When you purchase your first house, there is a lot going on with the move, buying furniture, hosting a home warming party, and getting to grips with mortgage payments. With all this excitement, it can be too easy to overlook the routine home maintenance that is needed to look after your new home, especially seems as you’ve never had to tackle these before.
In order to stop things from getting overwhelming, have a look at this home maintenance guide that will help any first-time buyer
Foundations
You will probably have checked your foundations before you signed on the dotted line, however, that doesn’t mean that it’s something that can now be ignored. You need to ensure you check your foundations on a yearly basis. If you identify any problems get in touch with a foundation repair contractor who will be able to assist.
Furnace And HVAC Filters
You only have to think about the grime and dust that may have been left behind by the previous owners or any construction. Having clogged filters can make your cooling and heating systems run much less efficiently wasting energy. Changing them makes sure you are capturing any air pollutants. Do this when you move in and annually thereafter.
Recaulk Your Windows
Around 80% of winter heat loss is due to cracks in the home. If you seal the spaces around the windows with some caulk, it can help to alleviate the problem. At the end of each summer, check the caulking around your windows, this way you can replace any damage, dry caulk while it’s still dry outside and before the cooler weather.
Wood Decks
Wood decks need to be sealed and stained in order to prevent water damage and rot. You should test them at the start of each summer and think about resealing your deck at least every three years.
Exterior Paint
Besides making your home look good, stain and paint are important in order to keep your home protected from the elements, and help to prevent your gutters from rotting or your siding rotting. If you need to touch things up it may just be a case of scraping, sanding, priming, and sanding, small areas. However, if you see widespread damage, you may need to paint the whole thing.
Clean The Gutters
Having mucked-up gutters can lead to water been backed up and potentially enter your home through the crawl space, roof, or foundation. If it freezes in your gutters it could lead them to crack and ruin them. Use a sturdy ladder and inspect them for debris and blockages. If you don’t feel confident to do this yourself, organize a professional service. You should aim to do this twice a year, but at a minimum check them and clear them after the fall, as this when leaves that have fallen from trees block them.
This short guide should help a first-time home buyer to start with the home maintenance that they need to do to keep their home running smoothly. Is there any others that you think need to be added?
