Veteran-built.
Projects
All 52 projects
Every project has a calculator, tools list and step-by-step instructions.
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Projects
Test and upgrade smoke and CO alarmsWeek 1 · January · 1 hour
Flush the water heaterWeek 2 · January · 1 to 2 hours
Clean the range hood filter and dryer lint pathWeek 3 · January · 1 hour
Re-caulk the tub and showerWeek 4 · January · Half a dayInstall water leak sensors and an auto shutoffWeek 5 · January · 2 hours
Replace a toilet wax ringWeek 6 · February · 1 to 2 hours
Weatherstrip doors and add door sweepsWeek 7 · February · 2 hours
Fix a running toiletWeek 8 · February · 1 hour
Clean drains and service the garbage disposalWeek 9 · February · 1 hour
Roof tune-up: drone check, seal penetrations and ridgesWeek 10 · March · 1 dayClean gutters and extend downspoutsWeek 11 · March · Half a day
Install a French drainWeek 12 · March · 1 to 3 days
Change HVAC filters and prep the ACWeek 13 · March · 1 hourCheck fire extinguishers and build an emergency kitWeek 14 · March · 1 hour
Check sprinklers and convert beds to dripWeek 15 · April · Half a day
Mulch planting bedsWeek 16 · April · Half a day
Repaint the front door and trimWeek 17 · April · 1 day
Pressure wash the driveway, walks and sidingWeek 18 · April · Half a day
Find and fix wood rot and termite damageWeek 19 · May · 1 day
Repair window and door screensWeek 20 · May · 2 hours
Clean and seal the deckWeek 21 · May · 1 to 2 days
Repair a fence or add a privacy hedge screenWeek 22 · May · 1 day
Vegetation cutback for defensible spaceWeek 23 · June · 1 to 2 days
Clean the AC condenser coilsWeek 24 · June · 1 hour
Install or replace a ceiling fanWeek 25 · June · 2 to 3 hours
Clean and seal groutWeek 26 · June · Half a day
Maintain patio covers and pergolasWeek 27 · June · Half a day
Paint an interior roomWeek 28 · July · 1 to 2 days
Tune up the garage doorWeek 29 · July · 1 hour
Install a smart thermostatWeek 30 · July · 1 hour
Top up attic insulationWeek 31 · July · 1 day
Fix a dripping faucetWeek 32 · August · 1 hour
Install GFCI outlets in wet areasWeek 33 · August · 2 hoursAerate and overseed the lawnWeek 34 · August · Half a dayClean the full dryer vent run to the roof or wallWeek 35 · August · 1 hourWildfire hardening: ember-resistant ventsWeek 36 · September · 1 day
Seal cracks in driveways and walksWeek 37 · September · Half a day
Caulk windows and exterior penetrationsWeek 38 · September · 1 day
Clear retaining wall weep holes and drainsWeek 39 · September · Half a day
Re-level pavers and walkwaysWeek 40 · September · 1 day
Inspect cast iron drain pipes before the rainsWeek 41 · October · 2 hours (plus camera)
Mold check and cleanupWeek 42 · October · 2 hours to 1 dayInstall gutter guardsWeek 43 · October · Half a day
Fix grading and prep sandbags and a sump pumpWeek 44 · October · 1 day
Reflash and seal roof penetrationsWeek 45 · November · 1 dayCheck the chimney and fireplaceWeek 46 · November · 1 hour
Earthquake-strap the water heaterWeek 47 · November · 1 hourUpgrade exterior lighting to LED and motionWeek 48 · November · 2 hoursHang holiday lights safelyWeek 49 · December · 2 hours
Exercise and label shutoff valvesWeek 50 · December · 1 hourHeating check before winterWeek 51 · December · 1 hourYear-end home file: photos, receipts and warrantiesWeek 52 · December · 2 hours
Flush the water heaterWeek 2 · January · 1 to 2 hoursClean the range hood filter and dryer lint pathWeek 3 · January · 1 hourRe-caulk the tub and showerWeek 4 · January · Half a dayInstall water leak sensors and an auto shutoffWeek 5 · January · 2 hoursReplace a toilet wax ringWeek 6 · February · 1 to 2 hoursWeatherstrip doors and add door sweepsWeek 7 · February · 2 hoursFix a running toiletWeek 8 · February · 1 hourClean drains and service the garbage disposalWeek 9 · February · 1 hourRoof tune-up: drone check, seal penetrations and ridgesWeek 10 · March · 1 dayClean gutters and extend downspoutsWeek 11 · March · Half a dayInstall a French drainWeek 12 · March · 1 to 3 daysChange HVAC filters and prep the ACWeek 13 · March · 1 hourCheck fire extinguishers and build an emergency kitWeek 14 · March · 1 hourCheck sprinklers and convert beds to dripWeek 15 · April · Half a dayMulch planting bedsWeek 16 · April · Half a dayRepaint the front door and trimWeek 17 · April · 1 dayPressure wash the driveway, walks and sidingWeek 18 · April · Half a dayFind and fix wood rot and termite damageWeek 19 · May · 1 dayRepair window and door screensWeek 20 · May · 2 hoursClean and seal the deckWeek 21 · May · 1 to 2 daysRepair a fence or add a privacy hedge screenWeek 22 · May · 1 dayVegetation cutback for defensible spaceWeek 23 · June · 1 to 2 daysClean the AC condenser coilsWeek 24 · June · 1 hourInstall or replace a ceiling fanWeek 25 · June · 2 to 3 hoursClean and seal groutWeek 26 · June · Half a dayMaintain patio covers and pergolasWeek 27 · June · Half a dayPaint an interior roomWeek 28 · July · 1 to 2 daysTune up the garage doorWeek 29 · July · 1 hourInstall a smart thermostatWeek 30 · July · 1 hourTop up attic insulationWeek 31 · July · 1 dayFix a dripping faucetWeek 32 · August · 1 hourInstall GFCI outlets in wet areasWeek 33 · August · 2 hoursAerate and overseed the lawnWeek 34 · August · Half a dayClean the full dryer vent run to the roof or wallWeek 35 · August · 1 hourWildfire hardening: ember-resistant ventsWeek 36 · September · 1 daySeal cracks in driveways and walksWeek 37 · September · Half a dayCaulk windows and exterior penetrationsWeek 38 · September · 1 dayClear retaining wall weep holes and drainsWeek 39 · September · Half a dayRe-level pavers and walkwaysWeek 40 · September · 1 dayInspect cast iron drain pipes before the rainsWeek 41 · October · 2 hours (plus camera)Mold check and cleanupWeek 42 · October · 2 hours to 1 dayInstall gutter guardsWeek 43 · October · Half a dayFix grading and prep sandbags and a sump pumpWeek 44 · October · 1 dayReflash and seal roof penetrationsWeek 45 · November · 1 dayCheck the chimney and fireplaceWeek 46 · November · 1 hourEarthquake-strap the water heaterWeek 47 · November · 1 hourUpgrade exterior lighting to LED and motionWeek 48 · November · 2 hoursHang holiday lights safelyWeek 49 · December · 2 hoursExercise and label shutoff valvesWeek 50 · December · 1 hourHeating check before winterWeek 51 · December · 1 hourYear-end home file: photos, receipts and warrantiesWeek 52 · December · 2 hoursBroker, not a contractor. David Thomas Mejia is a California real estate broker (CA DRE #01448424), not a licensed contractor. Work that needs a California contractor's license should be done by a CSLB-licensed contractor; check any license at cslb.ca.gov. Cost ranges on this page are general estimates, not bids.