What to Do Within the First Year After Moving Into Your New Home
When you move into your new home, there are a number of cleaning tasks, basic projects and upgrades to consider. Here's a comprehensive guide to point you in the right direction.
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Once you’ve signed and closed on your new home, the work continues! There are so many projects you can do in the first few months as well as within the first year. Whether you’re looking at the interior of your home and considering upgrading the walls with a fresh coat of paint or if you’re looking at the exterior and considering new landscaping ideas, being a new homeowner is a labor of love.
Here’s what you can do to maintain your home all year long.
On This Page
Painting Your HomeÂ
One of the most common home renovation projects you may consider within the first year of moving into your new space is painting your room or multiple rooms. We’ve included some tips and techniques on how to paint different parts of your house — including the living room, as well as girls’ and boys’ bedrooms — and also offer some ideas on which colors might set just the tone you’re looking for.
Window TreatmentsÂ
When you move into your new home, you’ll want just the right coverage on your windows to illuminate or darken your rooms while at the same, show off your own sense of style. Whether you’re looking for curtains for your living room or smart blinds for your bedroom, here are some inspirational ideas on how you can liven up your windows in an artful way.
Insulation Â
No matter what season it is, it’s important for you to make sure that you have proper insulation in your house. Learn about the different insulations types for your attic and how to prevent frozen pipes during the cold season.
Landscaping Â
What your home looks like on the outside is just as important as what it looks like on the inside. Whether you have a small or large yard, we have a variety of landscaping ideas that’ll shape the look and feel of your home. If you’re a gardener, you should consider soil testing the areas of your yard where you plan on growing plants and/or vegetables.
Upgrades and Replacements Â
What are some DIY jobs you can tackle when an appliance or part of your home system breaks down? Learn some of the basics — from how to fix a doorbell to replacing a lightbulb when it goes out.
MaintenanceÂ
Home maintenance doesn’t have to be a burden if you stay on top of problems when they arise. Whether you’re checking your sump pump, installing new smoke alarms, or caulking windows, there’s always something to do to ensure your home is healthy and up to code. Consider creating a home maintenance checklist for every season.
Annual
Year-round home maintenance is crucial if you don’t want to end up paying for a big repair. As a first-time buyer, we have a beginner’s guide to home maintenance so you’ll know the ins and outs on checking items like smoke alarms, water pressure and cleaning out your air conditioning units.
Electrical Safety Checks Video
Seasonal
Every season brings different home maintenance responsibilities. For winter maintenance, you obviously need to check if your heating systems are ready to go and that you don’t have any air leaking through your windows. For spring maintenance, make sure your home is free of pests — especially cockroaches — and take time to do exterior woodwork, roof inspections and to check your sprinkler systems. For summer maintenance, keep your cooling systems in check and schedule any major outdoor projects then. And last but not least, fall maintenance can involve anything from aerating the soil, cleaning your gutters to cleaning your chimney.
Monthly
Here are some helpful home maintenance tips that you should do every month to keep your systems in good standing.
Basic Projects for New Homeowners
If you’re new to the DIY world, we’ve got you covered! Learn how to start a garden, repair a broken pipe, fix an appliance or even use a leaf blower. Whether you’re doing something as common as painting a room or learning the more involved steps of fertilizing your lawn, tackling these types of projects will build your confidence and equip you to be a more informed and seasoned homeowner.
- How to Prune Your Garden: Spring is an ideal time for getting rid of the unwanted parts of your plants, but you can also prune during the early summer and late fall months. Think of yourself as a sculptor as you shape your plants, make room for new growth and keep your garden healthy.
- How to Repair Your Office Chair: Does your office chair need fixing? If your chair doesn’t bounce or has a hard time rolling, all you need is some basic tools and parts to rebuild it.
Basic Tools to Use
With all the projects on your list, you’re going to need some basic tools to get the job done right. If have plans to build a deck or some other substantial project, you’ll need an impact drill. Boring holes in wood or metal? Then you’ll want to purchase a drill press. For chores that help keep the exterior of your home clean and tidy, look into a pressure washer to clean off old paint and a leaf blower to maintain your landscaping.
More New Homeowner Tips and Information
Here are some additional tips and information that could help best prepare you to make the right decisions as a new homeowner — from checking your electrical and HVAC systems, compiling a list of contractors for needed repairs and creating an inventory of all your valuable assets you’ll be moving in with.
New Homeowner Products
There’s no shortage of things you could buy for your new house. It’s a list that could get long and very expensive pretty quickly. The key here is to focus in on what you need. Use this list for guidance and know what to avoid.
New Homeowner ResourcesÂ
If you have any questions on products that you’re considering purchasing for your home, these national home improvement chains are tried-and-true resources.
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