For many Americans, the “American Dream” still involves homeownership. If you’ve recently realized this goal in North Carolina or South Carolina, congratulations are in order! Owning a house of your very own is extremely exciting. It can also, however, be somewhat overwhelming, especially if you’ve never dealt with residential maintenance in the past. As you look over this guide, you’ll find a few home upkeep tips that will help new homeowners like you settle into this new chapter of your life.
Go green whenever you can
If you can make upgrades to improve the energy efficiency of your new-to-you house, you absolutely should. Not only will this increase your overall property value, but it will decrease your utility bills all year long. In certain cases, prospective homebuyers can request that sellers make energy efficiency upgrades prior to closing. If the paperwork hasn’t been signed to close your purchase yet, talk to your real estate agent about the possibility of having new windows or a new roof installed before everything is finalized.
Even if you have already moved in, if you have the money to make upgrades, you should focus on going green. There are all sorts of projects you can complete, even in the case that you’re on a tight budget. You might, for example, want to look into installing a vertical garden or adding energy efficiency film to your windows if you can’t update them until a later date.
Keep an eye on your pipes
Sometimes, clogged pipes aren’t noticeable during a home inspection because they aren’t used over and over during the appointment. Once you move in, though, it might become apparent that certain drains or toilets simply don’t function as well as they should. You can try to deal with clogs yourself using a cleaner like Drano, but it is often best to contact professional Carolina plumbers who can tell you precisely what is going on and what types of repairs might be necessary.
Know what to do annually
There are certain household chores that need to be done annually. While these will differ slightly depending on the features your property has, there are certain tasks that almost all homeowners have to do each year. Your gutter system, for instance, should be inspected at least once, preferably by a reputable local Carolina company. If your gutters are sagging or out of alignment, it’s important to have them repaired or re-installed.
You should also make sure that any wood trim or siding gets painted during the summer months. While this is something you can do yourself, there are plenty of contractors who will do it for you at a reasonable rate. Finally, it’s important for your roof to be inspected on an annual basis to make sure it doesn’t have any glaring problems.
Have the chimney cleaned
There’s no way to know precisely when your new home’s previous owners last had the chimney cleaned. Therefore, it is wise to schedule a cleaning soon after you move in, especially if you live in a region of the Carolinas where it gets cold during the autumn and winter months. When chimneys aren’t cleaned regularly, they pose a severe fire hazard, which is something you want to avoid at all costs.
At Hatch Homes, we offer a variety of exterior renovation services, including roof inspections and installations, siding projects, and window replacements. If you are interested in having any of these jobs done in the near future, we hope you contact our office as soon as possible to schedule a consultation. We look forward to working with you!