A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Home Maintenance
Home suit Daily Grind
How many people does it take to change a lightbulb? In this game, just one, and it’s the person holding this card. You’re also responsible for unclogging toilets, calling a repairman when the air conditioner breaks (inevitably in the height of summer), finding the manual for the vacuum cleaner that’s spewing dust, and every other home maintenance to-do that requires hands-on CPE.
Holding this card means owning all three
C
Conception
Things in the home will break
P
Planning
- Making a master list and keeping track of weekly/monthly/annual home tasks that involve maintenance.
- Sourcing (if applicable)
E
Execution
- Hiring
- Ongoing communication and supervision
- Making payments
- Reimbursing to purchase supplies OUTSOURCED
- Hiring
- Making payments
- Communicating and supervising
- Placing orders for parts/broken items INSOURCED (DIY)
- Plumbing: toilet, sink, garbage disposal, water issues (filters, heater, softeners, mineral deposits, inspections), septic tank
- Electrical: light bulbs, light fixtures, wiring
- Interior: HVAC, air ducts, smoke detectors, vents, insulation, cabinets, appliance management, paint, fireplace/chimney, home security, exterminator
- Exterior: roof/siding, tiles, gutters, power washing, pool(cleaning, draining, chemicals, pool skimmer, pool vacuum), exterior walkway cracks and paint, weather proofing, driveway (snow shoveling etc.)
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Is there someone monitoring and timely handling repairs and upkeep in the home?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- It’s a Daily Grind: relentless and time-bound. Make sure each of you holds a fair share of these, ideally one from each suit.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.