Home maintenance is defined as:

Home maintenance refers to the routine tasks and actions taken to keep residential properties functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. This definition encompasses a variety of activities aimed at ensuring that a home remains in good condition over time, without necessarily involving major updates or structural changes. Keeping a property in a state of repair or efficiency involves tasks such as regular cleaning, minor repairs, and maintaining systems like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.

The other options involve more extensive changes or construction work. Major renovations and alterations or additions to original designs are more significant projects that typically require more planning, budgeting, and potentially permits. Construction of new residential structures falls outside the realm of maintenance altogether, as it pertains to the creation of new buildings rather than the upkeep of existing ones. Thus, option C accurately captures the essence of home maintenance as it relates to ensuring a property's ongoing usability and livability.