If your parents owned their home, you probably remember watching them work through weekend honey-do lists fixing things around the house. Now, you’re ready to buy your own home and take on that responsibility. You’ve read all the articles, found the best buyers agent, went through hundreds of properties until you found the perfect one, and now it's yours! Along with that furnace you’ve never checked, faucets that will leak eventually, gutters you’ve never cleaned and trees you’ve never cared for. Taking on the job of maintenance provider at your home can be a big job, but just like the purchase, you can be prepared for this too.
Ventilation and HVAC
Check your windows and ensure they are sealed around the edges or add weather stripping as needed to prevent air coming in and messing with your perfect temperature. Its also essential to ensure your insulation is correct for your area, including the depth of your loose attic insulation. If your winter weather gets below freezing, remember to remove or winterize your window air conditioners as well.
Your HVAC system needs its own love and care as well. Regularly check and change out your filters, clean dust buildup from ducts and vents and get your furnace periodically inspected by a technician, so you know if there are any more significant issues and whether or not you are due for a professional cleaning.
Water
Water can be the most dangerous element in your home. Small leaks can hide within your walls causing mold, mildew, rot and more serious physical damage. Make sure you know what kinds of pipes run through your house and where you are in danger of springing leaks. Check those areas regularly. If you live in a winter area that gets down to or below freezing, you may need to leave your indoor faucets dripping in winter to protect your pipes from freezing.
Outdoors, keep your gutters clean year-round so that water doesn’t build up around your roof. Make sure all the spouts in your system point away from the home and the foundation. Lastly, ensure that your roof is in good repair to prevent leaks and further damage.
It's important to know what maintenance the home needs, so if it's you're first, start with a candid conversation with the current owners. If they lived there for a time, they might be willing to share traits of the home with you to help direct your maintenance plan. Talk to your real estate agent about getting the right inspections and professionals to learn about your home.