When you finally close on your new home and move in, it is an incredibly exciting time period. Now is the best time to start the habit of home maintenance. Below are our top tips for what to do after you a buy a home.
1. Use your inspection report as a to-do list for maintenance
After you buy a house, address any issues that were flagged on the home inspection report that the seller didn’t fix. Using the home inspection report as a guide, make a list of things to repair, update or maintain for the future, ranking them from most to least urgent. You’ll want to address items that can potentially cause problems later, such as dirty gutters, leaky pipes or doors and windows that need to be resealed.
2. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
To help ensure you and your family are safe in your new home, make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working condition. This may include installing fresh batteries or replacing entire units.
3. Find the circuit box, review emergency shut-offs and appliance manuals
Even if your new home isn’t brand new, it’s new to you! So it’s vital to understand how things work. One of the first things to do when you buy a house is to find the emergency shut-offs and the circuit-breaker box. If the box isn’t labeled, add labels to the individual circuits so you know which ones go to which room or appliance. Finally, gather up all the appliance manuals, so you know how everything works.
4. Create a maintenance schedule
Think of maintaining your new home as a marathon rather than a sprint. Instead of trying to tackle all of the maintenance tasks immediately, be thoughtful about the things that need to be done over time. This may include replacing air filters, cleaning the gutters, pressure washing the exterior and more.
Pro tip
Create a a home maintenance checklist that’s realistic for your household. Budget for those tasks each year, as well as unexpected repairs. The general rule of thumb is to save a minimum of 1 percent of the home’s purchase price each year for repairs.
