The “Audit” Trick Will Make Sure You’re 100% Ready for Any Home Project
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.
There are so many things I want and need to do around my home — whether it’s something as fun as transforming my dark bathroom or something as tedious but necessary as yardwork. With so many projects and ideas I’d like to bring to life, I know it’s important to take a step back and account for everything that should be done. Today’s the day we’re going to do just that.
Day 8: 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 and/or want to complete and where. To make sure you are not spending your entire day on this task, stick to an allotted time to keep things manageable (i.e. an hour or half a day — whatever works for your day/schedule).
Now, open your Notes app on your phone or grab a notebook and pen, then hit each room one at a time. The way you capture your list is entirely up to you, but here’s some guidance to help you navigate through this daunting list.
- Organize by room. Since you’ll be going room by room, inside to outside, you might want to organize your list by each area you visit.
- Color-code based on priority. You can either create separate lists for things that need to get done (i.e. because of maintenance) and things that you want to do when you have the time/budget/etc., or color-code it so you can have it on one list organized by room. Just make sure to add a key, in case you forget!
- Frame it around questions to help you figure out what exactly should be done in a room.
- Is there anything in this room that needs routine maintenance (e.g. your air conditioner)?
- Anything broken and needs repair (e.g. maybe there’s cracked caulk or a hole in the wall)?
- What are things you need in this space (whether that’s purchasing something as straightforward as curtains for your windows or a sleeper sofa for guests or needing to do a DIY, like adding color to your room through wallpaper or transforming a plain dresser with paint, new fixtures, etc.)?
- What are the things that you want to replace or improve upon later (e.g. anything that works “just fine” but you want to replace in the future for something better)?
- Keep adding to your list throughout the year. Don’t feel like you have to capture everything; keep this list handy so you can return to it later to mark off what you’ve done, expand on listed items (like include steps on a separate piece of paper!), or add to the overall list.
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 2026 January Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Download the January Cure calendar.
- Activate your free membership to talk about all things Cure in our community forum, check off completed tasks, and track your overall January Cure progress!
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.