Just purchased your first home? Congratulations! Buying and owning your own property is a major life accomplishment and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life. Along with a great deal of excitement, it is quite likely that there is also a fair amount of stress and anxiety and this is perfectly normal. Owning a home can feel intimidating as suddenly it is down to you to solve any problems instead of calling up your parents or the landlord. With this in mind, here are a few tips for new owners so that they can reduce stress and be fully prepared upon starting their new life as a first-time homeowner.
Identify Key Maintenance Areas
Every homeowner should know where their water shut off valve and the circuit breaker is because you certainly don’t want to be dashing around the house looking for them if you have sprung a leak or the power is out! Finding the water cut off valve could stop serious water damage from occurring during an emergency, while the circuit breaker will allow you to control the electricity and restore power. In addition to this, it is also a good idea to invest in a full toolkit so that you are able to take on a range of home DIY tasks. Many problems that occur around the home can be fixed yourself with the right tools and some easy to follow instructions which you can find online. You should also compile a list of reliable, local services for those larger jobs where you will need the services of a professional.
Home Insurance
Home insurance is a vital purchase to make, and it is better to be safe than sorry. Homeowner’s insurance will protect you against things that might happen, such as theft, fire damage and natural disasters, which means that it is particularly important if you live in a region prone to flooding, storm damage, and unpredictable temperatures. It will provide cover for your home and possessions, as well as peace of mind knowing that you are protected. You should also think about all of your possessions and work out how much different items cost so that you can tell the insurance company if something were to happen.
Maintenance Insurance
In addition to homeowner’s insurance, it is also highly worth taking out home maintenance insurance. Unlike home insurance which protects you against things that might happen, maintenance insurance will protect you against what will happen. It includes appliances and home system components that will break down. The cover will include the cost of repairs for water leaks, HVAC stopping working, the dishwasher stops running, and so on. Unfortunately, these appliances can stop working and particularly when they are used each day heavily, so this type of insurance is a smart purchase.
Check Attic Insulation
It is something that is easy to forget about, but you should check that your attic is properly insulated because doing so will ensure that you stay warm in winter and cool in summer, but also help to keep your energy bills down. The recommended amount is between 10 and 14 inches of material. If you can see the top of the joists, you need more insulation. Fortunately, this is the easiest place to add insulation and could help you to make huge savings on your energy bills each year.
Be Careful When Drilling
You will be keen to get settled in your new home and start hanging pictures, shelves, televisions and other items. Doing this without knowledge of what is behind the wall is incredibly dangerous as you could easily drill into a plumbing pipe, cable, duct or other important parts of the home which could cause all kinds of different problems. A stud sensor will enable you to detect these, but they are not completely reliable so if you do have to drill into the wall then make sure that you do not go further than 1.25 inches which will help you to avoid valuable wires and pipes.
These are five key aspects that any new homeowner needs to consider as they could save you a fortune while also making sure that you do not inflict any serious damage on the house, or on yourself! Becoming a homeowner for the first time is incredibly exciting, but there is a tremendous amount of responsibility to bear which can create a fair amount of stress and anxiety, and this is perfectly natural. Follow the above advice, and you will be a responsible homeowner and have everything that you need to protect your home against a variety of dangers.
