I came across some great advice in an email from Super Home Warranty recently, that I wanted to share here. They listed seven great tips to tell a new homeowner. They may seem simple or obvious, but as a new home owner, one may not think about all these things. I agree with all of the tips, some may have been noted in the home inspection such as water leaks and where is the main and circuit breaker and yes do a deep clean before you move in with all your stuff, often a seller will clean, but may not be as detailed as you would like.
- Check your smoke detector and CO2 alarms: always test your alarms and put fresh batteries in!
- Update your address: this is probably the first thing most people do upon moving, but it’s good to remember not to put it off too long.
- Change the locks: you never know how many spare keys are out there from previous owners, so change the locks for peace of mind.
- Check for water leaks: early detection of leaks can save you tons of stress and money down the line.
- Locate the water main and circuit breaker: I’d add the gas main, too, because the last thing you want is to have an emergency and not know where any of those things are!
- Clean the house: this is a good opportunity to make it feel brand new, all like yours, and get difficult-to-clean areas like appliances and air vents looking clean as a whistle.
- Transfer utilities: just like updating your address with USPS, you’ll want to transfer any utilities necessary to your name at the new home. The longer you wait, the longer you’ll go without electricity, water, internet, etc.
Are there any other tips for new homes and homeowners you can think of? Comment below with the things you wish you had known!