6 Tips for New Homeowners

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the safety and security of your home, cleanliness and tidiness, and the payment of your bills, among other things.

Running a house is similar to running a business. If you take your responsibilities seriously, you’ll be successful and happy in your home.

Our 6 tips for new homeowners will help you get settled once you move into your new place!

6 Tips for New Homeowners

1. Get Your New Home Cleaned

Your first act of home ownership is to start with a clean house. Call a professional cleaning service that specializes in move-in cleaning jobs. The easiest way to find one is by doing some research online or asking people you know for recommendations.

Steam and deep clean carpets if they are not newly installed.

Then you can bring in pest control if necessary. Many homes, especially older ones, can have insects hiding in their walls and even though your house has passed inspection, it can be uncertain when the previous owners last had it fumigated.

2. Replace All the Locks

Next thing you need to do is safety-related. Change your locks. Think of all the people who may have keys to your current door locks. Your real estate agent, neighbors, friends of the previous owners, along with anyone that has done work on the house may have copies of your keys.

If you don’t have the skill to do it by yourself, just hire a locksmith and you will be assured the job will be done as it should.

This is also a great time to consider smart locks. With advancements in technology, you’ll need to take some time to think through your many choices. Consider the multiple devices you want to control remotely to save money with one shared controller.

3. Install a Security System

Home security is important because break-ins can happen anywhere. Home security systems are a great addition to the new locks. They keep the things that matter to you safe – people, pets, and possessions.

Besides offering a bunch of options, modern security systems are much less expensive compared to the old-school ones. They incorporate doorbells and embedded cameras, phone apps, smoke detecting sensors, carbon sensors, and freezing water pipe sensors.

On top of that, the newest systems are wireless, which means they can be installed, tested, and working in less than an hour.

Another positive is that homeowners pay less for insurance when they have a working home security system.

4. Start a Building Maintenance Team

Once you are done with the security of your home, you should start building your maintenance team. Most homeowners are comfortable finding someone to clean their house, maintain their pool, and mow the lawn.

There are other home professionals you don’t think about until there’s an emergency situation. One of the most important tips for new homeowners is to find these people before you need them!

We are speaking about an HVAC company to maintain your heating and air conditioning systems, a plumber to keep an eye on your pipes, and an electrician responsible for wiring repairs, etc.

A roofing company, pest control, locksmith, chimney cleaner can also be part of your maintenance team.

5. Beef Up Your Insurance

Take a good look at your home insurance policy and look for any relevant gaps. Professional advice can be really helpful in this situation.

The most important areas of coverage to consider are flood and fire protection, which aren’t always included in standard policies. It’s also worth checking your car insurance because you now have a much bigger asset (your home) to lose in the event of a lawsuit.

6. Get to Know Your Neighbors

Introduce yourself and learn what interests and hobbies you have in common. Share contact information with immediate neighbors.

Not only could they provide tips for what to do in your new neighborhood, but they could also offer a little extra security when you are away on vacation or just out for the day.