Buying a new home is a great joy, but the excitement with finding just the right spot can often cause us to glaze over some small items and repairs that your dream home may need.
If you’ve recently bought a new home, there are a few areas you should check to make sure you don’t need to undertake any of these common home repairs.
- Gutters: How do those gutters on your new home look, nice and shiny? While sellers often clean the outside of these, they don’t always clean out the gutters themselves. Check for and remove debris and blockages from all of your gutters and downspouts.
- Smoke Detectors: Change the batteries in all the smoke detectors in your new home. Also check your fire extinguishers to make sure they’re properly serviced.
- Drafts: Look around the windows and doors of your new home for gaps that can lead to drafts. Older windows used steel and aluminum frames and these may have rusted and created large gaps.
- Leaks: Check your sinks and faucets for leaks. You can buy repair kits at your local hardware store; just make sure you get the appropriate kit for your leaky faucet.
- Insulation: Check the attic and walls of your home for insulation. If it’s missing, you can purchase and install insulation yourself or hire a professional to add in-blown insulation throughout your home.
- Shingles: Fiberglass shingles have a lifespan of about 10 years before they crack and fall apart. Inspect your roof or hire a professional to take a look in case this wasn’t done before your home purchase.
- Chimney Lining: If you have an older home, you likely checked the foundation, but did you check the chimney? Make sure your chimney has a terracotta liner or get one installed. The longer a chimney goes without this liner the more likely you’ll have to get it completely replaced.
- Outlets: One area you likely didn’t inspect closely is the bevy of electrical outlets. Turn on all the lights in your home and plug in a lamp or other appliance into all your sockets. If you find something that doesn’t work, call an electrician.
If you’re on the ball and are looking at this list before you purchase a home, one of the greatest tools you have to notice damage and potentially not have to pay for repairs in your new home is to go on the home inspection with the inspector. This will take a day of your time, but you’ll get a closer inspection and you can ask the inspector questions to better judge any potential issues.
One of the most important pieces to your new Florida home is the right insurance. Call People’s Trust Insurance today for a free, no-obligation quote at 888-524-6003. Let us help you make the most of your new home.
This Blog is sponsored by:
People’s Trust Insurance Company