Taking Care of Your New Home

Your new home will be built for comfortable and convenient living. Proper maintenance will protect the value of your home and means less work and fewer costly repairs in the long term.

After completion of your new home, the builder will orientate you with the operations of your new home. The builder will explain how to operate and maintain the heating, cooling, electrical and water systems. You will want to know basic procedures - how to turn the systems on and off and change the settings if required, when to schedule maintenance and who to contact. You also need information for basic "troubleshooting" before calling in service people. The builder will give you manufacturers' literature for later reference, along with any warranty documents for specific equipment.

Thanks to modern finishing products and convenience designs, today's new home owners face less maintenance and upkeep than ever before. For instance, many countertops wipe clean in one swipe, and new wooden floors and other coverings need only be damp-mopped sparingly with water or a weak solution of liquid cleaner. Before establishing a regular housekeeping routine, take a few minutes to read through the product literature provided by your builder. Follow the directions by the manufacturers to preserve the beauty and quality of your home.

A little common sense goes a long way when you decorate your new home. Place furniture away from heating and cooling vents. Keep non-carpeted floors in great shape by using easy-to-apply protectors on the legs of chairs, tables and sofas. When hanging pictures or shelves, take care to make as few holes as possible in the walls. 

Today's low-maintenance siding, windows and trim have reduced or eliminated many of the "traditional" outside chores such as scraping, sanding, glazing and painting. However, you should do a visual inspection of the outside of your home from time to time for the effects of any settling or extreme temperature fluctuations.

Clean the eavestroughs each fall to prevent a build-up of leaves and again in the spring to ensure proper waterflow. Rinsing the siding with water or washing gently with soap once a year will keep it looking great and in tiptop shape. Again, talk to your builder and refer to the manufacturers' literature.

Well-planned landscaping enhances your enjoyment of your new home and can add value to your investment. Your builder can explain the ground rules of landscaping - how to avoid disturbing underground utility services, and how to grade the land around the house to direct rain and melting snow away from the house to prevent moisture problems in the basement. You might also want to speak with your builder or a local nursery about the soil conditions on your property, and the kinds of plants that would grow best and their recommended care.

Many builders provide their customers with an information package or a home owner manual to help them understand how their home works and how to maintain it in top condition. A high-quality house built for easy maintenance and informed home owner care-a blueprint for satisfaction and lasting value! 

CONTENTS:

Inspecting your new home
Getting ready to move in
Taking care of your new home