Things you Need To Do and Know as a "New" Home Owner

• Change the Locks and get New Keys made up
• If the home is set up with an Alarm System be sure to know your security codes and reset the codes once you have moved in
• Install Outside Motion Detection Lighting
• Cut back shrubs that hide windows and doors
• Install Timers on Interior/Exterior Lights to turn them on/off when you are not at home
• Check the Batteries for Smoke, Heat, and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Install Fire Extinguishers in the kitchen and the garage and know how to use them
• Talk over an "Emergency Exit" Plan with all family members living in the new home, familiarize yourselves with exits (doors and windows) and agree on a meeting place outside the home once you have vacated
• Purchase a First-aid Kit and place it in a convenient location
• Write up a list of Emergency Phone Numbers and post it in a handy location
• Open a Safe Deposit Box or purchase a Fireproof Safe to store important documents
• Take Pictures or a Video of the interior of your home with all your belongings in place and store in safe deposit box
• Check to be sure the Heating System (thermostats) is working properly and there is enough Fuel (know where the emergency shut off switch is located)
• Check Light Switches and Electrical Outlets to be sure they are on and working properly – have extra light bulbs on hand (have flash lights and candles on hand should you lose power) – Know Where Your Electrical Panel & Breakers are located
• Check Appliances to be sure they are plugged in and turned on (refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, washer, dryer, dishwasher, air conditioners, hot water tank
• Know where the water shut off valves are located throughout the home (sinks, toilets, washing machine, dish washer, and main valve for whole house)
• Notify the Post Office of Change of Address & Forward Mail from Old Address
• Notify Utilities: Gas, Propane, Oil, Water, Sewer, Fuel, Telephone, Electric, Meters, Wood, for Deliveries and "Change" of Address / Billing Accounts
• Notify Family, Friends, and Business Contacts of Change of Address and New Telephone Number
• Be sure to have Home and Car Insurance updated and transferred to new address
• When going away on vacation or a business trip, have your neighbor pick up your mail or have the post office hold it until you return
• If you have Pets know your local Town/City Laws on registering and leash laws
• If you have a Swimming Pool (Above or In Ground) be sure it’s fenced in and gates are locked (check with your local Town/City Laws on owning a pool)
• Before using a fireplace be sure vents, flues, and chimneys are working properly

• Yard
• Keep paths to oil, gas, and electricity providers clear for passage
• Mark by staking driveways, paths, and landscaping for winter snow removal
• Maintain proper drainage away from the house around the foundation, walkways, and driveways
• Keep foundation shrubbery cut back so that branches are at least two feet from the house and keep tree branches at least ten feet away
• Don’t dig up ground area until you know where all underground utilities, wires and cables are located
• Be sure playground equipment is installed properly and safely
• Check sprinkler system
• If on Private Septic know where your tank and leach field is located
• If on Private Water know where your well is located and have tested yearly

• Roof
• Keep Roof clear of organic matter like leaves and moss and cut off or trim branches that overhang the roof & gutters
• Clean out the Gutters in spring and fall, and more often if needed
• Run downspouts (leaders) to the ground onto splash blocks slanting away from the foundation
• Never paint the shingles – the paint and the granules will come off
• Never nail in valleys or in places where nails will be exposed between shingles
• If you don’t have Gutters, consider installing them in critical locations such as over entry stoops, decks and garage doors
• Check antenna supports for sturdiness
• Check flashings around roof stacks, vents, skylights, chimneys for source of leakage areas
• Check vents, louvers and chimneys for birds nests, squirrels, insects
• Have Roof Condition evaluated regularly by a qualified professional

• Exterior of the House
• Examine the walls from top to bottom, and from one side to the other – pay attention to the southern and southwestern walls because they are the ones that are much more exposed to the sun and temperature variations – north facing walls may be more susceptible to mildew
• Check siding, shingles and trim for damage, looseness, warping and decay especially where wood comes in direct contact with soil
• Wash the entire Exterior at least once each year; more often if you live in a dusty or urban area
• Stain Decks and Porches annually
• Paint or stain Siding and Trim before it needs it
• Paint Window Trim and Bulkheads – varnish Wood Thresholds

Keep rain gutters and downspouts cleaned out and leak free – check for peeling paint, rotting wood, and cracks in masonry where water may be backing up

• Interior of the House
• Check the operation of all windows and doors, clean and lubricate as needed
• Check caulking for decay around doors, windows, corner boards, and joints
• Check weather stripping
• Check bathroom tile joints, tub grouting and caulking
• To prevent freezing of pipes keep garage doors closed in winter / exposed water lines and drains should be wrapped with insulation
• Close crawl vents in winter and open in summer
• Keep attic louvers and vents open all year round – check louver screening
• Make sure that items stored in the attic aren’t blocking air circulation
• Make sure that items stored in the basement aren’t blocking heating and cooling systems
• Use a flashlight to check basement walls and floors for seepage and to inspect visible pipes under sinks and in the basement for leaks
• Take immediate action at first sign of evidence of ants/rodents/termites
• Store bird seed/animal food in metal containers

• Utilities – Heating & Cooling
• Have heating and cooling systems inspected and serviced annually or as recommended by the manufacturer / clean furnace filters, air conditioning filters, electronic filters, and humidifiers as needed
• Have well water tested every year, and maintain any water filters or softeners as the manufacturer instructs
• Chimney safety – have the chimney inspected and serviced annually for signs of damage; rusted damper assemblies, deteriorated metal or masonry firebox assemblies, rotting adjacent wood and wall coverings, water stained walls and ceilings, clogged clean out area, stained chimney exterior, decayed exterior mortar, cracked flue lining, collapsed hearth support, tilted or collapsed chimney structure, chimney settlement
• Wood burning stoves – take caution to prevent chimney fires by using seasoned and hard woods, build smaller, hotter fires that burn completely and produce less smoke, never burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, trash, or Christmas trees, install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures, inspect and clean catalytic combustors on a regular basis
• Remember – Smoke, Heat, and Gas Detectors in your home save lives

• Electrical

• Learn location of electric meter box
• Learn location of electrical panel box (main service panel) for breakers or fuses
• Be sure your electrical system is grounded
• Try circuit breakers every six months and ground circuit fault interrupters monthly
• Mark and label each circuit
• Check condition of lamp cords, extension cords and plus – replace at first sign of wear & damage
• Check exposed wiring and cables for wear or damage
• If fuses blow or breakers trip frequently, have a licensed electrician determine cause
• Always disconnect a circuit before making repairs

• Plumbing
• Check faucets, hose bibs and valves for leakage
• Drain exterior water lines, hose bibs, sprinklers, pool equipment in the fall
• Check for leaks at sink and house traps and sewer cleanouts
• Fixtures should be firmly attached to the wall or floor, especially hung sinks and toilets
• Make sure caulk and putty seals are in good condition
• Draw off sediment in water heaters monthly or per manufacturer’s instructions
• Inspect your water heater for signs of rust or other forms of surface damage
• Have septic tank cleaned every 2 years
• Protect your septic system – don’t flush foreign objects or put grease down the drains, and avoid using chlorine bleach in the laundry – pump your septic tank bi-annually
• Never pour paint or chemicals down drains
• Try to keep fat, greases and coffee grounds out of drains and dishwashers
• Flush garbage disposal with one pot of hot water and a half cup of baking soda each month