Moving into a new home is the perfect opportunity to start all over again. If you used your time preparing to leave your old home to declutter the place and declutter your lives, a new home is the chance to make changes in your lives for the better. One of the main priorities in a new home is to set yourself up for DIY success. If you are using your new home as a chance to fix up this property so you don’t have any of the same problems as in your old home, read on.
Getting To Know Your Home Before Making Any Big Changes
Ideally, you would live in this new property between 12 and 18 months before you want to take any massive renovations. While this usually consists of knocking down walls or extending the property, you should also get to know your property just in case there are any major plumbing issues. Living in the property for an extended period of time before making any massive changes gives you a better idea of what the property can benefit from, not just in an aesthetic sense, but in terms of making it a far safer property. It also gives you the time to think about what you really want. If you think the property can benefit from certain changes, what you believe you want may change after having lived there for a while.
Look at What You Can Save On in This New Property
If you’ve moved into a property that is an old build rather than a new one, you have the opportunity to make some upgrades to make it energy efficient which will save you a lot of money in the long run. Making energy-efficient upgrades to the property is one thing, but you can also do little things to reduce your energy bills over time. For example, now is the perfect opportunity to get into new habits such as cleaning the refrigerator coils. These condenser coils are on the back of the fridge or underneath at the bottom. And when these coils are clogged with dust or cobwebs, they’re not able to release heat efficiently. This results in your fridge working harder than normal.
Check the Neighborhood Out
It’s always wise to reach out and extend a gesture to your new neighbors as soon as possible. It gives you an idea of what sort of neighborhood you have really moved into. But you also need to establish yourself in the neighborhood so you have access to certain information. For example, if you experience any issues with your roof or plumbing, you can find out who is the best plumber or roofer in the area. It is such a simple thing, but it gives you the opportunity to see the situation for yourself.
Replacing the Filters
Moving into a property with a heating and cooling system that has been used for years may mean that it’s not operating as best as it can. You can very easily get into the habit of replacing the filters of the furnace and the air conditioner. This will help your wallet in the long run. Taking the opportunity to replace the filters on your HVAC system will make a considerable difference.
Locate the Important Things
As a priority when you move into your new home, you have to locate the home’s main water shut off valve and the electrical panel. These will be vital in an emergency. If you need to shut off the water or you experience a power cut, these are the two most important things that will help you in an emergency situation.
Check the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
These alarms are cheap and incredibly effective at protecting your family and home. But this is as long as they are functioning properly. Check the states of these and replace them if necessary. These are the two things that could really save your life in an emergency.
Cleaning the Property
When the property is relatively empty this might be the opportunity to do a deep clean, but you may also want to refinish the hardwood if you have hardwood floors. It can seem like a daunting prospect, but you can go to your local hardware store and rent some equipment out to refinish your hardwood floors. It can take a weekend but it can make all the difference to the quality of your property.
A new home is always a new start, so take this as an opportunity to embrace new habits to make your property safer, stronger, and better for your entire family.
