Congratulations! Purchasing a home is one of the largest undertakings in your life. It is a dream many people strive to accomplish. Once it occurs then there are a number of responsibilities that follow. Caring for your home can be daunting if you are not prepared. Below are some tips to help smooth the transition to a homeowner.
Once you have closed on your home you may want to think about changing all the locks or have the locks rekeyed. Many people may have that key and you don’t want a surprise guest showing up and making themselves at home!
Maintenance is the key to keeping things in top condition. This applies to houses as well as cars. Assuming you had a home inspection, your home should be ready to go. Now is the time to get on a schedule of maintenance; whether it is weekly, monthly or annually. Have a place to note when air filters and smoke detector batteries have been changed. Speaking of smoke detectors, also note how many smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors you have and where they are placed. Do you need more? Are they outside each bedroom?
Home improvement is very exciting for a new homeowner. Do you want to paint, re-carpet, or refinish any flooring in your new home? If it is feasible you may want to do these things before you move in. It is much easier to paint an empty room than to paint around furniture. If you have a large list of improvements that cannot be done all at one either due to time or financial restraints, make a list. Categorize your improvements based on need, desire or cost restraints. Set a budget for your improvements and slowly tackle making your home the dream home you desire.
Speaking of repair and maintenance, if you are not the type to paint or fix a faucet perhaps you will want to find a reliable person to help you. There are many agencies that offer handyman services. It is important to find someone you trust and is conscientious in caring for your home. From hanging a tv, fixing a faucet to unclogging a toilet there is someone that can help you. It is best to not ignore slight problems in your home. Try to stay on top of issues while they are little and they will not become big issues.
Finally it is important to be aware of your home’s energy consumption. Are the appliances energy efficient? If not they may be some of the things you may want to replace as able. Do your doors and windows fit well? How can you shade your home from the intense afternoon sun? Are blinds, drapes or shutters helpful to keep your home cool? There are many questions to ask yourself as you look around your home and survey your energy use. Little changes can contribute to significant decreases in your utility bills.
At Dwelly, we provide many solutions for homeowners - a place to record those maintenance records and keep those numbers of the trusted repairmen.We can remind you to change those filters and pay your insurance. Dwelly is a place to keep all the information that can seem overwhelming when you first become a homeowner.
