Owning your first home is a big responsibility. To start, it comes with significant financial obligations. You have to pay your mortgage and property taxes. The way you handle these obligations can have a lasting impact on your financial future.
Beyond the financial responsibilities, you also have to concern yourself with home maintenance. You’re putting a lot of money into buying the property, and it is likely the most expensive asset you have ever owned. Proper maintenance will help you protect the asset and its value. It can also help you prevent serious problems with various components and systems in the home.
What are some of the home maintenance steps young homeowners need to know? This post will cover some maintenance tips to help young homeowners.
Regular Landscaping
You don’t have to be the home with the greenest or lushest lawn, but you do need to perform basic home landscaping. A little landscaping can go a long way toward improving the appearance of your home. Along with that, landscaping can protect the property and home. At the very least, you should be cutting the grass frequently. Bushes and shrubs will also need trimming. If you want to save time and effort, you could hire a landscaping company. You could also try using a robotic lawnmower.
Maintain Your HVAC System
This is one area where many new homeowners come up short. They just expect their home HVAC system to produce cold or hot air when they need it and don’t think much about maintenance. It only becomes an issue when the HVAC system malfunctions. You can prevent this with simple maintenance. As a start, you should check and change the filter regularly. You should also clean and inspect the outdoor AC unit at least once a year. It is also a good idea to schedule an annual tune-up and inspection from a professional.
Check Your Home Plumbing
Functional plumbing is another thing so many people seem to take for granted. We just expect water to come from the tap and for it to drain away. Backed-up drains and leaky pipes can be serious problems. Beyond being a disruption to your home life, the threat of water damage can be significant. Homeowners should test their drains and look for leaks at least once a year. Beyond that, you should also keep basic plumbing tools like plungers and wrenches on hand.
Appliance Care
The large appliances in your home are expensive to replace. However, a little maintenance can help you get more years of reliable operation. Along with that, you can make the appliances more efficient by performing basic maintenance. Many appliances can also be repaired when they stop working, so don’t be in such a hurry to buy a replacement. Contact an appliance repair technician to see what they say about appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and dryers.
Fire Safety
Fire safety should be another concern for homeowners. No one ever expects a fire to occur at their house, but a little preparedness can make a big difference. The first step is to make sure your home is equipped with all the smoke detectors it needs. Beyond that, you should test your smoke detectors every month. Homeowners also need to remember to change the batteries once a year. You should also have at least one fire extinguisher in your home.
Clean the Gutters
The gutters along the roof are another thing many new homeowners fail to consider. You don’t see them regularly, so you don’t worry about them. Many homeowners don’t even realize how important they are. When gutters are clogged or leak, they can expose the home to the risk of water damage. However, it is easily preventable by taking the time to clean and inspect the gutters once a year. If you are uncomfortable doing it, you could hire a gutter cleaning service.
Roof Inspections
Your roof should be another concern. Catching something like a small leak or damaged shingles early can save you a lot of money. It can also prevent additional damage. Homeowners should check their roofs at least once a year for signs of damage. Look for things like cracked or missing shingles. You should also go in the attic to look for signs of leaks. Many of these issues can be relatively inexpensive repairs if you catch them early. However, a failure to act can lead to more expensive repairs or a need for an entire roof replacement.
Electrical System
A check of your home electrical system can also be a good idea. To start, test the GFCI outlets in your home. These are the outlets in the bathrooms, kitchen, garage, and outdoors. Even if they are not the ones with the test and reset buttons, they are likely on a circuit protected by those outlets. Beyond that, you should consider checking any cords or power strips you use. For example, you might have a power strip by a desktop computer or at your home entertainment system.
By performing this basic home maintenance, you can do a lot to protect your home. However, there may be jobs that are better left to the professionals. If you don’t have the tools or knowledge to do something, contact professional for service.