It’s an exciting time when it comes to buying a new home. Although there is a lot of joy with a new home, it’s easy to forget the responsibilities that it adds to your life. Monthly tasks and even repairs can easily become overwhelming if the home is neglected.
We created a checklist to help reduce stress and bring clarity to the things you should look at before and immediately after buying your home!
Before You Buy
CHECK THE HVAC SYSTEM
If you are unfamiliar, a technician can inspect the system for efficiency and provide a tune-up. It’s also good to find out the age of the system so you can properly prepare and budget for any future breakdowns.
TEST YOUR THERMOSTAT
It’s important that your thermostat is working properly, so you can adjust the temperature of your home and live comfortably.
INSPECT AND TEST FOR ASBESTOS
If your home was built before the 70s, it is not rare that the insulation could contain Asbestos dust. This testing is critical for your family’s health. Asbestos dust can be accumulated in the lungs and cause longterm health problems, and possibly cancer.
CHECK FOR MOLD AND MILDEW
Look for mold and mildew, especially the bathrooms and behind cabinets where one doesn’t often notice.
INSPECT FOR BUGS AND PESTS
You may be able to spray around the home for smaller bug infestations like ants, but you’ll need to hire a professional for severe cases like termites.
CHECK THE GRADING OF THE YARD
The slopes around your home should lead water away from your home. You may need to add this to your list to eliminate water damage.
After You Buy
GET AN ENERGY AUDIT
An energy audit assesses your home’s energy consumption and efficiency. This is a practical idea to decide on adjustments or upgrades to minimize your energy bills.
TEST SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Check your detectors each month and change the batteries at least once per year. Also, make sure that you know where the fire extinguishers are located.
MAKE A HOMEOWNER’S BINDER
This is an easy way to keep track of insurance papers, repair receipts, and any other information about your home. It will be beneficial to have all this information in one place and will make the process of selling your home later on much easier.
Monthly Tasklist
CHECK OR REPLACE AIR FILTERS
Replace your air filters every month to allow clean and healthy air for you and your family. A good air filter will also help with airflow keeping your unit from working to hard and preventing damage to your air system.
PROPERLY VENTILATE THE LAUNDRY ROOM
The dryer’s filter is should be emptied out and the exhaust hose should not be bent to allow proper air to flow. Keeping the laundry room ventilated properly will reduce the risk of a fire. An HVAC technician can inspect and clean your dryer vent annually as lint is a major cause of fires started by a dryer.
CREATE A HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST BY SEASON
Spring & Summer
“Spring cleaning” is a saying for a reason. Spring is an important time for home maintenance. The home’s exterior just went through the harsh winter conditions. Summer means warm weather and you can spend more time on your lawn and garden after you’ve had time to focus on the exterior of your home.
- Clean window air conditioners
- Pressure wash the deck and patio
- Prepare your AC for summer; consider getting the system serviced
- Spray around your home to keep insects from finding ways to enter inside
Fall & Winter
Fall can be when you’re finishing up summer tasks or preparing the house for the winter. Winter weather can do a number on your home.
- Winterize your exterior water spicket
- Flush your hot water heater to remove sediment
- Get your heating system ready for winter. Make sure heating vents are not blocked. We recommend having your furnace serviced each year.
Every season
- Clean gutters
- Check for leaks in windows or doors
- Check for roof damage
These tasks might seem intensive, but it’s worth it, in the end, to address them early on, and it may even allow you to ask the seller to repair something or reduce the listing price.
We hope that this guide is a helpful reminder to you and your family. As a licensed heating and air conditioning company, our commitment is to provide you with ways to stay cool and be a smarter homeowner.
