Your house keeps a few secrets. Learn to read them early.

Seasonal checklists and plain-English guides that help US homeowners spot small problems before they become expensive repairs. Written for people who own a home, not people who fix them for a living.

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The ten-minute walk-around

Front door and lock Deadbolt throws fully, strike plate screws reach the framing, weatherstrip is intact.
Window caulk Cracked or shrinking caulk on sunny sides is usually the first to fail.
Outdoor faucet No drips. Before the first freeze, disconnect the hose and shut it off.
Foundation and grading New cracks, and soil that slopes toward the wall instead of away.
Downspout outlet Water should land several feet from the foundation, not at its base.
Outdoor AC unit A couple of feet of clear space on every side so it can breathe.
Gutters Clear, sloped toward downspouts, and not pulling away from the fascia.
Roof surface From the ground with binoculars: missing, curled or bare shingles.
Chimney flashing Metal at the roof joint should lie flat with no rust or gaps.

This season: fall

Get ready for cold weather before the first freeze.

Full fall checklist

Fifteen guides, grouped by where the work happens

Each guide covers what to check, when to check it, and when to stop and call a licensed professional.

Outside the house

Exterior checksA seasonal walk around the outside of your house, and what to look for on each side.
Roof, gutters and drainageKeeping water off the roof, out of the gutters, and away from the foundation.
Yard, trees and landscapingHow plants, trees and irrigation affect the house itself.
Pest preventionClosing the gaps, removing the food and water, and spotting signs early.

Inside the house

Home maintenanceThe routine jobs that keep systems running and small problems small.
Plumbing and water damage preventionFinding leaks early, knowing your shutoff, and protecting pipes in cold weather.
HVAC and indoor airFilters, airflow, humidity and the yearly tune-up.
Household systemsAppliances, cleaning routines and the everyday habits that keep a house running.
Energy efficiencyAir sealing, insulation and the small changes that lower monthly bills.
Fire and carbon monoxide safetyAlarms, extinguishers, escape plans and the habits that prevent fires.

Protect and plan

Home securityPractical, layered protection: locks, light, visibility and habits.
Away from homeGetting a house ready for a vacation, a long trip or a seasonal absence.
Storm and emergency preparednessGetting your house and household ready for the hazards in your region.
Property planningBudgeting for repairs, planning replacements, and thinking ahead about projects.
Home records and insuranceInventories, receipts and policy reviews that pay off when something goes wrong.

The Home Watch Binder

A printable binder for running your home: a 12-month maintenance calendar, all fifteen guides as checklists, a system-age tracker, service log, home inventory pages and an emergency contact sheet.

$29, one-time digital download

See what's inside

Home Watch Club

Free membership. Track your seasonal checklist year to year and download the printable seasonal checklist.

How the club works

The Home Watch Letter

One short email twice a month: what to check right now and one topic explained properly.

Read a sample issue

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