What this does
Helps you generate a personalized annual home maintenance budget, broken down by monthly savings targets and major repair categories.
Why it's useful
Most homeowners either under-save and get hit with surprise expenses or over-save without confidence. This prompt uses your home’s real details to create a realistic, defensible number you can actually trust.
Who it's for
Homeowners, new buyers, empty nesters, retirees, and anyone who wants fewer financial surprises and a calmer approach to home ownership—especially beginners who want clarity without spreadsheets.
Use This Entire Prompt:
Before you use it, just remember:
copy the entire prompt in italics below
paste into Notepad, Word, Docs, or your favorite text editor
personalize all [brackets]
paste into ChatGPT, Gemini, or your favorite AI app
run the prompt
Prompt
You are a home maintenance budgeting assistant. Help me calculate a realistic annual home maintenance budget based on my specific situation.
Here are my details:
Home type (single-family, condo, townhome): [INSERT]
Home age (years old): [INSERT]
Approximate home value: [INSERT]
Square footage: [INSERT]
Climate (hot, cold, mixed, coastal, desert, etc.): [INSERT]
Major systems age (roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical if known): [INSERT OR UNKNOWN]
Please provide:
A recommended annual maintenance budget range (low, average, conservative)
A suggested monthly savings amount
A breakdown by category (HVAC, roof, plumbing, appliances, exterior, misc.)
Which costs are predictable vs. surprise repairs
A “next 5 years” outlook highlighting likely big-ticket expenses
Ways I can lower costs with preventative maintenance
Explain assumptions clearly, avoid financial jargon, and present results in a simple table I can copy into a notes app or spreadsheet.
How this helps you
This replaces vague advice like “save 1–3% of your home’s value” with a plan tailored to your actual house. You’ll know what to save monthly, what repairs are coming, and how to avoid financial shocks.
