Moving into a new home can be stressful and complicated. Especially when it’s your first home, there is so much you do not know and so many different things that need to be done.
However, with a little guidance you can start your new life in your new home easily and with little stress. In this article we’ll discuss some of the most important home maintenance tips for new homeowners.
5 Important Tips For New Homeowners
TIP #1: Save Money
When you move into a new home, it is safe to say that anything can happen. From big things to little things, and you really need to be totally prepared. Whether you need appliance repair, junk hauling, or your roof repaired, you need to have money saved up. If you don’t you could likely end up with worse problems such as debt and more damage to your house.
If you ask a professional, most people will say that you should have approximate one percent of the total value of your home in savings (on a yearly basis) in case you need to do any random repairs. While that may not cover larger expenses, it will certainly put you in a good place to being able to fix things as troubles arise.
You can put money away monthly in a separate savings account for your home. And chances are, when you have a big renovation or home maintenance project, you’ll be very happy you took care of it.
TIP #2: Clean Your Home Regularly
This tip is extremely important for the new homeowner to take into consideration. Regular house cleaning is a mandatory part of having a home. If you don’t clean your house regularly, you could end up with a bigger mess than you started with. Hiring a professional service is key to maintaining a happy and healthy home.
Some of the things you will want to do to maintain the cleanliness of your house:
- Tile and grout cleaning
- Carpet cleaning
- General housekeeping
- Power washing
- Window washing
- Organization of personal belongings
TIP #3: Check Over Your Inspection
When your home is inspected during the buying phase, you will want to thoroughly investigate any things that come up. For example, if the inspector notices something small, write it down then find out what could it other than what it is. This will help you to diagnose any other larger problems that might be going on with your home that you are unaware of.
In addition, anything that comes up in the inspection is leverage for further negotiating the price of the house. So be sure to be thorough and you’ll be very happy you did.
Tips for your inspection:
- Be present during the inspection
- Have a professional look at any issues
- Search for other reasons for the problem you see
TIP #4: Get Rid Of Stuff Before Bringing It To Your New Home
One of the other things you can do is do a full cleanout of your home before you move into the new one. If you do this, you will be very happy that you did and it will cut the costs of some of your moving expenses too.
Moving is never a pleasant experience and the price could increase if your lugging along some of the useless junk you would rather not keep. So why not get rid of it prior to moving into your new home. That way you’ll only have the things that you really love.
TIP #5: Make Sure Windows Are In Good Condition
The last tip we will talk about is one that may sound a little silly. Chances are, if you are a new homeowner, you might not know all the tricks you should do to make sure you get a great deal on the home.
You will want to make sure the windows in your new home are in great condition. This means they should be free from cracks, breaks, chips and areas where drafts can come through. Ideally, windows should be modern rather than older windows which are prone to many problems.
The reason why this is so important is because if you buy a home and windows are in bad shape, you will need to replace all of the windows. This could cost you thousands and thousands of dollars and can easily become a huge expense.
By checking the windows during the inspection you are sure to avoid this huge money trap and save yourself a headache!
Final Words
We hope that these 5 tips for home maintenance for new homeowners has been helpful. Owning a home is a big project, especially if it’s your first. However, with these tips and tricks you can certainly feel a little better and be better prepared for your new residence.
