For a first-time homeowner, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by all the quirks your house has to offer and be unsure about what to expect in each of the seasons. In these first few years, you might be in for a few surprises, but with some careful attention, you can prepare your budget and your time for years to come.
Winter Is Coming
Living in a colder climate, you may be expecting to shovel your sidewalk from time to time after a blizzard. But there are other things to be aware of, including the snow load on roof, the windows allowing cold air to seep inside, and learning which materials won’t pock your sidewalk while giving the postman’s shoes something to grip.
April Showers Bring May Flowers
Preparing for spring may mean discovering places where your basement floods or your lawn grow thistles. You may find yourself deciding between push mowers and lawn services, learning how to aerate your yard and how to maintain the underbrush. This is a good time to check the attic as well and prevent unwanted houseguests.
Summer Loving
Oppressive humidity may make you want to stay inside, but it is important to keep up on regular maintenance during this season. Touching up paint on your fence and window sills, power washing the driveway, cleaning out the gutters, and checking on your smoke detectors and drains are all useful summer projects.
Keeping on top of maintenance season by season allows you to be aware of the special attention your new house needs. Whether this is your forever home or a starter house, being aware of the necessary evils of home ownership and addressing problems as they arise before they become too big to handle will allow this place to be a much more peaceful one.