Essential Home Maintenance Tips for First-Time Owners

Sally Norton

Guest Blogger

When you buy your first home, either a house or an apartment, you have a lot on your mind. You are probably dealing with all the moving tasks, figuring out your mortgage payments, or doing something fun like organizing your first-ever housewarming party. Because of all this, you probably forgot about an essential thing - home maintenance. But, you can't forget about this as checking the condition of your home is of key importance if you want to live in a safe, healthy, and happy home. Thus, do not wait - make sure to check everything in your home as soon as you move in, and, of course, keep checking on it regularly later on. Don't worry - doing this is not going to be hard. All you will have to do is follow our essential home maintenance tips for first-time owners.

Replace the HVAC Filters

For starters, when you move into your home, you have to check all the HVAC filters. You can be sure that, during the process of home selling, the previous owners haven't had the time to inspect and clean these things. So, there is probably a lot of dust and grime left behind them. And, if you had your moving and renovating crew there too, be sure that the situation with those filters is even worse.
 
Dirty and clogged filters can cause your heating and cooling systems to run less efficiently. But, not only that - they may also cause you many breathing problems, especially if you are somebody who has asthma or allergies. Thus, save yourself from all of these troubles and replace the HVAC filters as soon as you move in - this is one of the essential home maintenance tips for first-time owners anyone can give you.

If you are not 'handy,' you can also call an HVAC specialist and let him handle the inspection.

Service the Furnace​

While checking the HVAC systems, it is also good to give your furnace a look. If it is old and not running correctly, it might suck the energy, increase your heating bills, and emit harmful substances. Thus, don't postpone this task. Service your furnace as soon as you move in or before the heating season starts.
 
It is of crucial importance not to do this task alone. Only experts know how to service the furnace, so contact them. Servicing the furnace will probably be covered if you have a home warranty. This will ensure peace of mind as you will not have to worry about costs. But, if you don't have a home warranty, prepare your wallet on time.

Recaulk All the Windows and Doors

Even if your furnace functions perfectly and there is nothing wrong with your HVAC systems, you might experience coolness in your home. Don't worry - you didn't make a mistake when you decided to buy a home or set your eyes on this particular property. The heat loss probably occurs because of certain cracks around your windows and doors. All you have to do to fix this relatively small problem is to recaulk all the windows and doors.
 
Recaulking windows and doors will be one of those essential home maintenance tips for first-time owners that you will have to do not only when you move in but also once a year. And, to make sure the caulk lasts the entire year, you have to buy the right one. Talk to somebody from your local hardware store about this one and ask for a piece of advice.

Recaulking your doors and windows will decrease your electricity bill.

Check Your Crawl Space for Water

We certainly hope you had the whole house inspected for water damage before buying it. If you hadn't (or even if you had), it would be good to check your crawl space for water! Doing this is easy - all you have to do is get a flashlight, go to your crawl space and look for water damage, moisture, mold, and similar.
 
If you see some damage, it is crucial to call an expert and discuss what you must do next. Having a home that is water damaged may start to have weak 'bones.', or it may begin to rot or mold. If you don't know whom to call, check sites such as consumeropinion.org, where you can find companies and individuals offering various services and solutions.

Water damage is a serious problem - make sure you have a serious person for the damage control too!

Ensure Your Deck is Moisture-free

​Speaking of water damages, don't forget to inspect your deck too! All kinds of wooden decks are prone to rotting. We don't pay attention to our decks before it's too late. We don't preserve them well enough, and they end up looking (and smelling) horrible. And, in some severe cases, they also start to decay. Seal and stain your wooden decks before every rainy season to prevent this from happening.
 
However, if you notice mold on your wooden deck, there is no point in sealing and staining it - you need to replace it entirely! That is the only way you can walk safely on it. But, look on the bright side - doing this will improve your home's value if you decide to sell it in the future. 

Of course, there are many more essential home maintenance tips for first-time owners that you should know - advice such as checking your plumbing and electricity, inspecting for pests, making sure the roof doesn't leak, etc. But today, we wanted to mention those areas that most people forget about. So, now, you know what to check when you buy and move into your first home. The purchase of your home should be a happy and exciting time in your life. With a bit of care and attention, you will nip all the potential problems in the bud and have a successful purchase.