Home Maintenance Scheduler

A comprehensive home maintenance skill that generates seasonal checklists customized to your climate zone, home type, and systems. Covers HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, gutters, appliances, and exterior upkeep with multi-platform scheduling integration across Google Calendar, Apple Reminders, Todoist, and spreadsheet tracking.

Supported Platforms & Integrations

Platform	Integration Type	Features
Google Calendar	ICS Export	Recurring seasonal tasks with notification reminders
Apple Reminders	Export	Checklist items with due dates and priority levels
Todoist	Task Export	Projects per season with subtasks and labels
Google Sheets	CSV Export	Full-year maintenance tracker with cost estimates
Notion	Database Export	Maintenance database with status, contractor, and cost fields
Home Assistant	Reference	Automation triggers for filter replacement and system checks

When to Use This Skill

• Use this when moving into a new home and need to establish a maintenance routine from scratch

• Use this when a season is changing and you want to know what maintenance tasks are due

• Use this when planning your annual home maintenance budget and need cost estimates

• Use this when your HVAC, water heater, or appliance is due for service and you need the full checklist

• Use this when you want to prevent expensive repairs by staying ahead of maintenance schedules

• Use this when managing rental properties and need standardized maintenance protocols

• Consider alternatives when you need a licensed contractor to diagnose a specific problem

• Consider alternatives when you need emergency repair guidance for active leaks or failures

• Consider alternatives when you need building code compliance verification for renovations

Quick Start

Copy
# .claude/skills/home-maintenance-scheduler.yml
name: Home Maintenance Scheduler
trigger: "home maintenance"
context:
  climate_zone: "4A-mixed-humid"
  home_type: single-family
  home_age: 15
  square_footage: 2200
  heating_system: gas-furnace
  cooling_system: central-ac

First Run Example:

User: What home maintenance should I do this spring? 
I have a 15-year-old colonial in Virginia.

Expected Output:

## Spring Maintenance Checklist — Mixed Humid Climate
Home: 15-year colonial | Zone 4A (Virginia)

### Exterior (March-April)
- [ ] Inspect roof for winter damage, missing shingles
- [ ] Clean gutters and downspouts, check drainage
- [ ] Power wash siding, deck, and walkways
- [ ] Inspect foundation for new cracks
- [ ] Check exterior caulking around windows and doors
- [ ] Service lawn mower, prep landscaping tools
Estimated Cost: $150-400 (DIY) | $600-1,200 (contractor)

### HVAC (April)
- [ ] Replace furnace filter (last change was 90+ days)
- [ ] Schedule AC tune-up before summer demand
- [ ] Clean outdoor condenser unit coils
- [ ] Test thermostat programming for cooling season
- [ ] Inspect ductwork for visible gaps or damage
Estimated Cost: $30 (filter) | $150-250 (pro tune-up)

### Plumbing (March-April)
- [ ] Check outdoor faucets for freeze damage
- [ ] Inspect water heater (15 yrs = near replacement)
- [ ] Test sump pump operation before spring rains
- [ ] Check washing machine hoses for bulges
Estimated Cost: $0-50 (DIY inspection)

### Interior (April-May)
- [ ] Test all smoke and CO detectors
- [ ] Inspect attic for moisture or pest signs
- [ ] Deep clean dryer vent duct
- [ ] Check weather stripping on exterior doors
Estimated Cost: $20-60

**PRIORITY ALERT:** At 15 years, your water heater is 
nearing end of life (typical lifespan 12-15 years). 
Budget $1,200-2,500 for replacement this year.

Advanced Configuration

Platform-Specific Setup:

Copy
# Google Calendar scheduling
calendar:
  calendar_name: "Home Maintenance"
  reminder_days_before: 7
  recurring: true
  block_duration: 120

# Cost tracking spreadsheet
tracking:
  spreadsheet_path: ~/Documents/home-maintenance.csv
  include_contractor_contacts: true
  track_actual_vs_estimated: true
  warranty_expiration_alerts: true

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
climate_zone	string	"4A-mixed-humid"	IECC climate zone (1A through 8) for seasonal timing
home_type	string	single-family	single-family, townhouse, condo, multi-family, rental
home_age	int	10	Age of home in years for lifecycle-aware recommendations
square_footage	int	2000	Home size for cost scaling
heating_system	string	gas-furnace	gas-furnace, heat-pump, electric, boiler, radiant
cooling_system	string	central-ac	central-ac, heat-pump, window-units, mini-split, none
has_pool	bool	false	Include pool maintenance in seasonal checklists
has_septic	bool	false	Include septic system maintenance schedule
diy_level	string	moderate	none, basic, moderate, advanced (adjusts task complexity)
budget_display	bool	true	Show estimated costs for DIY and professional options
contractor_mode	bool	false	Format checklists for property managers with vendor fields

Core Concepts

Concept	Description
Climate Adaptation	Adjusts maintenance timing and priorities based on your IECC climate zone
Lifecycle Awareness	Flags systems and appliances approaching end-of-life based on home age
Seasonal Sequencing	Orders tasks within each season by priority and optimal timing window
Cost Estimation	Provides DIY versus contractor cost ranges for budgeting and planning
Preventive Focus	Prioritizes maintenance that prevents expensive emergency repairs

+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
|  Home Profile    |---->|  Climate Engine  |---->|  Season Selector |
|  (type, age,     |     |  (zone-based     |     |  (current season |
|   systems)       |     |   task timing)   |     |   priority sort) |
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
                                                          |
                                                          v
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
|  Calendar Export |<----|  Cost Estimator  |<----|  Checklist Gen   |
|  (ICS, Todoist,  |     |  (DIY vs pro,    |     |  (categorized by |
|   Reminders)     |     |   budget alerts)  |     |   system type)   |
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+

Workflow Examples

Scenario 1: Full Annual Maintenance Calendar

Input: "Generate my complete annual maintenance calendar 
for 2026. 20-year-old ranch house in Minneapolis."

Output:
## 2026 Annual Maintenance Calendar
Climate Zone: 6A (Cold) | Home Age: 20 years

**January-February (Winter Watch)**
- Monitor ice dams on roof edges
- Check pipe insulation in crawlspace
- Test backup sump pump battery

**March-April (Spring Prep)**
- Full exterior inspection post-winter
- HVAC transition from heating to cooling
- Gutter cleaning and drainage check

**May-June (Summer Ready)**
[Complete seasonal breakdown through December]

**LIFECYCLE ALERTS (20-year home):**
- Roof inspection critical (20yr shingles may need replacement)
- Water heater is past typical lifespan — inspect or replace
- Consider upgrading to smart thermostat for efficiency

Annual Budget Estimate: $2,800-4,500

Scenario 2: New Homeowner Setup

Input: "Just bought a 5-year-old townhouse in Atlanta. 
First home. What do I need to know?"

Output:
## New Homeowner Starter Maintenance Guide
Climate: 3A (Warm Humid) | Home Age: 5 years

**Immediate Actions (First 30 Days):**
1. Locate and label main water shutoff valve
2. Replace all HVAC filters
3. Test every smoke and CO detector
4. Document appliance model numbers and warranty dates
5. Photograph all rooms for insurance baseline

**Your First Year Schedule:**
[Month-by-month checklist tailored to warm humid climate]

Scenario 3: Rental Property Management

Input: "Maintenance schedule for 3 rental units. 
Different ages: 8, 15, and 25 years. Standard protocol."

Output:
## Property Management Maintenance Schedule

**Unit A (8 years):** Standard seasonal rotation
**Unit B (15 years):** Add water heater and HVAC inspection
**Unit C (25 years):** Major systems review, roof assessment, 
plumbing infrastructure inspection

[Consolidated calendar with per-unit task assignment 
and contractor scheduling recommendations]

Best Practices

• Update your home profile when systems change. Installing a new water heater resets that lifecycle clock. Upgrading to a heat pump changes your HVAC maintenance schedule. Keep the profile current for accurate recommendations.

• Do seasonal checklists before peak contractor season. Spring HVAC tune-ups are cheaper in March than May. Fall gutter cleaning is easier in October than after leaves have compacted. Early scheduling saves money and availability headaches.

• Track actual costs against estimates. The built-in spreadsheet tracker helps you build a personalized cost database. After two years, your estimates become highly accurate for budgeting future maintenance.

• Never skip the water heater inspection. A failed water heater causes more residential water damage than any other appliance. Annual inspection and anode rod replacement extend life significantly and prevent catastrophic failure.

• Prioritize safety items above everything else. Smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, and electrical panel inspections always come first. No amount of curb appeal matters if safety systems fail.

Common Issues

• Climate zone seems wrong for my area. Look up your specific IECC climate zone by zip code at the Department of Energy website. Microclimates can differ from state-level generalizations, especially in mountain or coastal areas.

• Cost estimates seem too high or too low for my region. Costs vary significantly by metro area. The skill provides national average ranges. Adjust mentally for your local market — coastal and urban areas typically run 20-40% above national averages.

• Some tasks feel too advanced for my DIY skill level. Set diy_level to basic or none. The skill will flag which tasks require a professional and which are safe for beginners. Never attempt electrical or gas work without proper training.

Privacy & Data Handling

• Local Processing: All maintenance schedules are generated locally. Your home details, system information, and property data are never sent to external services or shared with contractors.
• Data Retention: Maintenance schedules exist only in your current session and exported files. No home profiles persist externally between sessions.
• Export Options: Export as Markdown checklists, ICS calendar files, CSV tracking sheets, or Todoist task lists. All exports are saved locally before any optional sync.
• No Contractor Sharing: The skill does not share your home information with service providers, home warranty companies, or real estate platforms. All contractor contact is initiated by you independently.