The question that comes up at every repair, every sale, and every insurance claim is the same: "When was this last done, and by whom?" With this sheet, the answer takes ten seconds. Without it, nobody knows — including the next contractor, who'll charge you to find out.
A house has a medical chart; this is it.
How to keep it
- Fill in a line the day the work happens, while the receipt is in your hand. Staple the receipt behind the sheet.
- Write down the part when there is one — “capacitor,” “flapper,” “blower motor” — and the model numbers of anything new. The next technician will thank you.
- Note what they recommended but didn’t do. That’s the line you’ll want in eighteen months.
- One page a year. In December, start a fresh one and clip the old one behind it.
Year:
| Date | Who (company / person) | What was done — and any part or model number | Recommended but not done | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The recurring ones, so you don’t have to remember
| Service | How often | Last done | Next due |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC tune-up (spring and fall) | Twice a year | ||
| Termite inspection / bond renewal | Yearly | ||
| Gutter cleaning | Twice a year (May, late Nov) | ||
| Dryer vent cleaning | Yearly | ||
| Chimney sweep and inspection | Yearly if used | ||
| Water heater flush | Yearly | ||
| Pest service | Quarterly | ||
| Irrigation startup / winterize | March / November | ||
| Pressure washing | Yearly, after pollen | ||
| Septic pumping (if septic) | Every 3–5 years | ||
| Smoke / CO detector batteries | March and November |
Keep this with "Your house, on one page" — together they're the file a buyer, an adjuster, or a family member will ask for.
Next guideThe home file