Were you lucky enough to score the home of your dreams this past spring and are now blissfully settling into your new home? Congratulations, and welcome home! As a new homeowner, there are many ways that you can ensure that your first year as a homeowner is pleasant and stress-free. Take a look at these do's and don'ts for brand new homeowners:
• DO enjoy the fruits of your labour. Make the most of the nice weather while it's here and host a housewarming party!
• DO make an effort to meet your neighbours. Taking the time to develop a cordial relationship will benefit the entire community.
• DO stay on top of lawn and garden care. Pride of ownership is important.
• DO keep saving money, building up your reserve fund for ongoing and future maintenance costs.
• DO upgrade your home with energy-saving features. Invest in low-flow shower heads, a programmable thermostat and replace incandescent light bulbs with LED or CFLs.
• DO think about fire safety. Ensure there is a smoke detector on every floor of your home. Replace the batteries just to be safe. Carbon monoxide alarms are also mandatory in every Ontario home. One should be positioned near all sleeping areas. Talk to young children about your fire escape plan, designating a meeting place outside your home.
• DO locate your main water shut off valve.
• DON'T go crazy buying "stuff" for your new home. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day! It will take time to get your home exactly how you want it.
• DON'T tackle a major renovation before moving in. Experts generally recommend living in a new home for a few months to see how you're utilizing the space and where improvements are most needed.
• DON'T ignore issues, no matter how small. Taking care of problems when they're minor (i.e. a leaky faucet, small cracks in the foundation, old weather-stripping, a wobbly bannister) could save you the hassle of having to completely replace something down the road!