Home ownership is something most of us are thrown into but it doesn’t have to be difficult if you plan and put systems in place that help you deal with the basic duties of being a home owner.
In this how to we will go over some of the most important basic things that you will need to learn to accomplish. After that it is up to you what you do with your home and property to make it your own.
1) The first and most important thing you must do is find your utility shutoffs and understand how to operate them. This includes your Water Main Shutoff Valve that should be located just before your water meter. Your Gas Line Valve that is also located at your meter and should be outside your home, Your Electric Service Main Circuit Breakers that are located in your circuit breaker box and if you have oil or propane in your home you need to know how to shut off the feed from the storage tanks. This is the first and most important thing and can save your life in an emergency.
2) Make a list of all of your local emergency related contacts. In a real emergency you can call 911 and they will send out the police, fire or ambulance but in other situations you may not actually need Emergency Services but it can be an emergency for you. Have a listing of your Utility Companies and call and ask how you report an emergency such as a down wire in a storm or a gas leak. Make a list of local contractors such as Glass companies to replace a broken window or roofing companies to stop a leak from your roof. Make the list and keep it near your home phone and also add those contacts to your cellphone.
3) Setup Automatic Bill Pay on a Credit Card that will give you cash back. This will make sure that your bills are paid on time so you don’t lose service. It will also cover you if you have to go out of town or have some type of emergency and can’t send in the paper forms. It will also save you money and time and you will have a list of all of your bills for your easy review.
4) Learn how to properly clean your home inside and out. This is not just about keeping your home tidy which your neighbors will thank you for but its to keep your home in its best condition. Mold that grows on the outside of your home will discolor your siding, Rugs that aren’t shampooed on a regular basis will break down faster because the dirt gets into the fibers and breaks them down.
5) Build a list of contractors for all of the needs your home might have. As your neighbors have work completed on their home such as a new roof, deck, driveway repairs or other services ask the contractors for a card and ask your neighbor how well they did and if the cost was reasonable. Over the years you will have a decent list of people to go to if you can’t do the work yourself.
6) Build your Tool Inventory. This is something that most home owners don’t do. Buy tools to fix things around your home so you don’t have to hire a contractor or borrow tools from your neighbor. You should have a basic home owner tool kit such as Screwdrivers, Hammer, Tape Measure, Pliers, Hand and Socket Wrenches, Paint Brushes and Tools, Basic Landscaping Tools like a good shovel, rake, broom and a lawnmower if you have a yard. Automotive Tools to care for your car and do basic repairs. In other how tos we will go over tool selection but you need to have basic tools to care for your home and spending $500-1000 on tools is very reasonable when you are buying a home that costs $250,000-500,000 or more.
7) Learn how to care for your lawn and landscape. Simply spreading a bag or two of weed and feed granules at the beginning of the spring season might be all you need to do to have an amazing lawn and this will save you money on lawn care services. Propagating and transplanting flowers and other items can save you thousands on materials. Sealing your driveway won’t just make it look good the main reason to do it is so that it won’t break down and require major repairs due to cracking.
8) Develop an Emergency Plan for storms and other major events. If you had to evacuate where would you go? What primary things do you need to take with you. Can you live out a storm and if so should you buy things like a camping stove for cooking, propane or kerosene heater and a Generator? Depending on where you live you might have to respond to Hurricanes, Wild Fires, Tornadoes or other major events. Understand what you should do in your area and don’t be shy about making a call to your local fire department for help planning.
9) Learn how to be a good neighbor. If you have neighbors that are sick or have small children then don’t blast loud music. One way to understand that is to turn your music or tv on to a loud setting and walk to the edge of your property. If you can still hear it then turn it down and then realize you shouldn’t be making it louder than that. Same goes for Construction Noise. Find a reasonable time to quit working. Your timeline may not be your neighbors. They could work nights and need to sleep during the day. Account for these things and be reasonable about them. Be a good neighbor. If you see your neighbor needs a hand with something then offer to help you might learn something or make a friend.
10) Number Ten is everything we haven’t gone over here. As you can see reading this how to many of the things you already understood. Maybe you picked up on one or two new things and maybe a couple of them are things you never got around to doing. Well this is the time to do them. Sort your life out. Take control of your home and property and stay ahead of it. If things happen where you get sick or older and can’t do everything you use to be able to do then you know ways to get some backup help, contractors or neighbors you can rely on in a tough situation. Most of all if you ever hear any of your neighbors complain about a situation they went through then you take it to heart and prepare for the same thing to happen to you. Plan for it and although it might not prevent the situation it might give you a buffer to get through it easier.
Final Note
This is not a be all end all how to about living in your home but it is a starting place. Many people move into homes from other living situations. Maybe they grew up on the 47th floor of a high rise in New York City or maybe they grew up on a farm in Iowa and now they are living in a small home in San Diego. Whatever your situation is you need to do some basic planning and you need to consider the things in your neighborhood that make your location unique. And remember that helping your neighbors and getting involved when they have big projects will help you understand what you need to do when that project becomes yours.