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Foundations Curriculum

Homeowner Foundations Checklist

Four numbered tracks covering the entire arc of homeownership. Pick the one that fits where you are. Print it, work through it, refer back as your home moves through phases.

Track 1
~3.2 hrs total

First-Year Homeowner Foundations

Who it's for: Closed in the last 12 months or closing soon.

Set up the systems, records, and reserves that compound for the next decade.

  1. 1. First 12 Months Hub
    The complete year-one playbook · 20 min
  2. 2. Utilities Setup Checklist
    Get power, water, gas, internet on day 1 · 10 min
  3. 3. Closing Day Checklist
    Final walkthrough + what to bring + day-1 moves · 10 min
  4. 4. Monthly Maintenance Schedule
    What to do each month, every month · 15 min
  5. 5. Emergency Fund for Homeowners
    How much cash buffer you actually need · 10 min
  6. 6. Property Tax — New Owner Guide
    Year-1 escrow + homestead exemption math · 15 min
  7. 7. Insurance: First Claim Playbook
    6-step playbook before you ever file · 12 min
  8. 8. Is a Home Warranty Worth It (Year 1)?
    Decision math for the year-1 buyer · 12 min
  9. 9. Turn Your Inspection Into a Plan
    Convert inspection findings into a prioritized list · 15 min
  10. 10. How to Budget for Home Repairs
    Build the right financial structure now · 15 min
  11. 11. How to Track Home Maintenance
    The habit that separates prepared from reactive · 15 min
  12. 12. Lifecycle Map
    See the six phases ahead · 30 min
  13. 13. Starting Diagnostic
    Score your Readiness Index and get your next 3 moves · 10 min
Track 2
~3.3 hrs total

Pre-Purchase Research Roadmap

Who it's for: Still touring homes or under contract.

Pre-price every home, sharpen your inspection signal, and never overpay because of an unknown system.

  1. 1. Inspection Action Hub
    Decode any inspection report into action · 30 min
  2. 2. Should I Buy This House?
    17 flags to apply before you sign anything · 15 min
  3. 3. Inspection Contingency Explained
    Use, extend, or waive it correctly · 12 min
  4. 4. What NOT to Fix After Inspection
    Stop overpaying for items you don't need · 10 min
  5. 5. How to Read Your Inspection Report
    Decode 40 pages in 20 minutes · 20 min
  6. 6. Seller Disclosure vs. Inspection
    Why they're different, why both matter · 10 min
  7. 7. Re-Inspection Guide
    When it's worth $150, when it's not · 8 min
  8. 8. Specialty Inspections — Radon · Mold · Termite
    When each is required and what they cost · 15 min
  9. 9. Replacement Cost Estimator
    Pre-price systems on every home you tour · 20 min
  10. 10. System Lifespan Estimator
    Quantify remaining life before you offer · 10 min
  11. 11. Brand Showdown
    Compare equipment brands head-to-head · 10 min
  12. 12. Decision Library
    Apply repair-vs-replace thresholds before closing · 20 min
  13. 13. Regional Cost Guides
    Anchor every cost claim to your state · 15 min
Track 3
~1.9 hrs total

Mid-Term Owner's Maintenance Curriculum

Who it's for: 5–15 years in your home with several systems aging.

Stop the cliff before it arrives. Forecast costs, stagger replacements, and stay ahead of cost-clustering.

  1. 1. How to Predict Maintenance Costs
    Move past the 1% rule with real forecasting · 15 min
  2. 2. Home System Replacement Timeline
    Map every system to its window · 15 min
  3. 3. Maintenance Priority Builder
    ROI-ranked tasks against your budget · 20 min
  4. 4. Cost Estimator
    Build a 5-year sinking fund · 20 min
  5. 5. HVAC Planning Guide
    Your biggest system — know its decision points · 25 min
  6. 6. Decision Library
    Catch the moment a repair becomes a worse bet · 20 min
Track 4
~1.8 hrs total

Pre-Sale Owner's 90-Day Prep Plan

Who it's for: Listing within the next 12 months.

Filter every project by resale ROI or buyer-objection-removal. Nothing else gets a dollar.

  1. 1. Decision Library
    Apply pre-sale ROI filters · 20 min
  2. 2. Inspection Action Hub
    See your home through a buyer's inspector's eyes · 30 min
  3. 3. Maintenance Priority Builder
    Hit highest-leverage prep tasks first · 20 min
  4. 4. Cost Estimator
    Pre-price likely buyer requests · 20 min
  5. 5. Brand Showdown
    Choose replacements buyers actually value · 10 min
  6. 6. Starting Diagnostic
    Confirm your stage and Readiness Index · 10 min

Email me the full checklist

All four tracks as a printable PDF, plus seasonal updates.