It’s not news that home maintenance can go a long way towards ensuring that your home stays in great shape all year long. This can save you a lot of peace of mind as there’s a low chance that something may get out of hand, especially at a time when you least expect it to. You can also make savings by working on various projects in terms of preventative maintenance, since this will keep things working their best until they get replaced. If you’re a first-time homeowner, you may not have any experience or knowledge about the projects that you need to work on, so here are the top tips for the projects that you ought to work on in order to get the best outcome.
Roof Inspection
The roof is one of the most important parts of a house that you need to make sure is in good shape. That’s why it’s the first item on this list, for which you need to call a good local roofer. By doing this, you increase your chances of keeping the roof in great shape and lowering the risk of roof failure. A roofer can inspect your home and identify signs of damage that call for you to work on repairs or even replacement. That said, be prepared to work on whatever the professional you hire advises you to.
The sooner you can get repairs done, the safer you can keep your home. Your home is also going to be more appealing and valuable if you do this, since the roof is one of the largest and most expensive elements in your home. While working on the roof, you need to make sure that you also fix the gutters. That’s because if they’re not working as they should, they increase the chances of ending up with a damaged roof whose cost will be a lot higher than what you’d spend repairing or even replacing the gutters.
Waste Management
Remember to think about waste management since it’s another one of the important aspects of your new home. You need to have a reliable method of getting rid of the waste that you generate. This should be both safe and sustainable, if possible, and you can find a solution by looking into local dump disposal services in the area. You could find out if there are any that will be sustainable, which should have an option for recycling. In this case, you may be able to dispose of your waste in a manner that doesn’t negatively affect the environment, making your home one that’s more eco-friendly.
On the same matter, you need to find a reliable local septic pumping service if your home runs on one. With their assistance, you can keep the septic system functioning properly and avoid dangerous issues to do with damage and contamination from failure of the system. Regular upkeep and maintenance in this case should keep your home both valuable and safe, giving you an easy time in terms of disposing of the used water that you generate in your home.
Home Security
Security is an important detail for all homeowners, new and old alike. That said, check details such as the locks on doors and windows to make sure that they’re secure. If they aren’t, they should be among the first things that you change so that you can get more peace of mind in terms of keeping your home safe whether you’re home or not. If you have a legal gun, find reliable gun safe companies in the area to help you install a gun safe that will give you the security that you need in terms of keeping your guns in a safe place that only you can access when you need to.
You may also want to install exterior lighting for your home because this can help you boost your home’s security. These will also make the outdoor area usable for a longer part of the day, something that will make it easier to hold parties whenever you want to. An installation of security cameras should also give you the chance to keep an eye on all that happens in and around your home. The mere presence of security cameras can deter crime because no one wants to run the risk of getting caught breaking into someone’s property.
Plumbing Inspection and Repair
Your first home should have proper plumbing in order to assure you of efficient water supply. This is one of the things that makes a home cozy and clean, so call a local plumber in the area to inspect the plumbing and do any necessary repairs. If there are missing or damaged elements, replacing them can go a long way towards saving your home from wasting water and leaving you with expenses that you have a hard time managing. Along the same lines, replace any damaged or old fixtures with modern ones that will function efficiently and also improve your home’s appearance.
If you use water from a well on the property, or if the water that you have access to is otherwise untreated, you may want to talk to a local water conditioning company. With their assistance, you can get water for your home that will be safe to use. You can also be assured of uninterrupted water supply, which can make your home more comfortable for you and your family.
Appliance Inspection and Maintenance
Your first home’s appliances may have some years of use under their belt, and so you shouldn’t forget them when thinking of the projects to undertake. Call the relevant experts to inspect the appliances and perform preventative maintenance on them to lengthen their lifespan. Don’t hesitate to replace any appliance that has reached the end of its lifespan, since doing so can enable you to save energy and also keep your home safe. For instance, water heater replacement will allow you to get hot water on demand without draining energy in your home.
Another appliance that you need to take proper care of is the air conditioner. A home isn’t complete without properly-functioning HVAC, and this means that you need to keep yours in good shape all year long. You can make sure that it’s in good shape by finding a professional to do repairs and servicing to it. This way, you won’t run the risk of getting caught up in a mess if the system fails in the middle of a season with extreme temperatures.
Landscaping
The landscape plays a major role in terms of curb appeal, so you should also include it on your list of first-home maintenance projects. If you like it as it is, you may simply need to call a professional to do some touching-up in order to keep it in perfect shape. If you don’t like its layout or any other major aspect, you could get this changed with the help of a professional landscaper. In this case, take the time to think about the ideal landscape for your first home, something that you can learn about by checking the internet for ideas.
Get the lawn re-seeded if necessary so that you have a lush, appealing lawn. You could also talk to a local concrete cement company to work on the hardscape if this is the part of your home’s landscape that you have an issue with. As such, you can be sure that the result will be a gorgeous and well-planned landscape that assures you of function, comfort, and appeal. This is a great way to give you added pride in your first home.
Exterior Repairs
Look out for general exterior repairs that may need to be made to your first home as well. This way, you can improve both the appeal and safety, since one of the projects that you could work on in this case is repairing or replacing the garage door. With a solid garage door, your home should have better insulation, helping you with energy-efficiency. If the current garage door is old, replacing it can help improve safety as well, since you can get one whose locks are more secure. It will also have a lower chance of failing unexpectedly, which could be inconveniencing or even downright dangerous.
While working on exterior repairs, you should also make sure to check the siding. If there are cracks or other signs of damage to the siding, get these fixed as soon as possible so that you can do away with the possibility of air leaks. If the siding doesn’t have any damage but looks like it could still use some work, consider cleaning it thoroughly. This is something that you can do yourself if you have a pressure washer, or for which you can hire a professional. After cleaning the siding, you can easily make the decision of whether to repaint it or not.
Heating and Utilities
Remember to make sure that the heating and utilities of your first home are in good shape. Doing this can help you safeguard your home from excessive energy usage, making it sustainable. If necessary, look for the right propane company if this is one of the utilities that you need to keep your home comfortable and cozy all year long. If the house is in a place that gets extremely cold during the cold season, this is something that you should work on with urgency.
Shop around by talking to other homeowners in your area to find out what utility suppliers they rely on for their homes. Make comparisons between a few so that you can make the right call, enlisting one that’s known to be both reliable and affordable. This way, you can be assured of keeping your home safe and cozy all through the year without breaking the bank. Call a professional to inspect the systems as well so that they can make sure that nothing is out of place and therefore a risk.
Driveway Maintenance
Another detail that can help you keep your home’s curb appeal up is driveway maintenance. From the driveway gate right to the driveway itself, there are many details that you should check and repair as necessary. Talking to an expert should help you understand the necessary maintenance that you need to work on so that you can keep the driveway in good shape for a longer time. The details of this are going to depend on the particular material that the driveway is made of, so put this into consideration.
Electrical System Maintenance
Given the number of residential fires that are caused by short circuits, it’s important for you to call an electrical company to inspect the electrical system of your first home. This is a mandatory inspection, so if you didn’t get a thorough one done before you bought the house, this is the time to do it. Replace any worn out elements with new ones that work as they should, and you can be assured of a safe home. You can also ask the electrician you hire to point out what you can do to get the electrical system to be more energy-efficient, and you’ll save money as a result.
Repair or replace any outlets that don’t work with new ones so that you can enjoy better efficiency. If there are areas where you need outlets and there aren’t any, you can add some as well. Change light switches and other electrical components that seem old and worn out. This will give the value of your first home a considerable boost.
Deep Cleaning the House
Last but not least, you should deep clean the house with the help of a team of experts. Doing this should leave you with a house that’s free of stains and other issues like that. It will also give you the perfect background to work on decorative home improvements that aim to give your home an improved appearance. Some of these are repainting the walls and adding decorative elements such as pictures.
These are a few of the tips that you can use to take proper care of your first home. By the time you work on all of them, your house will be a lot more appealing and valuable as well. Remember to only hire professionals for these projects so that they can be done in the best possible way, and you’ll get maximum returns for your investment.
