Several Essential New Homeowner Tips You Won’t Want To Miss
Becoming a new homeowner is a big deal because owning a home is quite different from renting. The added responsibility of owning a home can overwhelm anyone.
When we bought our first home, I felt overwhelmed. I had so many questions and not many resources to look for information as there is today.
Here are some tips that will come in handy for a new homeowner:
Locate the Main Water Shutoff Valve
You should not wait for disaster to strike before you locate the water shutoff valve. If water leaks, you will have gallons of water leaking out of a burst pipe and it might damage your drywall, floors, and ceiling. Non-weather related water damage is a common problem in many homes.
You need to be able to shut off the water supply immediately in case of an emergency. This valve is usually located in alleyways or near the street. Once you find it, you should make sure that you know how to close it. You might need to use a special tool such as a curb stop key or crescent wrench to access and turn the valve.
Repairing water damage is quite expensive, as you might have to replace drywall and flooring. According to the owner of Benchmark Cleaning Services, cleaning mold from your walls and carpets is also costly.
Check the Insulation in Your Attic
If the inspection of your attic reveals that your floor joists are visible at the top, your home is not properly insulated. You need to insulate your attic with about ten to fourteen inches of material, but this depends on the type of insulation used.
Attics are the best places to add insulation if you want to increase the energy efficiency of your home.
If your house is well insulated, you can end up saving up to 30 percent on energy bills as well as increase the resale value of your home.
If you are looking for exterior home improvement tips and trends, be sure to read this article too.
Find the Circuit Breaker
As you look for the main water shutoff valve in the basement and garage, you should look for the circuit breaker box. When you find it, you should check the fuses that control electricity to several areas of your home and put labels on them. This will make it easier for you to what you are looking for in case of a power emergency.
Check the Foundation
If melting snow and rain soak the soil around your home, the pressure might build up and cause structural damage to your home. In worst cases, a water leak might come into contact with the foundation of your home and expand cracks, leading to worse structural problems.
To prevent the foundation of your home from weakening, you should slope the ground around your home by at least six inches.
You should also ensure that your gutters are draining correctly. Finally, you should caulk any cracks that you see around your foundation before they become wider.
Drill Cautiously around Walls
When drilling into walls, you should be careful because you might damage ductwork, plumbing pipes, and cables. Make sure that you use a stud sensor with your drill to be able to detect cables, studs, and ducts.
However, you should keep in mind that this device is not 100 percent accurate; you should avoid damage by drilling 1 ¼ inches deep to clear plaster and drywall and evade pipes and wiring.
As a new homeowner, it’s so important to make sure you are armed with the tools you will need to avoid causing any damage to your new home.
Hire Professionals to Trim Trees
You need to Local Tree Experts to cut off dead limbs and branches that might fall on power lines. Huge tree limbs can also fall on your roof and gutters, causing extensive damage.
An irrigation system will help you to keep your trees and lawn watered. These devices can now control many different zones independently, taking all the effort out of watering the garden.
You need to contact irrigation system installation companies if you want to install a sprinkler in your yard. Once you have a pro install it, you will know the job is done correctly.
With improvements in technology, some can now even be controlled via a mobile app when you’re not at home. We recently installed one in our backyard and I have to say, it’s made life so much easier and our lawn looks great too!
Hire A Rubbish Removal Service
When rubbish becomes overwhelming, don’t forget to hire a rubbish removal service. They are dedicated to clearing rubbish of all types and sizes. Whether it’s your old mattress you’re struggling to shift, a building contractor needing rubble cleared fast or updated you are working on in your home, you’ll want to be sure to have the right team remove the rubbish for you.
When we updated our bathrooms, we hired one to remove the old vanities, sheetrock, and any other debris from the update. It really paid off and made the updates so much easier to deal with.
It’s so important to learn about key areas in preparation for being a new homeowner. You don’t want to have to learn about these things after it’s too late! Be sure to visit the home and garden section of my website to learn more important tips and trick!
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Hi Carolann. Such good advice, especially the one about the foundation. Before purchasing when you have the perspective home inspected, checking the foundation and the electrical are the two most important details I think. Great advice.
Nice advice for new homeowners for sure and it highlights how much work goes into owning a home too.
Thanks, Leanna! I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas holiday and wishing you all a blessed New Year as well.
Carolann xo
Thanks Sue, I wish I knew half this info when I bought my first home. Thankfully, the net is full of great info!