For the month of August, the blog will focus on home repairs. Today’s first installment will cover identifying the repairs your home needs.

Most of us have spent a lot more time at home over the last several months. That makes it more likely that you are more aware of (and annoyed by) things that need to be fixed. The cracked blind on the office window may be something you can ignore when you only use your office to pay bills, print documents, and file. But staring at it 40 hours a week may drive you crazy.

Set aside a few mornings or afternoons to walk through the house room by room. Take a tablet (paper or computer) with you as you go. For each room, keep a running list of things that need to be repaired or improved. Don’t edit yourself as you go – try to make the list as comprehensive as possible. Even if you think a particular repair is beyond you right now, put it on the list.

Once you’ve finished a room by room list (don’t forget the attic and basement!), go outside (unless you live in an apartment or condominium). Walk around the house, through the yard, the garage or carport, and any shed. Add any necessary repairs to these areas to your list.

I always like to let a list sit for a few days, to give me time to decide if I’ve missed anything.

Once you are satisfied that your list is complete, spend a little time identifying the resources available to you. Do you have money saved to cover home repair and maintenance? Do you have fix-it skills? Do you have handy friends you might trade chores with? How much time can you practically dedicate to home repairs and maintenance over the next several months?

With your list and the answers to these questions in hand, you’re ready for the next step – organizing your list! We’ll look at that next week.