New Homeowner Checklist: A Guide to the 4 Annual Inspections You Absolutely Need

 Did you know that one-third of Americans plan on purchasing a home within the next five years?

But if you're buying a home for the first time, it can be very confusing and difficult to keep up with everything you need to do and know. 

To help you out, we've put together a new homeowner checklist guide to help you keep up-to-date with your maintenance. 

Homeowner Maintenance Checklist

So, you bought your dream house and have your foot on the property ladder, it might have been scary and costly, but it was worth it.

But what many people don't know after they've gone through all the legal requirements and bought a house is that they need to set money aside for repairs and home maintenance. 

The best way to do this is to budget between one and three percent of your home's purchase price each year, this should cover typical homeowner maintenance costs.

There are four essential annual home maintenance checks that you need to do, so if this is your first year in your new home and you're worrying about what you need to do, we've got you covered. 

A Guide to the 4 Annual Inspections You Absolutely Need

Look for Termites

One easy task you can do is look for signs of termites.

Termites can be costly to get rid of, so keeping a constant eye on wood in your home is very important.

You can do this using a termite primer from the EPA.

You might also look for termites by keeping an eye open for flying termites around your home and looking at your wood to see if there are any tunnels in them.

If you think that you might have termites or you aren't sure, then get in some experts who will be able to find out if you have any unwelcome creatures in your home.

Drain Your Hot Water Heater

Once a year, make sure you drain the hot water from your heaters.

Sediment at the bottom of your heater can affect the longevity of them, so annually cleaning them can help them stay in better condition for longer.

If you aren't sure how to do it, there are various online how-to guides that can help you.

Alternatively, you could call in a professional to do this task.

Seal Your Bathroom and Kitchen

Apply a new layer of sealant in your bathroom and kitchen tiles to prevent them from looking stained and discolored.

Applying a new sealant can also help to keep water out and prevent mold from growing in your bathroom and kitchen.

Replace Your Caulking

Another essential house maintenance task you need to do is to replace the caulking of your windows and doors.

Replacing your caulking can help to keep your home more energy-efficient and can help to keep the heat in your home.

Maintenance Inspection

Every three to five years, it's a good idea to have an expert come in and check your house too, this is known as a maintenance inspection.

This is similar to the home inspection you had before you moved into your house.

However, a home maintenance inspection won't test your appliances. 

What can you expect from a maintenance inspection?

A licensed inspector will come round and check all of the main systems in your home, including roof, walls, foundations HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.

They will then create a detailed report explaining the things that you need to fix. 

For example, roof inspections during your maintenance inspection may highlight lose tiles that need replacing otherwise your house might start leaking.

This could save you a lot of money in the long run, so it is important to get it inspected regularly. 

Year-Round Checks

You might also want to have a year-round home maintenance checklist.

Remember it is important to check your fire and carbon monoxide detectors on a regular basis, so schedule this in at least twice a year.

In spring, summer, fall, and winter, there are certain checks that you will need to do, to ensure your home is safe. 

In spring, you might want to consider cleaning up your garden by removing old leaves from the floor, mowing the lawn, and pruning hedges and trees.

You might also want to check the guttering and give the outside of your house a clean. 

In summer, you might want to check your air conditioning is working well and that your house isn't getting overrun by bugs and pests.

Summer is also a great season for looking after your garden if you have one, so don't be afraid to get green fingers and keep mowing your lawn regularly.

If you have a pool outside, make sure you keep it clean and regularly check and change the filter if necessary. 

In fall, you might want to do regular garden checks and remove falling leaves.

Whilst outside, you should also think about unclogging your gutter of any leaves, this can help to prevent any water damage affecting your home.

Check that your boilers and radiators are in good condition and make sure you get an expert in to fix them before winter if they're showing any issues.

Frequently broken boilers can be quite expensive to repair and maintain, which is why sometimes it's recommended that you opt to find out your ideal boiler prices and costs and get a replacement.

If you have a clothes dryer, make sure you remove any excess lint as this can cause fires.

In winter make sure you are checking your pipes regularly, this can help to ensure that they don't freeze.

Another way to prevent frozen pipes is to turn off all faucets and to keep your thermostat at a warm and steady temperature. 

Follow Our New Homeowner Checklist

Make sure you follow our new homeowner checklist to keep your home looking in top shape.

Remember that doing regular home checks can help you save a lot of money in the long-run and can help you stay on top of maintenance tasks that need to be done. 

If you found this article insightful then be sure to have a look at some of our other home remodel and home repairs articles.