You purchased a new home. If you have never owned your own home before, it may seem like you’ve finally made it. You’re a homeowner. Life will be rainbows and unicorns from now on. Riiiiiiight.
With a new home, there will be fewer maintenance issues in the beginning, but homeownership comes with new responsibilities as well. There are a few simple things you can do to make homeownership look easy.
- Make your new home your own. When you own your home you are free to paint and furnish any way you want. The more comfortable you feel in your home the better care you will take in managing your home. Don’t worry about impressing the neighbors. Make yourself comfortable. You should be able to look forward to walking through your front door after a long day at work.
- Be a good neighbor. Get out and meet your neighbors as quickly as possible. The longer it takes to get acquainted, the more difficult it becomes. Good neighbors keep an eye on each other’s houses when they’re away. They call you at work when your sprinkler systems bursts. And they can tell you where the great restaurants are.
- Keep up on maintenance. Keep an eye out for anything that is or could soon become a safety hazard and correct them as soon as possible. Cracked and uneven pavement, ice on walkways, and things left lying around can cause injuries and cost you money.
- Familiarize yourself with your utility closet. Furnace problems are can be dangerous and are often expensive. New furnaces and water heaters require less maintenance than older units, but it is a good idea to have it checked by a professional once or twice a year to make sure there are no problems. Learn how to change your furnace filters and light the ignition to your water heater. Carbon monoxide detectors are a must.
- Know your plumbing. Know how to turn off the water to your sinks, tubs, toilets, and washing machine. Find out where your main turn off valve is inside your home and how to turn the water off at the street. If something happens, you can reduce the amount of damage to your home by simply turning the water off. Your natural gas turn off valve is also important to know in case of an accident or natural disaster.
- Protect your flooring. Dirt can destroy carpeting and wood floors alike. When dirt gets into your carpet, not only does is look bad, but it can break down the carpet fibers and wear it out faster. Dirt on hard surface flooring can leave little scratches that take the shine off our floors. Use rugs or runners in high traffic areas. Wear socks or slippers that have never stepped outside your home.
- Set up a home maintenance schedule. Don’t leave tasks until it’s obvious they need to be done. Wipe fingerprints, scuffs on baseboards, dirty shoe prints, and streaks on the glass every day. Sweep and vacuum daily. Dust as much as needed. Fix dents in walls when they happen. Your home will look newer, longer.
- Keep instruction manuals. Each appliance comes with an owners manual. Read it and learn how to use it well. When you hear a beep or see a light that goes on, owners manuals can explain them to you. They can sometimes help you troubleshoot and they have information that may be helpful in ordering parts or services.
- Learn to DIY. Some tasks should be left to professionals who have the knowledge and the tools. But there are lots of tasks homeowners can learn to do that can save you money. The internet has made it simple to get information, watch tutorials and find the parts and materials you need. Don’t be afraid to try something new, but know your limitations.
- There’s an App for that! Keeping up on home maintenance tasks can seem overwhelming. thank goodness for all the technology to help remind you when regular maintenance needs to be performed on your home. such as BrightNest, HomeSpot, and HomeSavvy.
Enjoying your home is the dream and being in a safe and well-maintained home can make it that much more enjoyable.
