Personalized home maintenance calendar, no app to install

The problem

First-time homeowners often don't know that filters, water heaters, gutters and smoke alarms each need attention on different schedules. Printable checklists ignore the home's age, climate and systems, and the apps that personalize them want another install, an account or a paid plan. Skipped maintenance turns into expensive repairs.

For: First-time homeowners · Owners of older houses · Landlords with 1-3 rentals

Why now

The median owner-occupied US home was 42 years old in 2024, up from 31 in 2005, and about 47% of owner-occupied homes were built before 1980, according to NAHB's analysis of Census data.

Demand signals

Monthly Google searches in the US, pulled 2026-09-24. These are the words people with this problem actually type.

• home maintenance checklist6,600
• home maintenance schedule1,000
• home maintenance app720
• first time homeowner checklist480

What exists already

• HomeZada ↗Creates a maintenance plan automatically, but that feature needs Premium at $99/year.
• Dwellin ↗Free app that builds maintenance guidance from public property data and home age; app-only, with a rewards program.
• Oply ↗Free app with tailored recommendations and quotes from pros; app-only.

MVP scope

1. 12-question setup: year built, climate, heating/cooling, water heater, roof, septic
2. Printable checklist grouped by season and month
3. Calendar feed (ICS) for Google, Apple or Outlook; nothing to install
4. Short how-to notes with part sizes (filters, bulbs, batteries)
5. Optional email reminders and a completed-task log
6. Maintenance history PDF for resale or insurance