Buying a new construction home can be the perfect solution for home buyers who want everything to be just right. A move in ready home is stress-free and you know that with quality craftsmanship and materials, you’ve got a good number of years before you have to worry about any major maintenance.
Nevertheless, a few proactive home maintenance tips can keep maintenance costs down long-term and preserve the quality, comfort, and value of your home.
1. Keep Up Curb Appeal
The exterior of your home is the first thing people notice. Whether you’re planning on reselling your home or staying forever, keeping up the exterior of your home will also help you enjoy your home. Things to pay attention to include the condition of your lawn, eaves, and flower beds.
A lot of outdoor maintenance is about adjusting for the seasons. If you live somewhere with cold winters, covering flower beds with burlap protects plants from winter burn and damage from depleted soil moisture.
Exterior maintenance can be a lot of work to keep up, especially for seniors. Anyone on the market for a new home as they approach retirement should think about townhome bungalows in adult lifestyle communities. Often run similarly to condominiums, for a monthly fee, the Corporation takes care of outdoor maintenance throughout the neighborhood. You can live your dream with Blythwood Homes in an adult lifestyle community – and not have to worry about exterior home maintenance.
2. Take the Builder’s Recommendations Seriously
Before you move in, the builder will take you on a walk-through of the home. Someone will show you where to find everything (like the circuit breaker and water shutoff valves), as well as how to do things like changing the air filters in furnaces.
One important thing to remember is that houses need to settle after construction, causing creaks and other odd noises. The grade of your backyard might also change with time. One thing to keep an eye on is making sure it doesn’t create a flow toward your home that water would follow.
3. Change Your Air Filters
Changing air filters frequently in particular is one of the best things you can do for both your air quality and your furnace. Air filters should be changed about monthly, even if you’re the labels on your filters suggest they can last longer.
4. Climate Control
Maintaining a consistent and comfortable climate in your home isn’t just a matter of personal preference – it also makes a difference on your home maintenance. Even if you prefer to keep the air conditioning off in the summer, the humidity can damage your hardwood floors and paint, especially over time.
5. Keep an Eye on Energy Leaks
With a new construction home, your home should be well-prepared against energy leaks, even more so with Energy Star Certification. However, you want to make sure everything is in order when you move in. Most builders have a warranty to cover any issues that arise in the first year of ownership. Keep an eye on things like the sealing around windows and doors in particular.
A new construction home is a great opportunity. A few basic maintenance steps can help you extend the lifespan of materials before you need to make major repairs.