Homes need upkeep on a schedule — filters, batteries, seasonal checks. That's easy to forget because nothing looks wrong yet. The whole point of preventive maintenance is acting before something breaks, not after.

• HVAC filter changes;
• Smoke detector battery checks;
• Gutter cleaning;
• Water heater flushing.

If you can't remember the last time you did a maintenance task, that's usually a sign it's overdue.