4 THINGS TO KNOW AS A NEW HOMEOWNER

The exciting adventure of owning a home has begun and you’re in full ‘make it your own’ mode. As a new homeowner there’s so many things we learn about our house in the first year. Whether it's because you decided to renovate areas or because life just happens and the flaws start to show. Have you heard the phrase “you learn a lot about your house the first year” ? Well that may be true but I’d like to think the first year is like the honeymoon phase and its really the second year when you get into it real deep. So lets have some new homeowner therapy and break it down simply… 

Things we need to know as a new homeowner:

Maintenance. There are many parts of the house that will need quarterly-annual maintenance. Things like your heating system (furnace, HVAC, ventilation system). We all know that replacing your air filters monthly is important but also having your system serviced at least 1x a year is so important and can save you so much money in the long wrong. This will make sure all of your wires, hoses and fuses are in good shape. Take it from someone who has had their heater go out during some of the coldest days of the year! Other than your heating you’ll also want to make sure you roof, gutters (if you have them) and chimney areas are in good working order. It doesn’t always mean you have to have a professional come out to do all the things, of course if you can afford it then its going to be your best bet. 

Organizing. Start a ‘home binder’ to keep all the essential paperwork, warranties info, insurance info, service technicians, appliance booklets, and even an evacuation plan. Being prepared will make things so much quicker to fix if its all in the same and right place. Another bonus to keeping a home binder is when you decide to resell you’ll have all the information at hand which is a huge attraction for potential buyers.

Electrical. Knowing the electrical side of your house seems impossible but getting a general idea of how your home is wired will be essential. You will want to know if you have any damaged wiring, any crossed wires or any odd things hooked up. Not only will this be safer in the long run but it will also help your energy bills by not overworking the circuits and knowing what areas run the highest. 

Updating. Out with the old and in with the new! We all like new things but sometimes we need to really prioritize what needs updating versus what we want updated. Depending on the age of your house you want to replace outdated appliance for sure. Flooring is pretty close to the top of the list. Updating from carpet to vinyl plank flooring systems is actually much more cost efficient that you may think. Old flooring can be well…gross! You really don’t know what the previous owners do in a house and we spend so much time within our houses that you will find it healthier updating your floors anyway. Ripping up old flooring isn’t glamorous and hiring a professional will save you time and frustrations. It also guarantees a better longevity of your flooring when its installed properly. You can also choose water repellant laminate flooring which in Alaska is dream come true. Between the outdoor elements, pets and children, having flooring that doesn’t absorb water to the baseboards is worth spending the money on. Anything you can do to prevent mold or mildew is a must! This brings me into repainting your home. Many time when you purchase a house the previous owners will have newly painted the interior. That is a huge bonus! If they didn’t budget that into the sell of the home then put this down on your list to do. Fresh paint can revive a house and also seal areas of the walls that may have been exposed to basic wear and tear. 

We all want to make our new house feel new again. BUT, make sure you budget in life's little accidents as well as maintenance and updating. At the risk of sounding like my parents, the longer you put things off the more expensive they will be!