Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility. If it is your first home, how do you know what to pay attention to the most? Here are a few important things new homeowners should NEVER ignore:
Don't Ignore Your Homes Functions - When you buy a home, the first thing you need to know is where the water shut off is and how to use it, where the breaker box is and what type of HVAC unit is in your home and how much maintenance it needs. A broken water pipe can spew thousands of gallons of water in your home doing damage that can cost thousands to repair. Even a leak from a dishwasher can become a disaster if you don't know where to turn off the water main. If your breaker box isn't up to code or a breaker throws for one reason or another, you need to know where to get into it so you can be sure an electrician can fix things when need be. Your home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit needs to be cared for properly as well with regular maintenance so that issues stay away . If you don't know whether it is even electric or gas, then chances are you aren't caring for it properly which can lessen the life of the unit, not to mention be potentially dangerous to not only your home, but in some cases, your health.
Don't Ignore Water Pools Around Your Home - Water pooling near your home around the foundation can be a serious problem if not fixed. Water needs to drain AWAY from your home to avoid damage to your foundation. Once you see this happening, you need to get a professional out to see what needs to happen to remedy the problem before it becomes even more costly and potentially hazardous to the life expectancy of your home. A small issue at first can turn into something really awful if ignored.
Don't Ignore Your Attic or Your Basement Areas - It's important to check out your attic, basement and crawl space from time to time. Even if everything is A-OK in your inspection, things can change from time to time. You need to be sure you don't have any leaks happening, critters making a home in those places or any mold growth. If you know how things are SUPPOSED to look from the beginning, you will know more if something changes. So please, take a peek.
Don't Ignore Professional Advice - When it comes to your home and your yard, it's always best to get a professional opinion before you start any project. You want to dig a garden in the back of your yard? Alert the utility companies so they can mark where the gas, water, electrical and even cable lines run so you don't damage something. Need a tree cut down? Get a pro to cut it down properly to avoid damage to your home or to yourself. Want to take down a wall in your home? Find out about what is BEHIND that particular wall and if it is a structural support one as well before you start sledge hammering away. It never hurts to listen to a professional when it comes to your home. Think of them like specialized doctors for your house's safety. You want to be sure that your home has it's regular check-ups to stay as healthy as possible.
A lot of these things may seem like common sense, however, when you move somewhere new, you can get caught up in so many other things that these little things can start to happen that can become a big catastrophe if ignored. Mainly, it's always good to pay attention to what your home need to stay strong and last for years for you and your family.
This blog was inspired by this article on HouseLogic.com.
Photo Credit: Lea Böhm
