Maintenance checklist
Home maintenance checklist for the Upstate
The recurring tasks that keep a Greenville-area home in good shape, with timing suited to our climate. When you add your home, we build a plan with only the items that apply to you.
Get my personalized planAppliance Repair
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appliance check (fridge coils, dishwasher filter) | Every 6-12 months | Any | All homes | $0-$150 |
Chimney
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chimney inspection & sweep Level 1 inspection per NFPA 211 | Annually | Late summer/early fall (Aug-Oct) | Homes with a fireplace | $150-$350 |
Dryer Vent Cleaning
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dryer vent cleaning Fire-prevention item | Annually | Any; fall pairs well with chimney | All homes | $100-$200 |
Duct Cleaning
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air duct cleaning NADCA-certified preferred; sooner after renovation/pets/mold | Every 3-5 years | Fall or late winter | Homes with HVAC | $300-$700 |
Electrical
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical safety inspection Test GFCI/AFCI monthly yourself | Every 3-5 years | Any | All homes | $150-$300 |
| Smoke & CO detector test/battery | Test monthly; batteries yearly; replace units at 10 yrs | Daylight saving changes | All homes | $0-$50 |
Fencing
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fence inspection & repair Check posts, gates/hinges, rot, leaning sections | Annually | Spring or fall | Homes with a deck or fence | — |
Gutter Cleaning
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gutter cleaning Oak/pine heavy lots may need 3-4x | 2x per year (more if trees) | Late Nov-Dec after leaf drop; late spring after pollen/seed | All homes | $100-$300 |
HVAC
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear AC condensate drain line Humidity causes algae clogs | Every 6 months | Spring & mid-summer | Homes with HVAC | $0-$150 |
| HVAC tune-up (cooling) Check refrigerant, coils, condensate line | Annually | Spring (Mar-Apr) before humid summer | Homes with HVAC | $75-$200 |
| HVAC tune-up (heating/heat pump) Most upstate homes use heat pumps; check aux heat | Annually | Fall (Sep-Oct) | Homes with HVAC | $75-$200 |
| Replace HVAC air filters Heavy spring pine pollen in upstate SC | Every 1-3 months | Year-round; monthly in pollen season (Mar-May) | Homes with HVAC | $10-$40 per filter |
Handyman
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawl space / moisture inspection Mold/vapor barrier in humid SC | Annually | Late summer (peak humidity) | Homes with a crawl space | $0-$300 |
| Deck/fence inspection & seal | Inspect yearly; seal every 2-3 yrs | Spring/fall dry spell | Homes with a deck or fence | $300-$1,000 |
| Weatherstripping & caulking doors/windows | Annually | Fall | All homes | $100-$300 |
Lawn/Landscaping
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fertilization/weed control | 4-7 apps per year | Feb-Nov | Homes with a lawn | $50-$90 per app |
| Lawn aeration & overseeding (fescue) | Annually | Fall (Sep-Oct) for fescue; late spring for warm-season | Homes with a lawn | $150-$400 |
| Lawn mowing & maintenance Bermuda/zoysia/fescue mix in upstate | Weekly-biweekly in season | Apr-Oct | Homes with a lawn | $40-$80 per visit |
| Tree/shrub trimming Check limbs over roof | Annually | Late winter (Jan-Feb) dormant season | Homes with a lawn | $200-$1000+ |
Painting
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior paint/caulk inspection Humidity/mildew wear | Annually; repaint every 5-10 yrs | Spring/fall (50-85F, low humidity) | All homes | $3,000-$10,000 repaint |
Pest Control
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito treatment | Every 3 weeks in season | Apr-Oct | All homes | $60-$100 per visit |
| Pest control service Ants, roaches, spiders common | Quarterly | Year-round; key in spring/summer | All homes | $100-$175 per visit |
| Termite inspection / bond renewal SC is high termite pressure | Annually | Spring (swarm season Mar-May) | All homes | $75-$400/yr bond |
Plumbing
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing leak check / shutoff valve test Insulate exposed pipes before Dec | Annually | Fall before freezes | All homes | $100-$200 |
| Water heater flush & anode check | Annually (anode every 3-4 yrs) | Any | All homes | $100-$250 |
| Winterize outdoor spigots/irrigation Upstate gets hard freezes | Annually | Nov | All homes | $0-$150 |
Pressure Washing
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure wash siding/driveway/deck Soft wash for vinyl/roofs | Annually | Spring after pollen | All homes | $200-$500 |
Roofing
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof inspection Many roofers inspect free; hail/wind season spring | Annually + after major storms | Spring or fall | All homes | $0-$300 |
Septic
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septic inspection | Every 1-3 years | Spring-fall | Homes with septic | $150-$400 |
| Septic tank pumping Common in Travelers Rest rural areas | Every 3-5 years | Spring-fall (dry ground) | Homes with septic | $300-$600 |
Window Cleaning
| Task | How often | Best time | Applies to | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window cleaning (exterior) | 1-2x per year | Late spring after pollen; fall | All homes | $150-$400 |
*Rough ranges for planning only; actual prices vary. Always get a quote.