Home maintenance reminders that actually work: set it once, forget it
Short answer
Turn every recurring job into a repeating job with a reminder: smoke alarm tests monthly, safety switch tests every three months, gutters every six months, a termite inspection yearly and a gas heater service every two years. In Jib, set a job to repeat (daily through yearly) and add a reminder notification that repeats too, so your phone tells you when it's time. When it's done, reset the cycle and the job is back on your list for next time.
Nobody forgets to fix a burst pipe. What gets forgotten is the quiet stuff that comes round every few months: the smoke alarm test, the gutters, the air-con filters, the termite inspection. Each one is small. Missing them is how you end up with an overflowing gutter in a storm, a smoke alarm with a dead battery, or termites nobody looked for.
The fix isn’t a better memory. It’s making the schedule remember for you.
The jobs that come back (and how often)
From our home maintenance checklist, with sources from fire services, regulators and manufacturers:
| Job | Repeat |
|---|---|
| Test smoke alarms | Monthly |
| Test safety switches (RCDs) | Every 3 months |
| Clean air-con filters | Every 3 months (more in peak season) |
| Clear gutters and downpipes | Every 6 months, more with overhanging trees |
| Vacuum smoke alarms | Every 6 months |
| Ease the hot water relief valve | Every 6 months |
| Termite inspection | Yearly |
| Clean and oil the deck | Yearly |
| Gas heater service | Every 2 years |
| Replace smoke alarms | Every 10 years |
Use the maintenance planner to build this list for your own home: tick pool, gas, tank, solar and so on, and it shows only the jobs that apply.
How repeating jobs work in Jib
- Set the repeat. Any job can repeat daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or yearly.
- Spot them at a glance. Repeating jobs carry a ↻ tag on your job list.
- Get a reminder that repeats too. Add a reminder notification at a time that suits you, like Saturday morning or the first of the month, and set it to repeat daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.
- Done? Reset the cycle. One tap records today as the last time you did it and puts the job back on your list for next time. No re-entering anything.
Tips for a schedule you’ll keep
- Anchor reminders to habits. Test smoke alarms on the first Saturday of the month. Do the gutters when daylight saving starts and ends.
- Group the quick ones. Smoke alarm test, safety switch test and relief valve check take ten minutes together. Make them one “safety check” job.
- Snap a photo the first time. Photograph the switchboard, the relief valve and the filter slot, and next time you’ll know exactly where they are.
- Put the pros on the list too. Termite inspections and gas services won’t happen unless someone books them. A reminder a month early gives you time.
- Don’t over-schedule. A short list you keep beats a long one you ignore. Start with the five that matter most: smoke alarms, safety switches, gutters, termites and the gas heater.
Why reminders beat a calendar
A calendar reminder says “gutters”. A Jib job says “gutters”, with the photos from last time, the tools you’ll need (ticked off against your Toolbox), the steps, and when you last did it. When the reminder goes off, everything you need is already there.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change when a repeating job is due? Yes. Change the reminder’s date, time or repeat inside the job, and use Reset cycle when you’ve done it so the job goes back on your list.
How do reminders reach me? As notifications on your phone. You set them in the app, and each repeating job shows when it’s next due.
Is this free? Tracking jobs, including repeating jobs, is free. AI planning features are part of the paid plans, with a free trial.
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between states, councils and individual properties, and they change. Confirm with your state regulator or council before starting work, and if in doubt, get a licensed tradesperson.