Useful Tips for New Homeowners
Purchasing a home is a big decision and a significant investment of your money. You’re likely very excited to move in and get settled.
It’s good to keep in mind that owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility. You want to ensure that your home remains in good condition over the years and appreciates in value. There are some useful tips for new homeowners that you can review to help you have a smooth and successful experience in your new property.
Keep Up with Regular Maintenance
You’ll want to make sure that you keep up with regular maintenance of your property as a new homeowner. It will help if you make a checklist of to-dos so that you can stay on top of all these important tasks. You may want to go online and print out a list of these items based on the season and time of year. The reason you want to stick to a schedule is that keeping up with home maintenance can enhance and preserve your home’s value as well as extend the life of your property. The good news is that many of these tasks you can complete yourself and you won’t have to pay someone to assist you unless a problem arises.
Change the Locks & Secure Your Home
Home security should be at the top of your list as a new homeowner. You want to feel safe and at peace in your new property. Begin by changing the locks, as the previous homeowners may still have keys to the home. It’s also a wise idea to invest in some bump tools like this in case you get locked out and need an easy and seamless way to access and enter your property. There are some additional security measures you can take as well such as installing security cameras and adding a fence. Be sure to check all your windows to confirm they are in good shape and close all the way. You might also want to install motion-sensored lights on the exterior that will give you peace of mind and scare off any unwanted visitors.
Invest in Improvements
It’s important that you continue to add value to your home over the years. As a new homeowner, you want to make sure that you invest in improvements to your property. For example, you’ll want to work on modernizing and renovating your kitchen and bathrooms and rip out and replace old and stained carpeting. If you have the money you may also want to consider finishing your basement and adding more livable square footage. As for the outside, focus on boosting your home’s curb appeal and setting up a backyard oasis to enjoy. Replacing your garage doors and the front door is an opportunity to gain a high-cost recovery. You’ll not only like living in your home more when you make updates to it but it’ll be that much more ready and easier to sell if you decide to move in the future. Before you begin any major renovations, you’ll want to research contractors and get multiple quotes.
Maintain A Clean & Well-Organized Home
Another useful tip for new homeowners is to maintain a clean and well-organized home. Get on a regular cleaning schedule where you tackle each room one by one. You may need to spread out your cleaning tasks throughout the week if you’re working with a larger property that you may not be used to maintaining. Make sure that you are consistent and make cleaning up part of your daily routine. It’s also a good idea to pick up, wipe down countertops, and sweep the floors each night before bed. Try to decorate with a minimalist approach right from the start and go through and empty out all your boxes from the move. Invest in storage bins and labels and make sure that you know where all of your items are if you need to locate them in a hurry.
Budget for Trouble
The reality is that life can present you with a variety of surprises over the years. It’s no different when it comes to being a homeowner and taking care of a property. There may be unexpected expenses that pop up after purchasing your home. As a new homeowner, it’s in your best interest to budget for trouble. Set up a savings account or emergency fund that you can dip into and use on your home if necessary. You never know when the furnace will break down or you’ll need to clean up and take care of water damage. Create and follow a new household budget as well to ensure that you can cover the mortgage costs each month and pay all your bills on time.
Prioritize Essential Repairs Based on the Home Inspection Report
When purchasing a home it’s a good decision to get a home inspection. This way you know all the ins and outs of your new property and what issues may be present. Therefore, another useful tip for new homeowners is to prioritize repairs based on the home inspection report. The inspector will highlight which problems should be addressed right away and not put off for a later date. This will give you peace of mind and ensure that your home is safe to live in. Reviewing the report as soon as you move in will keep these tasks at the forefront of your mind and help you make more informed decisions about what needs your attention the most.
Meet Your Neighbors
Moving into a new neighborhood or area is exciting but you may also feel a bit apprehensive. It can be intimidating to not be familiar with your surroundings and be the new person on the block. Therefore, it’s a good idea to be proactive, reach out, and introduce yourself to your neighbors, and get to know the community. They will likely welcome you with open arms and you can work together to keep an eye on each other’s property. Walk around the area and get to know your neighborhood better as well. There may be parks or shops that you’ll find rewarding to check out.
New Home? Make it Your Own!
Book your totally free consultation today. At Nest with the Nelsons, we would love to help you make your new-to-you home totally your own. Floor planning, space usage, color palettes, refresh materials, and everything in between -- we've got you covered. Talk with you soon! Who knows, maybe we’ll talk later today?!
Wishing you a great week ahead!
Megan Nelson, Owner + Designer
Nest with the Nelsons
nestwiththenelsons.com
nestwiththenelsons@gmail.com
Nest with the Nelsons
nestwiththenelsons.com
nestwiththenelsons@gmail.com
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