Why You Need to Do an "Audit" of Your Home Every Year
Apartment Therapy’s January Cure is a free 20-day program that’ll help you refresh your home for the year ahead. Sign up here and get all assignments delivered to your inbox.
Welcome to Day 12 of the Cure — and the second day of your home projects week! Yesterday we talked about the power of checking a two-minute project off your list and how those little tasks can help you get moving on the bigger ones.
Speaking of the bigger ones: When you think about the things you want to accomplish in your home this year, you’re probably thinking of big things like buying a new couch or finally putting more shelving in your overcrowded closet. It makes sense — those are big-ticket items, so,of course they get top billing in your yearly plan!
But there are probably other things you should get to in your home that aren’t so obvious — replacing cracked caulk around the bathtub, for instance, or resealing your stone countertops (did you know you have to do that every few years?). That’s why the beginning of the year is a great time to take an audit of what your home needs right now.
Day 12: Do an audit of your home.
Today’s assignment is to walk around your home and make a list of what projects you need to complete and where. Open your Notes app on your phone or grab a notebook and pen, then hit each room one at a time. As you’re there, ask yourself the following questions:
What are the things that you need in these spaces that you don’t have yet? For example, maybe you need curtains in a room that gets too bright in the afternoon.
What are the things that you already have that need routine maintenance? For example, maybe you have a wood-burning fireplace that needs regular checkups.
What are the things that should be repaired in order to be functional? This question encompasses things like cracked caulk or out-of-alignment closet doors. (I think paint touch-ups belong here, too.)
What are the things that work fine now but would be nice to upgrade in the future? This might include things like showerheads with too-low water pressure or too-small shelving.
As you’re making your list in each area of your home (including the exterior, if applicable), use the above questions to organize the tasks by category: needs, routine maintenance, repairs, and nice to upgrade. This will give you a broader overview of the state of your home and will help you figure out what to prioritize.
How long this task takes to complete depends on the size and age of your home, but don’t let yourself spend more than an hour on it. And, if possible, do it with a favorite playlist or a juicy audiobook!
What’s on your home audit that surprised you? Tell us in the community forum.
More ways to participate in the January Cure:
Sign up for email updates.
Visit the 2025 January Cure page and catch up on assignments.
Download the January Cure calendar.
Join the conversation by checking out the Cure board in our community forum.
Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall January Cure progress here!
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
