Basic Home Maintenance for Living Off-Campus
When you move into your off-campus housing, there’s a good chance it’s the first time you’ve ever been personally responsible for maintaining a living space. When you Google search what kinds of basic maintenance you should be doing, you’re likely to get results about changing various vents or inspecting electrical wiring. You’re also probably going to stumble across a checklist of dozens upon dozens of items of recommended maintenance (even though much of it probably doesn’t apply to you).
If that sounds scary at first, don’t worry. This article will break down all of the basic maintenance you need to perform and includes a handy checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything!
The maintenance suggested in this article will vary by living space, of course. The maintenance discussed in this article assumes that you are living in a rented space rather than one you own and that your landlord is primarily responsible for the upkeep of utilities. However, this depends on the place you are living and the nature of the contract you signed.
The following maintenance suggestions are useful despite your living situation, although you may have to perform some extra yearly tasks should you be fully responsible for all maintenance. You can find a more detailed list from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As you’ve probably heard someone say before, it’s better to avoid a problem altogether. During an average school year, you’re juggling classes, clubs, study sessions, and occasionally, some much-needed downtime. There usually isn’t much time to spend on your housing situation if a major problem arises.
To avoid any disasters you definitely don’t have time to deal with, thoroughly inspect your off-campus housing for maintenance issues before signing the lease. If you suspect there may be faulty appliances, leaking faucets, broken electrical outlets, or any other maintenance issue that will not be resolved by the time you move in, don’t sign the lease!
Monthly Maintenance
Wait, I have to do something every month? Unfortunately, yes. The good news is that it won’t take much of your time! Monthly maintenance mostly consists of keeping everything clean. You can avert future disasters by vacuuming your carpets at least once per month (to avoid dirt sinking so deep that it’s particularly difficult to get out later), cleaning your windows, and just generally making sure that you avoid letting filth build up. Yes, this involves cleaning your toilets.
Luckily, for most of these tasks, there are easy products that will do most of the work for you. Monthly maintenance should not occupy more than a few hours of your time per month. Be sure to print out the checklist at the end of this article and make sure to complete every monthly task listed as it applies to you.
Semester and Yearly Maintenance
Semester maintenance, in particular, varies depending on the rental contract you have signed. For example, in some cases, the landlord may be responsible for changing your air filters or hiring someone else to do so. In others, you may have to do it yourself. Make sure you are clear on this when you sign your contract to avoid any nasty surprises!
Assuming you are responsible for your air filters, though, you will need to change these roughly every six months. However, this may vary depending on the size of your living arrangement. The larger the space, the less frequently your air filters need to be changed.
Now, if you have central air conditioning, you can disregard this next step. But if you are one of the many college students relying on a window air conditioning unit, every three months or so, you will need to change the filter. Your air quality will rapidly decrease the longer you go without changing it, and it could even make you sick (which is the last thing you want, especially if it needs replacing around exam time!).
As-Needed Maintenance
You know those vents in the ground but inside the house? Those are your floor vents, and in most cases, they aren’t going to cause you any problems. If you smell something odd, though, this might be the place to start looking. Pull out the grate and clean it.
Your door starts squeaking. Maybe you don’t mind, or maybe it’s annoying you to the point you want to do something about it. Your best bet is heading to your local hardware store or all-purpose store (i.e. Walmart) and buying a cheap container of grease. Oiling the hinges of your door may not take away all of the noise, but it will at least help.
In most cases, if you see a problem (peeling paint, curling shingles, etc.) it’s best to contact your landlord and ask them what the appropriate course of action is. If you’re lucky, they’ll handle it for you.
Checklist:
Note: This checklist is not comprehensive. Make sure to ask if your living arrangement requires additional maintenance work. This maintenance list assumes that your landlord will handle the majority of maintenance, as per usual college rental agreements.
MONTHLY MAINTENANCE:
Clean windows __
Vacuum carpets __
Mop or sweep hard floors __
Clean toilets __
Dust (electronics, fans, etc.) __
Clean kitchen and bathroom countertops __
Clean stovetop and/or microwave __
Dust or vacuum window coverings __
SEMESTER OR YEARLY MAINTENANCE:
Change air conditioning filter __
Change air filter __
Check for signs of leaks __
Check for signs of water damage __
Clean dryer vent __
Clean all appliance exhaust fans, burners, etc. __
Inspect smoke and CO alarms __
Alert landlord to any potential problems __
Check with landlord to determine if any more maintenance is necessary __
Follow Uloop
Apply to Write for Uloop News
Join the Uloop News TeamDiscuss This Article
More Uloop Campus Life Articles
- Is Group Studying More Effective?
- What You Need to Know About Moving Mid-Semester
- Dos and Don'ts for the Night Before Midterms
- How To Decorate Your Apartment Walls
TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER SCHOOL OF NURSE ANESTHESIA HOUSING LISTINGS
See all TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER SCHOOL OF NURSE ANESTHESIA Housing ListingsTRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER SCHOOL OF NURSE ANESTHESIA Housing Listings
WRITE FOR ULOOP
Apply to Write for Uloop NewsGET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
TOP COLLEGE NEWS
TOP TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER SCHOOL OF NURSE ANESTHESIA Campus Life Q&A
BROWSE OTHER COLLEGES
- By CollegeUniversity of MissouriWashington University in St LouisUniversity of Missouri-St LouisMissouri State UniversityWebster UniversityUniversity of Central MissouriColumbia CollegeUniversity of Missouri - Kansas CityPark UniversitySaint Louis UniversityA.T. Still UniversityTruman State UniversityOzark Christian CollegeCulver-Stockton CollegeAvila UniversityCentral Methodist UniversityCollege of the OzarksDrury UniversityEvangel UniversityFontbonne UniversityGrantham UniversityHannibal-Lagrange CollegeHarris-Stowe State UniversityLincoln University of MissouriLindenwood UniversityLogan UniversityMaryville University of Saint LouisMissouri Baptist UniversityMissouri Southern State UniversityMissouri Valley CollegeMissouri Western State UniversityNorthwest Missouri State UniversityRanken Technical CollegeRockhurst UniversitySoutheast Missouri State UniversitySouthwest Baptist UniversitySt Louis College of PharmacyMissouri University of Science and TechnologyWilliam Jewell CollegeWilliam Woods UniversityUniversity of Central MissouriEden Theological SeminarySt. Louis Community CollegeSt. Charles Community CollegeAquinas Institute of TheologyMetropolitan Community CollegeMissouri TechThe School of Professional Psychology at Forest InstituteStephens CollegeCottey College Crowder College Jefferson College Metropolitan Community College-Maple WoodsMetropolitan Community College-Penn ValleyMissouri State University-West PlainsMoberly Area Community College North Central Missouri College Ozarks Technical Community CollegeState Fair Community College State Technical College of MissouriAmerican Trade SchoolAssemblies of God Theological SeminaryAviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas CityBaptist Bible CollegeBarnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of NursingBrown Mackie College-St LouisCalvary Bible College and Theological SeminaryCape Girardeau Career and Technology CenterCarthage R9 School District-Carthage Technical CenterCass Career CenterCentral Christian College of the BibleCentral College of CosmetologyChillicothe Beauty Academy IncCity Pointe Beauty AcademyCity Vision CollegeClinton Technical SchoolColumbia Area Career CenterConception Seminary CollegeConcorde Career College-Kansas CityConcordia SeminaryCosmetology College of Franklin CountyDeVry University-MissourieClips School of Cosmetology and BarberingElaine Steven Beauty CollegeEverest College-Earth CityEverest College-Kansas CityFour Rivers Career CenterGraceland University - IndependenceHickey CollegeHillyard Technical CenterHouse of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue SpringsHouse of Heavilin Beauty College-Kansas CityHouse of Heavilin Beauty College-RaymoreIndependence College of CosmetologyITT Technical Institute-ArnoldITT Technical Institute-Kansas CityKansas City Art InstituteKansas City University of Medicine and BiosciencesKenrick Glennon SeminaryLake Career and Technical CenterLester E Cox Medical Center-School of Medical TechnologyLex La-Ray Technical CenterLutheran School of NursingMerrell University of Beauty Arts and ScienceMetro Business College-RollaMidwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryMissouri College of Cosmetology NorthNational Academy of Beauty Arts-FarmingtonNational Academy of Beauty Arts-St LouisNational American University-IndependenceNational American University-Zona RosaNazarene Theological SeminaryNeosho Beauty CollegeNew Dimensions School of Hair DesignNorthland Career CenterPaul Mitchell the School-Missouri ColumbiaPike-Lincoln Technical CenterPinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas CityPoplar Bluff Technical Career CenterProfessional Massage Training CenterRegency Beauty Institute-IndependenceResearch College of NursingSaint Louis Christian CollegeSaline County Career CenterSanford-Brown College-FentonSeymour Beauty AcademySikeston Career and Technology CenterSkin InstituteSoutheast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health SciencesSt Louis Hair AcademyStevens-The Institute of Business & ArtsTexas County Technical CollegeTransformed Barber and Cosmetology AcademyTrend Setters School of CosmetologyTruman Medical Center School of Nurse AnesthesiaUniversity of Phoenix-MissouriUrshan Graduate School of TheologyVatterott College-St JosephWaynesville Career CenterWellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas CityWentworth Military Academy and College
- By State
- By City