Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create Areas?

How do I track and fix Issues?

While you can't always get projects done and make your house better every single day, you'll probably always notice things that could be better. That's where "Issues" come in! Issues are anything that you'd like to fix or improve.

You can use Issues to track little problems or details that bug you or just feel wrong. But Issues can also be placeholders for big ideas and dream projects! Don't overthink it — just jot your observations down, and when the time comes to work on your house, you'll have a list of potential projects big and small for you to dive into.

If you do get around to completing those projects, make sure to close your issues out — you can "resolve" your issues with the project that solved your problems!

How do I use Suggested Issues?

Not sure where to start? You can use the Suggested Issues tool to generate a list of proactive issues that might be relevant to your home, along with a description of basic steps and a suggested frequency ("Monthly", "Quarterly", "Annually", etc.). Navigate to your house page and click the "Suggestions" button in the toolbar to get started.

Please note: these are generic suggestions that might not apply to your home. Please use your best judgment when deciding which issues to add to your list. You can always delete issues once you've added them.

Can I share my data publicly?

All houses are private by default. To share your data using a public link:

  1. Navigate to your house.
  2. Within the house overview, click on "Private".
  3. Within the modal, select the "Public" checkbox.
  4. Press Save.

Once your house is public, you can copy the public link to your clipboard and share with whomever you'd like. You can revert your house to be private at any time by following the directions above, unchecking "Public", and pressing save.

Click here to see an example of a public profile.

Note: If you only want to share with a spouse, roommate, etc., add them as a Co-Owner instead.

Can I export my data?

Yes! To export your data at any time, just go to any individual tool tab (Areas, Issues, Projects, or Inventory), and press "Export" in the toolbar. Your data will be downloaded immediately as a .csv file for that particular section.

(This is currently available on Desktop only.)

Is there a mobile app?

Yes — Minicastle is available as a native app for iPhone on the App Store. Track issues, projects, and inventory from your phone. Your data syncs with the web app; additional collaboration features are coming soon.

You can also use Minicastle in your mobile browser and add it to your homescreen for an app-like experience:

For iOS (web)

  1. In Safari, go to minicastle.app
  2. Click the "Share" button in the toolbar
  3. In the panel that opens, click "Add to Home Screen"
  4. Name it as "Minicastle", then click "Add"

For Android

There is no native Android app yet. In Chrome, go to minicastle.app, open the overflow menu, tap "Add to Home screen", name it "Minicastle", then tap "Add".

How do I add links to my issues?

Once you've created an issue, open the issue detail page and scroll to the Links section. Click "Add" to add a link — just provide the URL and an optional name. You can add as many links as you'd like!

You can also use the "Find Videos" button to search YouTube for how-to videos related to your issue. Minicastle will automatically generate a search query based on your issue name and type, and you can save any video directly as a link.

What does Minicastle cost?

Minicastle has two plans:

  • Free Plan ($0 forever): 1 house, with unlimited Areas, Issues, Projects, Inventory, and Co-Owners. No credit card required.
  • Max Plan ($24.99/year): Everything in the Free Plan, plus unlimited houses, upcoming premium features, and swag (available upon request).

You can start free and upgrade whenever you need more. Visit the Pricing page for full details.

Can I set up recurring issues?

Yes! Recurring issues let you automate routine maintenance tasks like changing filters, cleaning gutters, or checking smoke detectors.

To set up a recurring issue:

  1. Create an issue (or open an existing one) and navigate to its detail page.
  2. Toggle the "Recurring" switch in the settings panel.
  3. Configure the frequency (Weekly, Monthly, or Annually) and interval (e.g., every 3 months).
  4. Set a start date and choose whether new issues should be based on the original start date or the completion date of the previous issue.
  5. Click "Save".

Once saved, Minicastle will automatically create new issues on your behalf based on your schedule.

Can I add images to issues and inventory?

Yes! Both issues and inventory items support image uploads. On any issue or inventory detail page, scroll to the Images section and click "Add" to upload.

For issues, uploaded images can be tagged as "Before" or "After" — Minicastle will display them in a side-by-side Before/After viewer so you can see your progress.

What keyboard shortcuts are available?

Minicastle supports keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate quickly:

| Shortcut | Action | |----------|--------| | Q | Add a new item (Area, Issue, Project, or Inventory — depends on the active tab) | | A | Navigate to the Areas tab | | P | Navigate to the Projects tab | | I | Navigate to the Issues tab | | N | Navigate to the Inventory tab | | / | Focus the search bar | | Esc | Clear the search bar | | D | Go to Dashboard | | M | Open Suggested Issues | | R | Open Reports |

Why did you change the name?

As you might've noticed, our new name is Minicastle! As much as we liked our original name(s), Shiny Buildings / Shiny.ooo, they felt a little long, ambiguous, and hard to remember, so we decided to change it to something a bit more fun and memorable.

If you're curious, the original name was inspired by the struggle of Jack Nicholson's character, Jack, in "The Shining" to take care of the Overlook Hotel (among other, much bigger problems, at least according to some Shining fanatics...). Our only goal is still the same: to make it much more fun and less stressful to take care of your home. We hope our new vibe is slightly less traumatic than a Stephen King thriller, but let us know what you think!