Ten maintenance tips every first time home buyer should know, by Cornelius Jackson.

By Cornelius Jackson

Maintenance Tips 10 Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Know

Purchasing a home is a feeling unlike any other. After filling out endless paperwork and dealing with the homebuying process, you finally get to move into your new home. It’s the dream of everyone to have a house of their own, and not just restricted to the Gen Y or Millennials. However, buying a home is just part of puzzle that you have solved. The next puzzle is figuring it out how to maintain it. Unfortunately, first-time home buyers don’t may not know how to maintain their properties.

The fact is regular maintenance is a crucial part of retaining the property’s value and aestheticism. Maintaining a home regularly means you don’t have to deal with costly repairs later on. As the adage goes, a stitch in time saves nine. To that, I will provide ten maintenance tips that you need to know to protect your property.

TEN MAINTENANCE TIPS TO HELP FIRSTTIME HOMEOWNERS

● CARRY OUT A THOROUGH INSPECTION

This is more like something you need to do before purchasing the home. The best way to avoid incurring future maintenance costs is to be proactive. Ensure you inspect the home thoroughly to uncover any issue that may lurk around. You should confirm the condition of all the systems, roofs, and the structure to avoid surprises.

● SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION OCCASIONALLY

Most homeowners wait until they are ready to sell their home to have an inspection of their home. You don’t have to this, because in the end, you will be surprised at the quantity of damages that could be costly to repair. Get a home inspection every two to three years. Hire a professional with an eye for details to carry out a routine check.

● CHANGE THE LOCKS

This is one of the first few things to do when you move into your new home. Who knows how many people have access to your home? Even if you don’t change them, have them rekeyed at least. This is not being paranoid; it’s just trying to play safe.

● TRIM TREE BRANCHES

This may not be one of the first few things to do when you move in, but it’s a paramount maintenance tip. If your home is surrounded by trees, check if the tree branches are touching the roof or any part of the house. If so, trim them. Excessive, overlying tree branches can house rodents and insects.

● REPLACE THE HVAC FILTERS

Overtime, the HVAC filters could be dirty and even become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. You should definitely replace them periodically and clean out the broilers. Besides replacing the HVAC filters, you do some electrical, plumbing, and heating maintenance. If not done, the result could be costly.

While checking out the HVAC filters, check the smoke detectors, carbon monoxide drtevtores, and the temperature on the thermostats.

● DON’T IGNORE PLUMBING AND ROOFING

Pipes and drains can get clogged and build up deposits. Also, there may be a few broken pipes that you might not know. You should keep an eye on this all the time to avoid spending more than required during maintenance. If you don’t know anything about plumbing, hire a professional or a reputable plumbing company to do some routine inspection.

Your roof is the first thing that protects the interior. If compromised, a lot of things inside the house can go wrong, starting from the electrical equipment to your HVAC systems and to your furnishings. Keep your roof watertight and ensure that everywhere is properly ealed.

● CAULK LEAK-PRONE EDGES

Bathroom sinks, kitchen countertops, bathtubs, and the likes are prone to air and water leaks. These can lead to mold growth and other health hazards. Constantly caulking them will prevent expensive repairs in the end and health issues.

● CLEAN UP DUST

Dust build up in all homes, regardless of style or location. It happens in places we don’t frequently check and can shorten the lifespan of electrical appliances and HVAC systems. Make it a duty to always check and remove specks of dust to save money in the long term and keep you healthy.

● FLUSH YOUR WATER HEATER

You should do this at least once a year. This prolongs the lifespan of the heater by preventing the buildup of sediments that could clog the heater.

● DON’T DEFER MAINTENANCE

Deferring maintenance can catch up to you. When you defer, you are literally endangering the life of the equipment and your health too. Enroll for programs that will check your HVAC systems, plumbing systems, electrical, etc. Doing this will benefit your home and prevent expensive repairs.

CONCLUSION

There are tons of other home maintenance tips that I couldn’t mention in this post, but you should adhere to the ones mentioned here. Purchasing a home is a massive investment. Figuring out how to maintain it and keep it healthy can be overwhelming. To help you with your maintenance tasks, keep a reminder of them and organize the tasks accordingly. With these tips, you can keep your home healthier and newer.

References

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecoun cil/2020/07/15/12-essential-home-maintenance-tips-for-new-homeowners/ amp/ https://www.homelight.com/blog/buyer-home-maintenance-tips/