Do you need help to take care of your home?
As a homeowner, you are tasked with a virtual multitude of items on your to-do list that seems to only grow. When you add seasonal maintenance items, the weight of it all can seem insurmountable. You do not need to let looking after your home get out of hand. Instead, follow this guidance to ensure you have time to enjoy the home that you so lovingly care for.
Know the Numbers of Tradespeople
When you are in the moment and dealing with an emergency in your home, you do not have time to figure out which professional to call for what problem. You usually do not know what the problem is – you just know that you need help!
Knowing who to call for emergency assistance and repairs as well as for routine maintenance will save you time and energy in the long run. Some essential contact information to place in your phone’s contact list and near appliances are the following trades:
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Snow Removal Services
- HVAC Services
- Licensed Handyperson
- Lawn Maintenance
You may never have an emergency need for services, but the peace of mind you will feel just knowing that you are ready is immense. Consider making an emergency preparedness or home binder to hold the contact information similar to the one in the video below.
Schedule House Cleaning
Keeping your home clean can seem like a fruitless effort when you combine factors such as kids, pets, and work into the mix. You can still have a clean and organized home, however. All it takes is a little bit of planning, coordination, and work on the part of everyone involved.
Having kids does not mean you have to clean up and pick up after them constantly. If they can make the mess, they can contribute to cleaning it up. Even from a young age, if you put in the investment of time to teach them your family values and expectations regarding tidying up and cleaning, eventually your hard work in this arena will pay off.
Create a Schedule
Begin your house cleaning endeavors with a schedule. Consider the ages and personal schedules of the participants. If your kids have multiple competing priorities during the school year, take a few items off their responsibility list now. Add them back during summer break. The same goes for adults who have long commutes or their own extra-curricular activities.
Create a schedule for when you want things completed. You can assign responsibilities based on rotating weekly schedules. Or you can team up as a family to get everything done on a weekend. Incorporate things like meal preparation into the schedule to ensure everything gets done as needed.
Of note: If you expect dishes to be put in the dishwasher immediately after use, clearly note that expectation even though it is not part of a schedule. This applies to wet towels needing to be hung up. And also clothes that should be diverted into a laundry hamper, etc.
Make your homecare tasks easier and less stressful by planning, preparing, and scheduling what needs to be done. Be proactive and tackle tasks as they present themselves. You will be glad you did when your house looks great when you need to take care of your home.