Top 4 Home Maintenance Tips for First-Time Owners
Being a first-time homeowner and getting the keys to your new Lake Zoar real estate can make your head spin with thoughts on what you are going to do with your property. With all that excitement, it’s easy to overlook routine home maintenance, especially when you’ve never had to deal with these tasks before. Read on for some home maintenance to-dos you will need to handle in the first year of buying a home.
1. Check wood decks for moisture
You need to inspect your wood decks in order to maintain your newly purchased Lake Zoar waterfront home. Remember that wood decks, including redwood and pressure-treated woods, need to be sealed and stained to avoid water damage and rot. You can tell if the last seal is still working by simply doing a splash test. Fill a glass of water and spill it on your deck. If you see tiny beads of moisture on the surface, it is a sign that the sealant is still repelling the water. If that doesn’t happen, it is an indication that you should reseal your deck. Do a splash test at the beginning of every summer and reseal your deck every two or three years.
2. Locate the main electrical panel for your home
Finding the main electrical panel is another step that you can take to ensure that your home is taken care of. If you need to shut off the electricity for any reason, the main shut-off is usually in that panel. Make sure each of the circuit breakers or fuses are labelled so that you will know what parts of the house they service. In case one becomes overloaded and blows a fuse or trip the breaker, it will be easy for you to identify where the problem occurred. You also need to make sure that there are no water leaks anywhere around the panel. Should there be water near the panel, don’t go near it. It is better to call in professional help in this situation.
3. Be prepare for every need
Maintaining your newly purchased Lake Zoar home for sale is not a one-time task, it is a year round job. As a first-time homeowner, it will be helpful if you will invest in the tools that you will need to tackle your home maintenance duties. Gearing up with a set of basic hand tools and an arsenal of lawn and garden implements will help you avoid problems with snow days and other seasonal changes. You may also invest in a storage system for home maintenance equipment so that everything will be in one place and within reach when needed.
4. Take care of your home’s exterior
Maintaining the exterior of your home is not only essential for curb appeal. It will also help in protecting your property’s structural elements and energy efficiency. If you encounter problems such as damaged siding, clogged gutters, and insufficient grading, address them immediately. Don’t forget to do a regular and thorough inspection of your roof’s condition so that you can fix any trouble spots and stay ahead of repair needs.
Taking care of these tasks will help you prevent major home hassles, inefficiencies or unsightliness down the road. Check out http://HomesInConnecticutForSale.com today for more home maintenance tips and ideas.
