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Notes on running a home well

What we have learned about warranties, maintenance, and the paperwork of ownership, written for people who would rather fix small things than pay for big ones.

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Maintenance

Maintenance for a condo or townhome: what is yours

In a condo, what is inside your walls is usually yours and the building is the association's, but only the declaration says for sure. What to check and record.

October 26, 2026Read

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October 26, 2026New construction

What homeowners want in a handoff package

Owners reach for shutoffs and breaker labels first, then manuals and the warranty, then paint codes and the sub list. What to include, and in what format.

Notes on running a home well

Maintenance for a condo or townhome: what is yours

Every post

What homeowners want in a handoff package

Earthquake prep for homeowners

Landscaping a new build in the first year

Register your appliance and system warranties in the first month

Short-term rental maintenance: the checklist between guests

How to choose a home inspector

How to handle a dispute with your builder

How to organize appliance manuals and serial numbers

Why photos beat memory for maintenance

Indoor air quality basics for any home

Water conservation at home: where the gallons go

How to build a maintenance calendar that sticks

What preventive maintenance actually prevents

How builders reduce warranty callbacks

Why a new home smells, and what to do about off-gassing

Getting your HVAC ready for winter

Pre-listing repairs worth doing (and the ones to skip)

How to prepare for a builder warranty service visit

The 11-month warranty inspection: what to check before year one ends

How to record a service visit

Property taxes and escrow basics: how the account works

Easy energy savings at home that actually work

How to build a home inventory room by room

Maintenance mistakes new owners make

Signs of a hidden leak: how to spot one and confirm it

DIY or hire a pro: a decision rule for home repairs

Spec, custom, and production homes: what changes for the owner

Tornado prep for homeowners

What an ERV or HRV does in a new home

Aging in place: home changes worth planning

What a 1-2-10 builder warranty usually covers

Builder warranty vs home warranty: what each one covers

Living with an HOA: what owners should know

How to find the permit history for your home

What a home maintenance log should include

Home energy audit basics: what it covers and what you get

Where water damage starts in a house

The monthly home maintenance checklist

The five shutoffs every owner should know

What a builder superintendent does, and how to work with one

Why new homes settle: nail pops, cracks, and sticking doors

The fall home maintenance checklist

Hurricane season prep checklist for homeowners

Home security basics that do not need a subscription

New home orientation: what to ask your builder

The final walkthrough checklist for a new construction home

The first 90 days in a resale home

How to read equipment labels: model, serial, and the date of manufacture

Indoor air quality in a tight new home: what changes and what to do

Preparing a home for an extended absence

What to do when a pipe bursts: the first hour, in order

The builder-to-owner handoff, from the builder's side

How to budget for home maintenance without guessing

Home insurance for a new build: what to sort out before closing

Repair or replace? How to decide when a home system breaks

What a home appraisal looks at, and what a record can do for it

Wildfire defensible space: the zones around your house and what to do in each

The pre-drywall inspection: what to check before the walls close

Selling a house with a complete record

How to hire a contractor and read a quote

How to read a home inspection report

The documents to keep from closing day (and what each one is for)

A first-year maintenance schedule for a newly built home

How to read a builder warranty

The new-construction warranty timeline: what to check before each window closes

Storm and freeze prep by region: what your house needs before the season

What a punch list is, and how to make a good one before closing

Why every home needs one record

Get the reminders, not just the reading.

Make the most of it.