Best Home Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

Best Home Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

After you bought your first home, you might have a sense of fulfillment. However, your job is not done. Now comes the true challenge when you have to keep your newly bought property in the best shape possible. Fortunately, you can maintain your home with the help of a few tips.

To give your house the treatment it deserves, you should caulk your windows and doors, look for the signs of pest infestation, frequently inspect your roof, check your smoke detectors, and many more. Here are the best home maintenance tips you need to know if you recently bought a home.

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Look For the Signs of Pest Infestation

If you have been living in your home for at least six months, it is time to inspect your property for pests. For example, if you live in the state of Nevada, your property might be home to ants, spiders, and roaches. To not find yourself in such a situation, you should contact pest control in Las Vegas and let the professionals check your home for signs of any unwanted animal intruders.

If you do not want to hire a professional to do the inspection, there are also DIY ways of finding signs of mice and other kinds of pests. You should look at the areas in your home where insects tend to hide, including the walls, ceilings, and floors. Nevertheless, if you notice any signs of infestation, you should immediately hire a pest control service to address the problem.

Caulk Your Windows and Doors

You might not notice it, but your house will begin to show signs of aging over the years if you do not frequently inspect your property. One of the things you need to monitor is the condition of your windows and doors.

If you want to make sure your windows are in good shape, look for the signs of a drafty window. To fix this problem, caulk the seams and cracks of your windows. In addition, you should also check your doors for any leaks.

Check Your Smoke Detectors

After you buy your new home, it is vital to check and change the batteries of your smoke detectors. You should also contact a technician to check if they are still working correctly. In case they need replacement, you should install new ones as soon as possible.

Making sure that the smoke detectors are working properly and that they are in good condition is critical. Try not to put off this task for too long, as it can someday be a matter of life and death.

Inspect Your Roof

Your roof protects your home from water damage and other weather conditions. Therefore, you have to keep it in good shape. Inspect it regularly so that you can detect any problems before they become significant issues. Look for signs of foundation problems, cracks on the roof, and more.

If you see some areas where the roof seems to be damaged and in need of repair, you should call a roofing contractor to address the problem. They will be able to tell if there are leaks or other issues with your roof and quickly address them.

Check Your Cooling System

As a new homeowner, you must check your cooling system. At least twice a year, look for potential signs of malfunction, such as water leaks and mold growth. To give your air conditioning unit the maintenance it needs, fix any problem as soon as you discover it.

Inspect Your Gutters and Fixtures

Another thing that you can do to take care of your home is inspecting its gutters and fixtures. You should clean them regularly to make sure that they are free from debris. Besides, you should check if there are leaks from the gutters or any broken seals or fixtures that need to be replaced.

Inspect Your Basement

After you buy your home, you should inspect its basement. Two of the most typical basement problems are wall and water problems, so make sure to keep an eye out for those. If you have found that the basement is not in good condition, hire a contractor to address the problem. Alternatively, you can also hire a contractor to build a new basement or increase the size of the existing one.

Test Your Sump Pump

If you bought a new home, one of the first tasks you should do is test the sump pump. A sump pump is a machine designed to pump water out of your basement and prevent flooding. If it works, the pump will drain the water out and save your house from flooding. However, if the pump is broken, there is a possibility that your home will be flooded.

To check the sump pump, you can place a bucket under the one-way valve and see if the water level in the bucket goes down. Check if the unit is working correctly every month because you might be surprised by a flood at an unexpected time.

Insulate Your Attic

During cold months, heat escapes through your roof. You can minimize this problem by insulating your attic with an adequate amount of insulation. Thanks to this solution, you will transform your attic into a much more comfortable space.

Additionally, an insulated attic is an excellent place to store your belongings. Even a few inches of attic insulation can make a massive difference during the winter months.

Conclusion

If you follow the tips we mentioned, you can keep your home in great shape for many years to come. Instead of waiting for something to break or get damaged, start acting right now to prevent any potential damage to your home!

Moreover, many other home maintenance tips can help you take care of your property. For instance, you should frequently inspect your chimney and garage. On the other hand, if you have natural stone floors or cabinets, you must regularly clean them to avoid harmful bacteria growth.

If you make an effort to keep your house well-maintained, it will save you lots of money and stress. Good luck!

How to keep up with the maintenance of your new home—the timeline for a year

Some things around the house will require monthly maintenance; others will only need a checkup every couple of years. If you’re a new house owner, the following timeline will be of great use.

Best Home Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

Monthly home maintenance

Some simple monthly maintenance tasks on your home can eliminate the need for pricey repairs down the road. Most of these tasks don’t require professional help, require standard household tools, and are affordable to perform.

Check out the HVAC system filters

Some filters allow reuse,

whereas others are disposable and require replacement. Make sure to clean/replace filters when they get dirty.

Examine grout and caulking

Take care of the cracks and voids you notice in tubs and showers when you see them. You avoid both seeping water damage and an unsightly appearance.

Check out for leaks around sinks and toilets

Should you find water in a place where it shouldn’t be, you need to keep on investigating. A tiny leak can cause severe damage when not properly managed.

Take a look at the kitchen vent hood filter

Clean/replace the filter whenever necessary, especially if you cook a lot.

Test carbon-monoxide and smoke detectors

Along with testing, you should also replace batteries every six months.

Examine the outside of your house

See if you notice issues with the vents, gutters, foundation, and drainpipes.

Winter household maintenance tasks

Look for ice dams

Ice dams may allow water to penetrate the roof. Fix the problem the moment you notice the damage.

Test the sump pump

See that the switch on the sump pump is on and test it with some water to see if it starts. Verify the backup battery as well.

Look for drafts

Light a stick of incense and move it around the seams of windows and doors. If the smoke doesn’t rise in a straight line but blows around, you have a draft problem. Apply some caulk to solve it.

Cover outdoor air-conditioning units

Snow and ice will damage air-conditioning units if not adequately protected. Buy secured canvas tarps to save the units.

Close foundation vents

Close the vents in the crawl space to reduce the spending on heating.

Springhouse upkeep

Checkup the HVAC system

Don’t wait for the summer to kick in to check out the HVAC system. We recommend you hire professionals for spring and fall maintenance.

Examine gutters

Ice buildup in the winter can make the gutters loosen and sag. Gutters with ineffective drains cause drainage problems and create water damage to the foundation.

Inspect the roof

Winter snow and ice can damage shingles which can also cause leaks. Stay on the safe side and hire professionals for roof inspection and repairs.

Inspect storm-window drains

Triple-track storm windows and screens are standard in older homes. They also have small drains to reduce the risk of rain puddling, but they can rot wooden window sills.

Take a look at the seals around windows and doors

Look for drafts and take care of cracked caulking to prevent loss of cool air in the summer.

Examine sidewalks and driveway

Freezing temperatures can cause cracks and buckles; repair them before it’s too expensive.

Summer home care

Trim around outdoor HVAC units

Weeds and grass growing around the units will alter their performance.

Examine the decks

If the wood starts to wear out, you should apply a coat of stain or sealant. Tap down protruding nails and rough sand areas so that everyone stays safe while using the deck.

Inspect crawlspace and foundation

See if there are any cracks and repair them. You should examine the crawl space right after a rainy day—it’s the best way to see if water seeps in or not.

Verify the siding

Now it’s the best time to pressure wash fiber cement or vinyl siding. See if you find soft spots, cracks, or other signs of wear that require repair work.

Test lawn irrigation system

Leaks in the pipes/connections of the underground lawn irrigation system can explain the high water bills.

Fall house maintenance

Examine the HVAC system

Call a qualified HVAC mechanic to check out your HVAC system so that it’s ready to heat throughout the winter.

Check out the fireplace, if applicable

We recommend hiring a professional to look at the wood stove and wood-burning fireplace chimneys before starting the fire.

Turn off outside hose bibs

Unless your exterior faucets are frost-resistant, you shouldn’t forget to shut off the water supply and drain the lines to reduce the risk of freezing. Also, roll up the houses and prepare the garden for the winter.

Take a look at the exterior

If you find depressions near the foundation, make sure to fill them; they can trap water or snow. Such water problems can make the basement damp and affect the foundation.

Examine the roof and clean the gutters

Remove all debris as it can trap water and snow throughout the winter. It’s not a complicated DIY project to do with your spouse.

What should you do only every once in a while?

Yearly home upkeep

Lubricate garage door springs

Make sure to grease the garage door springs no matter if you have an opener or not; it will ease out the operation.

Best Home Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

Clean clothes dryer exhaust

Lint buildup can alter the dryer’s efficiency and pose a risk for fire, so clean the exhaust once a year.

See for signs of termites

Termites infestation can cause severe damage and costly repairs to your home.

Clean the septic tank

If your sewage collects in a tank, you should examine it once a year and empty it as necessary. Average households require septic tank cleaning every two or three years.

Home maintenance every 2 – 5 years

Every 2-5 years, you should:

  • Clean heat ducts
  • Have a termite inspection
  • Seal grout
  • Replace caulking around doors and windows

Household chores for every 5 – 10 years

Here’s what you have to do every 5 to 10 years:

  • Install a new dishwasher
  • Paint the exterior of the house
  • Replace the kitchen sink
  • Replace the microwave

Long-term home maintenance chores: every 10 – 15 years

  • Replace the water heater
  • Install a new range and refrigerator
  • Replace the garage door opener
  • Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Home improvement tasks beyond 15 years

  • Replace exterior decks
  • Examine the roofing material
  • Replace bathroom and kitchen faucets
  • Install new HVAC units

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How much money should you have aside for home maintenance and repairs?

The rule of thumb is to save 1-4% of your home’s value for home maintenance. For instance, if your house is valued at $200,000, you should budget $2,000 to $8,000 per year to use it for annual maintenance.

Why is home maintenance mandatory?

Home maintenance and repair will reduce the risk of declining property value. You have to stay on top with keeping both the inside and outside of your home. The roof, house paint, gutters and downspouts, wood decking, and fencing also require regular maintenance and repairs. It would help if you didn’t skip them as they can affect your house’s overall value.

When is the cheapest day to move house?

It seems that Sunday is the most affordable day to move house, with Saturday and Wednesday following closely. At the opposite end, we find Tuesday, which is the most expensive day to move house. If the financial aspect is decisive for you when moving house, choose Sunday to move house.

Should you deep clean a house before moving in?

If you have small children or care to move into an impeccable house, you might consider a deep cleaning of the new house. We recommend you hire professionals for such services—they will know what to do!

Do you have to honor an existing lease as a new property owner?

A new landlord must honor a lease as if he signed it himself. Landlord-tenant laws vary significantly across the U.S., but leases survive as sales in all states. Of course, there are exceptions when it’s stated otherwise in the lease itself. Even if the property was sold, the tenant’s rights don’t suffer changes unless otherwise indicated.

About Amanda

I love to buy a lot of products for the home, and dissect them out. I split them into duds and winners, and share the findings here on my site. As a reader of my site, I'm aiming for your next purchase to be an informed and inspired one.

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