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A home purchase brings in a new, exciting beginning for you. The best parts of owning a home is having the freedom to decorate and redesign your own space. Whether starting in the interior or exterior of your home, you can quickly be consumed by major DIY or remodeling projects.
Once the excitement of your new purchase wears off, the reality of being a homeowner sets in. Tasks related to doing a visual inspection of the home include making sure you know where the circuit breaker is, making sure the tv antenna installation is up-to-date and finding out where gas and water lines are on the property. More importantly, upon moving into a new home, there are items that have to be replaced.
For more information regarding what items should be replaced when moving into a new home, read below.
Change the Locks
While your home might sit in one of the nicest neighborhoods, you still have to make sure that the place is outfitted with new locks and keys, as you might find the previous owners made accessible several copies of their keys. It is not unheard of for owners to leave copies of their keys with gardeners, housekeepers, babysitters and other people who are on hire to help with the maintenance of the home and family. For this reason, before moving into your home, re-key your doors. By doing this, you can guarantee you are the only person with access to your new digs.
Electrical Outlets and Other Fixtures
As a part of your initial home inspection, the inspector made sure the electricity was up-to-standard. However, when moving into a new place, one of the first things you want to do is replace any missing electrical outlet plates and you want to replace broken fixtures such as ceiling fans and lighting fixtures. Missing plates on the electrical outlets are a safety hazard, especially if you are a homeowner with small children. Also, broken lighting fixtures or ceiling fans detract from the overall appeal of the home.
Clean Central Air and Heating Ducts
Central air and heating systems run more efficiently when debris is removed, and more importantly, air filters are replaced. In addition to becoming major dust traps, not replacing filters and removing debris from in and around your unit can translate into added costs at the end of the month. Simply check the owner’s manual to find out how to service your own heating unit. You can also have a professional come over to inspect and service the unit. If all else fails, you can learn how to DIY on YouTube.
Water Heater
One of the first things you should replace in your home is your water heater, especially if it is older or if there is damage to it. When replacing the tank, check with your utility company to see whether you can benefit from energy-saving programs that can save you money over the life of your new tank. Most programs only require the installation of a device that controls when water is heated throughout the day, so you end up paying less in heating costs monthly.
Roof
The lifespan of your roof is usually about 30 years. However, many insurance policies will increase your premium if the roof is older than 20 years or displays signs of damage or wear. On your own, though, check to make sure that no tiles are missing, and if so, contact a roofer to replace or repair the roof.
Your New Investment
While purchasing the property has its own caveats, the return on your investment is seen in a few ways. The tax deduction is great, but as your home value increases, the equity in the home allows you more leeway in sizing up or in just remodeling. More significantly, though, the home’s value is dependent on how much time and effort you place in replacing needed items in the home.