.
I hear you on the filter tracking—been there, done that, paid for the repairs. I actually set a recurring reminder on my phone now, because spreadsheets just never stuck for me. Gutter cleaning’s another one folks skip until it’s too late. Ever tried those gutter guards? I’ve had mixed results—sometimes they help, sometimes they just trap more junk. Curious if anyone’s found a brand that actually works long-term...
