Let’s talk about those home maintenance tasks that every new (and not so new) homeowner should implement:
Owning a house is an exciting milestone. It’s usually something you’ve thought about for a while and is the most expensive thing you’ve purchased. So, first things first, congratulations!
A lot of new responsibilities come with owning a house. Some you’d expect and many more unexpected tasks. The best way to protect this investment and take care of your home is through routine maintenance. You certainly could wait until something goes wrong to learn about your home. Or you could implement these home maintenance tips now to help keep unplanned, unpleasant, unexpected, and costly surprises at bay.
Home maintenance tasks every homeowner should implement:
Before you move into your new home:
- Painting
- Painting before you move in can be much easier with open spaces and without furniture to worry about.
- Deep clean the house.
- Deep cleaning the house not only gives you a fresh new start, but cleaning and vacuuming removes dust, dirt, fur, pet dander, and other contaminants that affect your health, and over time, impact the quality of your home fixtures and features.
- Change the locks.
- Hire a locksmith to change all the locks in the house. Don’t forget to make an extra copy or three.
- On/Off Switches
- Locate your circuit breaker & water valve shut off now. When you need either of these urgently is NOT the time to be looking around for it. Trust us!
- Smoke alarms
- Locate and test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide sensors inside the house. Change all the batteries now and make sure to have extra batteries for both on hand. Create a family plan on what to do in the event that either one of these go off.
As you’re getting settled inside your new home:
- Get to you know you’re neighbors
- Knowing the people who live near you is beneficial for everyone. Whether it’s to help get your mail when you’re on vacation, to have someone watch the house when out of town, to get recommendations for good local businesses (like Accurate Plumbing, Heating & Electric), or to have a friendly face to wave at!
- Unpack one box at a time
- The boxes might feel like they are never ending so keep at the unboxing and putting away of items one box at a time. Keep going as items left in a box might end up staying there until it’s time to move out!
- Collect, save and store all user manuals and warranties in one place
- Taking the time as you unbox new appliances to save the user manual or warranty will save you in the time of needing it in the future. Whether it’s putting them into a 3 ring binder, a plastic back or a storage box pick what works best for you and remember where you store it! Also, a lot of companies have their user manuals available online so consider creating a document with the link for all of them if you prefer digital records vs paper records.
- Find reliable service contacts
- The list of experts needed to maintain your home for years to come includes a handyman, landscaper, painter, plumber, locksmith, HVAC, plumbing & electrical technicians. Create a list of reliable contacts so you know who to call for years to come!
- Trash and recycling pickup
- Learn your new areas trash and recycling pickup protocols. Is it offered by the city or is it privately done? What is the schedule? What can or cannot be included? These details change by zip code so take the time to familiarize yourself with the new homes schedule.
- Bad weather plans
- Depending on where you live, you’ll want to be prepared for the bad weather that might occur. Whether it’s snow, fires, tornadoes, or earthquakes, prepare ahead of time by knowing if they have a season, what supplies you might need and what to do when there is a warning or watch in your area. Check out California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services here: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/
Ongoing ways to care for and maintain your home:
- Change air filters monthly
- Schedule annual HVAC maintenance
- Get plumbing lines inspected to avoid issues before they become a major concern
- Change smoke detector batteries at least once a year
- Winterize your home
- Landscaping maintenance
- Pest control
- Clean out gutters at least once a year
Taking the time to maintain your home on a regular schedule will save you from some avoidable stress, as well as money and time. Not all the tasks listed above need to be outsourced as not all of them need to be performed by you either! A responsible homeowner that keeps & maintains their property in good condition also increases the chance of a good resale price when selling it later on.
The longer you stay in your home make sure to keep up the maintenance that’s monthly, seasonally, and annually needed. At the first sign of a problem, call in a professional instead of trying to wait it out. You can count on Accurate Electric, Plumbing, Heating, and Air, as our heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical technicians are a trusted partner to provide a wide range of services that will keep your family comfortable all year long.
