April 2022 – Market Statistics
Call or text today at 702-843-6733 to chat how you can take advantage of the historically low interest rates to get into this amazing market!!
Current Live Market Stats
March 2022 – Market Statistics
Call or text today at 702-843-6733 to chat how you can take advantage of the historically low interest rates to get into this amazing market!!
Current Market Stats
Saving for Emergencies
Now that you’ve got your dream home, the last thing you want is to be hit with an emergency that you’re not financially prepared to cover. Try to put away at least 1% of your paycheck, more if you can, so you’re not in trouble if problems do pop up.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or buying your second or third home, these are the steps you should take after buying a new home. If you’re looking for more guidance, check out HomeLight’s article on settling into your new home.
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Homeownership Documents
First and foremost, if you don’t have a fireproof file box, get one to store your important documentation in. Make sure you have copies of your mortgage documents and insurance documents stashed somewhere safe (like in the fireproof box).
Do you have a will? If you don’t, you probably should now that you have a large asset. If you do have a will or any other inheritance documents, be sure to have your lawyer rewrite it to include your new home.
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Meet your Neighbors
Go and say hello to your new neighbors! Neighbors can be an incredible resource for the goings-on in the neighborhood, and can also give recommendations for handymen, landscaping, and so on.
Does your neighborhood have a neighborhood watch? Are there neighborhood meetings you should be attending? Does the neighborhood have an annual block party or barbecue? NextDoor, a social network specifically for your neighborhood, is also a great way to stay informed about events, sharing safety tips, and even finding babysitters/house sitters. If you’re unsure about how to introduce yourself, a small party can be a great icebreaker for meeting your neighbors as well.
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Home Maintenance Plan
Your new house requires maintenance not included in everyday cleaning and tidying up. These duties include:
Dryer hose and vent: Your dryer can become a fire hazard if the vents and duct are not cleaned often enough. Make sure you check your dryer at least once a year to make sure everything is working properly — more often if there’s a problem.
HVAC filters and maintenance: HVAC filters are fairly easy to change, once you know where they are, and should be swapped out every one to three months. Some air conditioning and furnace systems have a washable filter that you can take out and rinse off, so make sure you check to see what you have when you move into your new home.
Refrigerator: Simple maintenance can significantly increase the life of your refrigerator. Empty your ice bins monthly. Every three months, clean the condenser coils and inspect the door gasket. Newer fridges have insulated coils, so cleaning won’t be necessary. Every six months, replace the water filter and clean the drain hole, if applicable.
Water heater: Once a year, drain your water heater and rinse out any sediment that has collected in it. If you have a tankless water heater and live in an area with hard water, think about having a pro come out once a year and descale it.
Gutters: Make sure to clean your gutters at least once a year — more frequently if you have trees on your property. Not cleaning your gutters can lead to serious damage to your home, including mold and even ruining the foundation.
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Home Safety
Water in your new house running too hot or too cold? Check the heat on your water heater and reset it if you aren’t comfortable with the temperature setting.
Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Carbon monoxide is called “the quiet killer” for a reason — it is odorless, colorless, and leaks are soundless, so there is no way to know if it’s in your house unless you have a working carbon monoxide detector. Replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors around your new home to make sure they’re in working order.
Place fire extinguishers in the house — there should be one in the kitchen and one on each floor of the house. And set up an emergency kit and place it somewhere you’ll remember, making sure to check it every six months for expired products. Emergency kits should include items like:
- A three day supply of non-perishable food (don’t forget pet food, too)
- One gallon of water per person per day, and more if you have pets
- A battery powered or hand-crank radio
- A first aid kit
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- A manual can opener
- Prescription and non-prescription medications
- Cash, preferably in small bills
- A change of clothing for each person
- Matches
- Fire extinguisher
- Feminine supplies
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Know your Home
In case of emergency, you definitely need to know where everything is in your new home!
First, the main water shut-off valve — sometimes this is in the garage. Sometimes it’s in the basement or crawl space. Make sure you know how to shut off your water in case a faucet breaks or a sink starts leaking.
Next, find the circuit box and make sure your fuses or switches are well-labeled. Nothing is more frustrating than blowing a fuse and having to check each one individually because nothing is labeled. And you might be surprised — sometimes fuses from different parts of the house are tied together on one switch, so do your homework early and don’t be left scratching your head during an outage.
Find the gas shut-off valve, if applicable. During a natural disaster, the first directive is often to shut off the gas, so it’s super important to know where the gas shutoff valve is. If at some point you smell gas in the house and need to shut it off, you don’t want to have to go searching for the valve while your house fills with gas.
If you have a sump pump, make sure to test it. Sump pumps are amazing if they’re used correctly, but if not, they can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage. They are located in the basement or crawl space of a home, and they ensure that if there is standing water in your home, it is pumped out into your storm sewer or a containment pond. The Roto Rooter website has some great step-by-step videos for checking your sump pump and maintaining it properly.
In the United States, more than 20% of homes rely on a septic system for treating wastewater. If you fall into this category, you’ll need to perform regular maintenance on your septic tank to make sure you don’t end up with a malfunction.
It’s a good idea to hire a professional to inspect your septic system, if you didn’t do so during closing of your loan. Septic tanks need to be pumped every three to five years, so make sure you have all the details on when maintenance was last performed on your system. There are different types of septic systems and several variables that can affect how they function, so hiring a professional in this case is probably your best bet.
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Security
Make sure that before you move into your new home, you change all the locks, garage codes, and security codes. You don’t want the previous homeowners (or their friends) to have access to your house because you forgot this important step.
If you are putting this off, check for hidden spare keys on the property in places like the tops of door frames and under rocks on the porch. (But your best bet is to change the locks ASAP.)
Have extra keys made so you can get in if you’re locked out! You don’t want to have to chance breaking one of your new screens or windows by crawling through when you’re stuck outside. You can get hide-a-key rocks and figurines online, so hide one in your yard or garden and ensure you’re never locked out.
Reset any security codes — garage, alarms, even locks sometimes have security codes, so make sure you change all of the codes before settling into your new digs.
Information provided by homelight.com. Click here to learn more.
Cleaning & Painting
AA lot of buyers aren’t organized enough to clean and paint before they move in, but it makes everything easier if you can swing it!
Try to get at least a thorough cleaning done before you move all your stuff in, and if you can, get all your painting done. It’s much easier to paint an empty room than a room packed with furniture.
Your new home might not have any window treatments; if not, they should be at the top of your list of things to purchase (you don’t want to give your new neighbors a bad first impression, after all).
Check to see if the house has horizontal and vertical blinds, and make sure you like the style. If not, make a list of all the windows that need treatments and the measurements of those windows so you have it handy at the hardware store or when you’re ordering online.
