What to Look for When You Move to a New Home

Although exciting, moving to a new home can get overwhelming. You are leaving a familiar place and going somewhere that you have never lived before! From crockpots to comforters to the internet, your house moving checklist will be full. When you have a million things to take care of, you might end up missing some of the more important ones. You need to stay organized to avoid missing out on some of the important things. Here is what you need to look for when you move into a new home.   

Your HVAC system stands for your furnace and air conditioning. Naturally, it is a basic necessity. HVAC systems can be expensive too. This is the system that takes care of the cooling and heating at your new home. You might have spent some big bucks to install or service one. Checking your HVAC system becomes a necessity. Get a technician, a property manager, or an engineer to check it regularly. You can even opt for some plans with a local agency to service the system. This might help you save some money in terms of discounts and save you the inconvenience of scheduling a check constantly. When you move in, get all ducts, cooling, and heating units thoroughly inspected. Look out for some common warning signs that indicate that something is wrong. If you need maintenance, get it done as soon as possible. It might seem to be a pain but it is a good investment.  

Now that you are a homeowner, you will have an excruciatingly long list of things that you need to take care of. Clean your gutters and downspouts. This step is extremely important as it helps you prepare for unforeseen weather conditions. Cleaning the gutters will help remove debris, sticks, and leaves. It should be a top priority on your moving list. Keeping the gutters clean will help you protect the structure and foundation of your home. It will even help you save tons when future inconveniences roll around. Cleaning your gutters and downspouts helps you prevent water damage. Often unforeseeable rainfall can clog your drainage system. When downspouts and gutters are blocked with debris and leaves, rainwater and your home’s sewage system will not drain properly. Water will start overflowing from the gutters. It will cause major water damage to the foundation of your house, the exterior, and the interior of your home. This damage takes up a lot of time and money to take care of, if it can be repaired that is.   Clogged downspouts don’t let your rainwater reach the ground. When it rains, all the water gets collected on the roof. When water clogs and continues to flood, it will leave you with a leaky roof and make it rotten. Stagnant water is also a breeding ground for many diseases such as dengue fever. Clean and flowing gutters will help you get rid of pets too. When your gutters are clogged with sticks and leave, many animals such as birds, rodents, and insects will look at it as their dream home. Pest infestation is hard to get rid of and can also carry diseases right to your home. Clean downspouts reduce the risk of a cracked foundation. When your drainage system water is blocked and cant travel away from your home, it will collect in the foundation of your house. Collected water expands and freezes over time. This expansion will leave the foundation of your house cracked and weak. Downspout and gutter cleaning can also help prevent expensive and unexpected projects around the home. If you take these preventative measures now, you will be able to reduce the risk of complete home renovation due to a faulty foundation or a leaking roof.  

Keep a check on water leaks as detecting them early can save you from a potential disaster. Not to mention how much money you will save in later repairing costs.  Keep an eye on your water meter. If you have a leak in a part of your plumbing, your water meter is a reliable indicator. Turn off all the water in your home. Close all the faucets, and ensure that your washing machine and dishwasher are closed. Now, watch the water meter and see if it starts to change. If the meter changes, something is using up your water. This indicates a fast-moving leak. If the meter is not changing, check it after two to three hours. If the meter changed even though all the water supplies around the house were closed, you have a slow leak. Now call a technician and deal with this leak. Don’t inspect it yourself because it can be anywhere even underground. The fact is that all the piping after getting the meter installed is your responsibility.   You should also monitor your water bill. If your water usage habits are not changing but your bill is rising constantly, you might have a leak. You should get some bills from the past and compare the range for each month. This range should remain the same each month. Even if you cant “see” a leak, remember that it may be underground. You might never be able to detect leaks that are underground, but you will have to always pay for them. Get a professional plumber to inspect all the pipes thoroughly. If you notice a warm spot on your floor, or you can hear the sound of running water, your house needs a professional’s attention immediately. Once you suspect a water leak in your plumbing system, don’t delay the repair. You have no idea how much damage this water is causing to your house.  

When you inspect the house, you need to reduce the amount of air that leaks. Reducing this leaking air is a cost-efficient way to cut your cooling and heating costs, improves the durability of your house, increases comfort considerably, and overall creates a healthy environment. Weatherstripping and Caulking are two effective and simple techniques to air seal your home. They are cost effective and give you quick returns in terms of your overall investment. Caulking is normally used for opening and cracks between fixed house components such as around the window frames and the doors. Weatherstripping is commonly used to seal moving components. These may be operable windows and doors.  

Now that you have finally moved into a new house, don’t relax just yet. You are in the final lap of making your new home absolutely perfect. Following this list will help you avoid some problems that can turn big later. When you have got the house thoroughly inspected, and taken care of the big stuff, it is easy to deal with the smaller problems as you go. It is a good idea to make a schedule with all the repairs and maintenance and set weekly and daily goals for yourself. This will help you stay on track and even divide some of the work. These final steps are crucial for peaceful and happy living. Invest now and save later! For More Information  Related to CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING SERVICES  Visit us