Home Maintenance for New Homeowners

Buying a new home will probably revolve around considering the financial costs, the logistics of moving in and the arrangements of documents and paper. But one thing you shouldn't leave behind is the home inspection and completing some maintenance tasks, which will ensure your home is in the perfect state to welcome its new owners.

Ideally, there are home maintenance tasks, which you'll complete over the year - you'll be checking the gutters in the spring and summer, having your boiler service in the summer and bleeding your radiators before the cold season. As a new homeowner, it's easy to forget a house requires constant attention so a checklist with reminders set on your calendar will probably work best over the year. To ensure you're up to a good start though, you should check these 5 home maintenance tasks when you just move in.

Home Maintenance Checks for New Homeowners

Test the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Fire and gas safety is extremely important, especially when you have moved in a new home and are still familiarising yourself with the different systems. It is possible that the detectors have not been tested in a while, or that the batteries might need changing. In any case having a gas safety check is best practice when you move to a new property.

Check the Exterior Drains

We get plenty of rain in the UK, and it can really cause damage to your new home if the exterior drains are not leading water out of the house. An easy check is to get a ladder (but be sure to have it secured to the ground) and pour water over your roof (you can use a hose for this). Check if it's draining properly - the water shouldn't go down the walls and any puddles should not remain around for longer than 24hrs. If the water is not draining properly you might need to clean your gutters or unblock the drain pipes.

Further Inspect the Exterior

Look for any chips in the paint and cracks in the walls. These can easily be repaired if they have just appeared but if you leave them unattended they can cause more serious issues, such as rain water leaking in the walls and destabilising the building.

Inspect the Roof

Inspect your loft for cracks and leaks and check the roof for missing tiles. If there is any damage to the roof you'll need to call a professional as all roof work involves plenty of health and safety concerns.

Check the Locks of Your Doors and Windows

Thieves love the opportunity to sneak into a new home, especially when the new owners are moving in but still not occupying the property. The first thing you need to do is check the locks and deadbolts on all your doors and windows and make sure they are secure and can't be easily opened by force. If you find any issues, replace immediately.

Inspect Your Bathroom

This includes flushing the toilets and running the taps, checking the caulking around the bathtub and shower and cleaning the sediment around the shower head. If you discover any leaking pipes or drips, it's time to call a plumber.

Have the Chimney Cleaned

If you live in a house, which has or used to have a fireplace you will need to inspect the chimney and potentially have it cleaned, if it's not been blocked already.

Need help with your home maintenance? At Rightio we can help repair heating, plumbing, drainage, locksmith and electricity issues. To find out more about our products and services that could save you money visit visit the Rightio home page and explore what we can offer you.