Purchasing a new home can be an exciting venture. But, once you have moved and your MoveDay movers finish unloading all your boxes and furniture, you might wonder: “What’s next?”
Whether you are purchasing a new-to-you home or a brand-new home built just for you, you need to ensure that your home is properly maintained. After all, you want to ensure your new home will continue to give you comfort for years to come.
In this article, we’ll share basic home maintenance tasks you need to stay on top of, so you can avoid issues and high maintenance and repair costs.
Weatherproof Your Home
Take some time to inspect your home from the inside. After all, no matter where you live, cool nights are a thing, and the last thing you want to deal with is a drafty, uncomfortable living space.
Think about where your home may be exposed to drafts and see what repairs you can make or fixes you can implement.
For example, you may be able to caulk gaps present around vents, use wrap foam sleeves around any exposed pipes, and use insulation film for the windows. All these steps can help protect the interior of your home from the cold.
If your home has attic stairs that can be pulled down, it may be a good idea to invest in a stair cover that will keep air from getting out through that opening. Be sure to cover fireplace openings, as this may also be a heat suck.
You can now purchase inflatable plugs for these openings, so use them to protect your home’s energy efficiency.
It’s also smart to invest in weatherstripping for your home’s doors and windows too.
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Watch for Plumbing Issues
Along with weatherproofing your home, also watch for some basic plumbing issues and figure out how to fix them. Some of the most common issues with toilets include clogged drains and broken levers.
To deal with these, purchase a quality toilet plunger and auger and learn how to use them. Also, get into the top tank to repair broken levers.
If you need a simple fix for a chain in your toilet that continues to get tangled and keeps your toilet running after it is flushed, try using a plastic straw.
Leaks may also pop up in the kitchen. If you want to avoid these, make sure that you regularly re-caulk around your sink. This is going to help you avoid water damage under and around your sink, too.
Don’t Forget the Exteriors
The outside of your home is on the front lines when it comes to inclement weather. It is also your home’s “face” to people passing by and your entire neighborhood. Because of this, you need to put time and effort into making sure you are making a great impression.
Remember, your home’s overall curb appeal impacts its value (perceived and actual), as well.
One of the most important tasks to tackle regularly is to clean your gutters. Be sure that you clear out all the debris. Cleaning your gutters and fixing any leaks or other issues that are present will help prevent water-related issues down the road.
The warmer months of the year are a good time to touch up your home’s exterior. How often you will have to repaint your house depends on the underlying material completely. While this is true, wood siding will require the most frequent repainting services.
However, with brick, the paint job can last for up to 20 years or more.
Of course, don’t forget about your roof. Damage to your home’s roof will cause serious issues to both the interior and exterior of your home. Take some time to visually inspect your roof from the ground a few times a year.
Hire a professional roofer once a year for a full inspection over and under the roof. Remember, many roofing issues won’t be seen from the ground, so you need to hire professionals.
Take Care of Your Home Appliances
This is a significant issue that you really can’t afford to ignore. Chances are you drain your water heater one time per year, but some issues require this service every six months.
Over time, sediment can build up inside your unit, resulting in higher utility costs and causing premature wear and tear to your water heater. If you don’t regularly maintain your heater, you might have to replace it sooner than expected, which is going to cost thousands of dollars.
Along with the water heater, you also need to maintain the other major appliances in your home. Usually, you can find maintenance information in their owner’s manuals. You can also find this information online if you don’t have the original owner’s manuals.
If you have a garage, lubricate the opening mechanisms and make sure all the moving parts and components are working safely and properly. This will help you avoid serious issues down the road.
Maintaining Your New Home
It’s no question that maintaining a home is a lot of work. It takes time, effort, and sometimes money. However, the investments you make now will help you save money in the long run and keep things operating smoothly for much longer.
Take some time to review these tips and make the needed repairs promptly to avoid more serious and more expensive issues down the road. When you do this, you can feel confident that your home will be a comfortable and welcoming place for your family for many years to come.
If necessary, hire a professional to help with home maintenance. You can hire a specialist for just one issue or hire a general repair service who can handle all the maintenance tasks that your home may need.
