Are you considering buying a new home? Have you already bought a new home, and are now wondering what you should do next? Theres no doubt youve heard that buying a home is the biggest investment you are ever going to make. What you probably arent told is how to care for your new investment, and what to look for at the beginning that will prepare you for anything that happens down the road.
As a new homeowner, there are a lot of little things youll want to do to make sure there are no issues with your brand new home. Here are a few maintenance tips and tricks that are sure to help out any new homeowner.
1. Fix Your Dead Outlets
Check all the power outlets in your home annually, checking both the outlet and the power source. If you find that any of your outlets are dead or the source itself is iffy, make sure to call a trusty electrician to get them fixed.
2. Change The Direction Of Your Ceiling Fans
If you care about energy efficiency, you should change the rotating direction of your ceiling fans twice a year. This puts less strain on your heating and cooling systems. In the summer, make sure your fans are rotating counterclockwise, pushing the cold air down. You can simply flip the directional switch near the motor on most fans, but if your fans are older, you may consider replacements.
3. Check Your HVAC Filters
Your HVAC filters are a super important part of your entire heating and cooling system, and they function best at preventing dust and debris from getting into your home. You should change them regularly, either yourself or by hiring experienced HVAC technicians who can handle the job.
4. Caulk Your Windows
A good way to help you cut down on heating and cooling bills is by caulking around your windows to prevent air leaks. Caulk is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at your local home care store.
5. Check On Your Weather Stripping
You can make sure you have adequate weather stripping around your doors and windows, similar to caulking them to maintain your utility bills and heating/cooling. Weather-stripping is another relatively cheap buy at your local store touch-up and is also easy to install yourself.
6. Check Your Crawl Space For Any Moisture
Moisture in your crawl space is bad news for your entire home, as it can cause troubles like mold, deterioration, leaking, flooding, and more. You can vent your crawl space, buy a dehumidifier, or make sure it is fully sealed. You may have to install a drainage system, which could take professional help. While it may be frustrating to discover dampness in your crawl space, if you discover it early on in your homeownership you can resolve it and not have to deal with expensive, costly issues down the road.
7. Seal (or Reseal) Your Deck
Your deck, especially if its brand new, should serve you and your family for a long time. In order to make sure that happens you should check the deck sealant and make sure no moisture is getting into the wood. If the sealant is not doing its job or you just want to be safe, you should consider resealing your deck. You can buy sealant at your local store and tackle the weekend project yourself.
8. Tackling Some Exterior Paint Touch Ups
Your homes paint job is a lot more than curb appeal, its also a moisture barrier that maintains the health of your home. If you notice any peeling or chipping on the exterior paint, consider giving it a touch-up as soon as possible. You can also pressure wash your home before repainting it, removing any additional paint peels, and maintaining a beautiful, healthy coat.
9. Clean Those Gutters
Your gutters function by directing water away from your home, roof, and foundation. Theyre an additional step in keeping your home safely moisture-free. If you live in an area where lots of leaves and debris are gunking up your gutters, consider marching up there with your ladder and removing any occlusion yourself.
10. Seal Your Driveway
In the winter and summer months, the ground around your home will expand and contract, the freezing and thawing of the seasons affecting your pavement and driveway. Any cracks in your driveway will give weeds an opportunity to take root and worsen the issue, eventually destroying your pavement entirely. When you seal your driveway you can stop the weeds before they start. You can purchase asphalt filler sealer at your local home goods store.
11. Clean Out Your Garbage Disposal
Food and debris get stuck at your disposal with regular use, of course. Any buildup will begin to decay and cause an unpleasant aroma and other issues. Cleaning your disposal will help that. Flushing the disposal with vinegar and baking soda is a good idea, but you can also clean it with ice and rock salt.
12. Thoroughly Check Your Attic
Dont put off the necessary trip to the attic. You need to make sure everything is as it should be, that there are no leaks, air gaps, or anything else. Your lonely attack is how moisture and critters will get in, and fully sealing it before it's too late will stave off a lot of problems.
13. Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Your smoke detectors are your main defense against a fire, and if theyre not working it can be the difference between losing your home and losing your family. Maintain all your detectors in your house, either by installing fresh batteries or simply swapping them out with new ones so that you dont need to worry at all.
When you are ready to buy or sell your next home, please call me, Marie McLaughlin 727-858-7569.
Source:https://www.century21showcase.info/blog/article/13-maintenance-tips-every-homeowner-should-know/bl4c62a47fce3f45
