There’s no excitement quite like the adventure of your first home purchase. Signing on the dotted lines brings a whole new spectrum of challenges, but it also gives you a great chance to put your stamp on the new place. Here are some great steps to make your home your own.
First, you want to familiarize yourself with your house. The home inspector who checks out your home during the buying process can help by pointing out crucial components. You always want to know where the main water and gas valves are located, so you can shut either down in the event of an emergency. Learn the location of your air filter and change it in accordance with your manufacturer’s instructions.
Next up, consider performing an energy audit. This service costs $425 on average, but more than pays for itself in the long run with increased efficiency and lower energy bills. An energy audit will identify areas of energy loss, poor insulation and opportunities to reduce water, gas and electrical usage.
Go over your homeowner’s insurance with an insurance agent. A lot of things can change when you switch homes. The more information you can give your agent, the better coverage they can give you. And the more you learn from your agent, the more you’ll understand the protection that insurance offers. Don’t skimp on the planning portion now. You’ll thank yourself later if you need to rely on that coverage.
