Buying your first home is an exciting time, and there is nothing quite like moving into a home that is new, or at least new to you! But how can you ensure that your home stays in good shape as the years go by? Start your new year off right by taking on these top 4 resolutions to keep your new home perpetually looking like new!
Inspect Your Home Regularly
Before you purchased your home, it is likely that you had it inspected by a professional inspector so you can be advised of all potential issues with the home. But just because you’ve moved in doesn’t mean you should stop scrutinizing your home for flaws and needed upgrades! This year, make it one of your New Year’s resolutions to conduct mini home inspections at least twice per year. Be sure to look at your roof, under your crawl space, in your fireplace and throughout your plumbing and electrical to make sure that everything is functioning properly. You may find a few things that may need to be fixed, and keeping on top of your home maintenance can help ward off costly disasters in the future.
Invest in a Home Maintenance Fund
Those mini home inspections you will be conducting will likely uncover a few issues each year, so it is important that you have the funds on hand to take care of them! As a homeowner, you should invest in a home maintenance fund each month, and set aside a few dollars regularly to make sure that you can afford maintenance tasks as they pop up. Having a little extra set aside for home repairs and updates will alleviate some of the sting when it comes time to replace that roof, or repair that foundation years down the road!
Go Green
Energy efficiency isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for your wallet, too! This year, resolve to make a few eco-friendly switches. There are many cost-effective things you can do around your home to lower power and water bills and protect the environment at the same time, including:
- Installing low-flow toilets
- Updating your thermostats and heating/AC units
- Recycling and composting your waste
- Switching over to a gas fireplace
- Changing to energy-efficient light bulbs
Deep Clean Once Per Month
Let’s face it, nobody really has the time to do a serious home cleaning every day, but most of us can swing a deep clean once per month or so. In 2017, resolve to pencil in deep clean days once per month to keep your home sanitary and clean all year long. Mop your floors with disinfectant, vacuum every room, air out comforters and rugs and disinfect bathrooms and the kitchen. Also consider cleaning baseboards, blinds and ceiling fans to cut down on the dust in your home. Don’t forget to work on your home exterior too, trimming up trees and shrubs, filling in mulch and maintaining your flower beds. With a little TLC once per month, your house will look just like new for years to come.
Are you dreaming of purchasing a home in 2017? The NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ can help! With down payment assistance and competitive rates, the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™, administered by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, can help make home ownership affordable for you. Learn more at www.nchomeadvantagemortgage.com.
