TEND FOR IPHONE
Share home maintenance between two people
Keep repairs, recurring jobs and household records visible to both of you so the next task does not depend on whoever happened to remember it.
Share the context, not just the reminder
“The boiler needs checking” is less useful than the service date, model number, last repair and next action. Tend keeps that context attached so either person can pick up the job.
A lighter household system
Use it for appliances, vehicles, pets and appointments—the practical details that make a home run. See how Tend works.
Make shared upkeep visible, not implicit
Household maintenance often slips because one person remembers the boiler service, another knows where the warranty is, and neither is sure whether the filter was actually changed. A shared record puts the task, its context and its next step in one place. The goal is not to turn a home into a project plan; it is to remove the repeated “did we do that?” conversation.
For each recurring job, record the item or system, the source for the recommended interval, the last completed date, the next check and one named owner. Use the manufacturer’s instructions or a qualified local professional to decide the interval; generic seasonal lists cannot account for every home.
Keep notes short enough to maintain
Capture the practical details that will help next time: contractor or service provider, model or serial number, receipt location, work completed and any follow-up. A photo of a label or invoice may be more useful than trying to transcribe every specification. Keep sensitive access details in an appropriate secure place rather than a general household checklist.
After the work is done, mark it complete and record the actual date. If a task is postponed, add the reason and choose a new date rather than leaving a stale reminder that no longer reflects reality.
Agree a simple household routine
Spend ten minutes once a month reviewing what is due, assigning a person and deciding whether anything needs a professional. Keep urgent repairs separate from routine upkeep. For electrical, structural, gas or other safety-critical work, contact a qualified professional and follow local guidance.
Tend helps households keep home records and reminders together. You can also start with the free home-maintenance calendar builder or read about sharing household maintenance tasks.
Why the load ends up uneven
In most households one person carries the list in their head: when the boiler was serviced, which bin goes out, who to call about the roof. The work of remembering is invisible, so it is rarely shared, and it becomes a source of resentment. Putting the list somewhere both people can see is the first fix, before any discussion of who does what.
Dividing it fairly
| Approach | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| By area | One person owns the car, the other the heating | Clear preferences or skills |
| By type | One books and pays, the other is at home for visits | Different schedules |
| Alternating | Take turns on recurring jobs | Jobs nobody wants |
| Whoever notices logs it | Either adds; you assign at a weekly check | Getting started |
A ten-minute weekly check
- What is due in the next two weeks?
- Who is doing each?
- Anything either of you noticed that needs adding?
- What got done? Say thank you.
How Tend supports this
- Records shared through iCloud, so both see the same history and due dates.
- An activity timeline showing who did what, which ends the "did we already do that?" conversation.
- Quick capture when either of you notices something.
- Reminders before due dates.
Tend is free for up to 10 records. Tend+ adds unlimited records and Family Sharing for up to six people. More in the home maintenance log guide.
Jobs couples most often lose track of
- Boiler or furnace service and the date of the last one
- Car inspection, insurance and tax renewals
- Smoke alarm tests and battery changes
- Appliance warranties about to expire
- Pet vaccinations and flea or worm treatments
- Subscriptions that renew annually
Add these six first. They are the ones with dates and consequences.
Revisit the split every few months. Jobs change, and so do schedules.
Questions people ask
How do we start without an argument?
List everything first, together, without assigning any of it. Seeing the whole list usually does the persuading.
What if one of us does not want an app?
The principle is one shared list. An app makes it easier to keep current, but paper on the fridge is better than one person's memory.
Do we both need iPhones?
To share through Tend, both need Apple devices and iCloud.
Can we include children or a housemate?
Tend+ Family Sharing covers up to six people.