Once you’ve finally settled in, you may start to view your home with a more objective eye. Perhaps there are things you’d like to change — like your backyard lighting for instance. Perhaps there are things that require repair, such as the plumbing or the windows. You will soon realize that maintenance, repair and renovations are a normal part of homeownership.
Perform Regular Maintenance and Repair – doing regular maintenance and taking care of small repairs right away, you’ll avoid more costly repairs down the road.
Home Improvements – besides doing regular maintenance and repairing your home, you will also want to consider renovating or making improvements. These changes will not only make the home more pleasant for you to live in, they may also increase its value.
Change is good but be careful not to go overboard unless you plan to stay in your home for many years. If you are planning to sell your house, you also have to ensure that the changes don’t make your home worth a lot more than the other homes around you. Remember that the value of your home is closely related to the other homes in your area.
Make Sure Your Home is Fully Secure
- Add dead-bolt locks and window locks where necessary.
- Consider getting a security system. Your property insurance rate may be lower if you have one.
- Use outdoor lighting. You can get lights that turn on automatically every evening or motion-sensor lights that come on when someone walks by. However, use outdoor lighting judiciously to be more energy-efficient.
- When you are away from home, use lights and radios on automatic timers and arrange to have your mail and newspapers picked up or discontinued. This way, people won’t be able to tell that you are not home.
- Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye out for each other.
Be Prepared and Stay Safe – Have a fire evacuation plan and make sure everyone in your home knows how to get out of the home from each room in case of a fire. If you have a second floor, you need a special escape plan to get to the ground. Check to see that windows have not been painted shut. Although doors and windows should always be securely locked, you have to be able to open them in an emergency.