Have you already purchased your calendar for 2011? Or possibly you use Outlook or another computer-based calendar system. Whatever choice you make, now is a good time to set up your plans for next year. Listing birthdays, anniversaries and family holidays can help ensure that you will be ready for each event as it comes along.

When people put their calendars together, there is one part of the family that is often left out – the family home. While we need annual physicals, our homes need annual maintenance also. To make sure that you take good care of your home this coming year, how about listing your home’s maintenance schedule on your calendar?

Should your stone floors be sealed this year? What about your granite countertops? How often do you have your carpets cleaned? Do any rooms need repainting? Don’t forget the annual checkup for your heating and air conditioning system. From cleaning out your gutters to checking the lint trap in your dryer, keeping track with your calendar will enable you to make sure your home is properly maintained.

Like remembering Aunt Miranda’s birthday with a card, paying attention to your home takes a burden off your memory and ensures that you remember every important maintenance event. To make your life easier, you may want to include contact information for any outside help you may need.

Use your calendar to plan the next year for you, your family, and your home, and you will be ready for a very good 2011.