Buying your first home is a great achievement, perhaps the most significant yet. That said, a lot goes into being a homeowner, from maintenance to repairs to home improvements. Here are six things that’ll answer your question, what do you need for your first house?
1. Get a Roof Inspection
When considering what do you need for your first house, note that roof damage can be challenging to spot from the ground or even using binoculars. Professional roofers have the gear and equipment to climb on your roof and conduct an inspection securely. They also undergo rigorous training, allowing them to recognize signs of roofing deterioration that you may miss.
They’ll look for corroded, damaged, dented, and missing roof materials when on the roof. After concluding the inspection, they’ll provide a thorough report of the findings, noting any damage they discover, and respond to any questions you may have. When proper maintenance, including routine roof inspections to help detect small leaks and other forms of damage, most roofs can last 20 to 50 years.
Early detection of roofing damage generally allows for comparatively inexpensive repairs instead of replacing your home’s roof entirely. Minor leaks can quickly turn into major ones, and if you fail to address them for a long time, you may end up with rot on your roof’s decking, damage to the structural components, and the insulation in your attic space.
When you factor in all these possible expenses, getting an inspection and making repairs before they become extensive is considerably more cost-effective. If the roof has been up for a few years and is showing signs of aging, a professional roofer can help you determine how much life it has left and repairs that can extend its useful life. Knowing when you’ll need a replacement will allow you to prepare better and save for the associated costs.
Letting a local roofing contractor inspect your roof as part of your answer to the question what do you need for your first house is considerably safer than trying to do it yourself. These professionals know where to step and where not to, and they have the safety gear and expertise to walk across your roof without causing any damage. They’re also familiar with the signs of roof degradation, so they don’t unintentionally step on a weak area and fall through your roof.
2. Consider Sealcoating
The driveway significantly contributes to your home’s aesthetic appeal. It’s among the first things guests and potential buyers see when they visit your property. If you have an old, worn-out driveway, seal coating will transform it into a smooth, fresh-looking surface.
UV rays age and destroy your driveway like they do the skin. The sun’s rays trigger oxidation, causing driveway deterioration. When thinking of what do you need for your first house, note that driveway sealcoating works like sunscreen, preventing harmful UV rays from degrading your asphalt driveway.
Asphalt is expensive, and depending on the price of crude oil, the cost may go even higher. However, seal coating offers a cost-effective alternative to replacing asphalt. Sealcoating your driveway might save you hundreds of dollars if the damage isn’t extensive.
Besides being affordable, seal coating also helps to smoothen out your driveway surface, making cleaning and maintenance easier. You can sweep your seal-coated driveway using a broom. You can also wash it without worrying about water penetrating cracks and damaging your beautiful driveway.
Since practically all sealers contain fine aggregate (often Black Beauty boiler slag or silica), seal coating plugs the hairline fissures, an early symptom of asphalt degradation. By repairing these cracks, you’re lowering the possibility of water penetrating the asphalt pavement surface. The longer you keep water away from the surface, the longer your pavement will last.
Unlike concrete pavement, which is ‘rigid,’ asphalt pavement is referred to as a ‘flexible’ surface. Asphalt pavement essentially flexes (microscopically) under the weight of vehicles and trucks when they drive over it. As pavement ages, it becomes brittle and flexes less, and traffic can result in the development of cracks; but when you regularly call in a seal coating service, you can maintain its flexibility.
Oil, gas, and other substances can erode your driveway’s surface. Gasoline spills are especially harsh. Sealcoating creates a protective layer, making your driveway more resistant to contaminants such as gasoline.
3. Plumbing Inspection
Running water from your faucets, showers, or toilets is a sign of possible plumbing issues. When you become aware of these issues, it may be too late to remedy them effectively. Ensure your systems are functioning optimally by scheduling a plumbing inspection, don’t wait for something to go wrong.
Without the experience and expertise of professionals, detecting emerging issues in your plumbing system can be challenging. You may miss the small cracks in your pipes or slow dripping from your faucets, but a plumbing service as part of your answer to what you need for your first house will immediately notice them.
Regular plumbing inspections enable you to spot issues before they can negatively impact other plumbing system components. Your plumber will then promptly perform any necessary repairs. Hiring professionals also gives you access to high-tech equipment that allows for visual inspections of otherwise difficult-to-reach pipes, helping to find even the most pervasive issues with your plumbing systems.
In the long run, several unfixed plumbing issues will result in costly and extensive damages. For instance, a hidden water leak in your home may cause electrical problems, termite issues, pipe rust, mold growth inside the walls, mildew, etc. Sometimes, plumbing issues can be so serious that the damage spreads to the rest of the home.
Besides paying for the plumbing repairs, you may also have to buy new furniture, repair your floors, and renovate your walls. Unexpected repairs can be quite expensive, often making homeowners seek financial help. For this reason, you’ll be better off scheduling periodic plumbing inspections with your local plumber to ensure you effectively mitigate damage, which is another great answer to what do you need for your first house.
A faulty plumbing system also causes inefficient water use. You may be using more water in your showers, toilets, and sinks than necessary. You likely won’t realize it immediately, but your high utility bills will make this wasteful water use obvious.
An optimally functioning plumbing system is important for all households. Routine plumbing inspections will help keep your system working as it should. They’ll also save you money in the long run by reducing repair needs and ensuring efficient water use.
If your plumbing system includes a septic tank, you should also have professionals inspect it regularly. The last thing you want is your septic tank to go out, causing untreated sewage water to come to the surface or a backup in your plumbing system. That’s why most homeowners schedule septic tank inspections to know if they need septic tank pumping.
4. Inspect Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system may be operational, but it doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Most homeowners undervalue the importance of regularly maintaining and inspecting their systems to maximize performance and longevity. Nobody likes to deal with the inconvenience and expense of upgrading their heating and cooling system, but routine inspections will help to spot little issues before they grow into major, uncomfortable ones, keeping your system in optimal working order.
Emergency repairs are typically more expensive than routine repairs. Far too often, ac units malfunction on the weekends or after regular business hours. When this happens, technicians are called in from home to perform repairs, so they must receive compensation for the inconvenience.
It typically takes more time for repair technicians to respond during off-hours. During extreme weather conditions, this may leave you in an uncomfortable living situation until a technician performs repairs. That delay can result in serious medical issues for people with underlying conditions such as respiratory issues.
That’s why your commercial heating company will advise you to schedule routine inspections. Doing this will help you identify potential issues early and lower the likelihood of needing urgent repairs. Life in your home will be much easier when you don’t have to worry about your HVAC system breaking down.
Depending on the equipment used, the cost of replacing heating and cooling systems varies. However, they’re generally expensive. Therefore, it makes sense to try increasing your current unit’s lifespan.
With proper maintenance from an air conditioning company, your HVAC system will last longer and need fewer repairs. While you can do most maintenance tasks, it’s always best to let the professionals handle the job. HVAC technicians undergo rigorous training to learn about how different systems work and how to identify and address emerging problems before they cause a system failure.
Note that newer systems are more efficient than previous ones. So if you live in an older home, your technician may conclude you need an upgrade. While it may initially seem expensive, a new unit will allow your home to meet modern efficiency standards.
Besides regulating the temperature, your HVAC system also controls air circulation in the home. Stagnant air encourages the accumulation of dust and mold, resulting in unpleasant odors and overall discomfort. Regular inspections will help keep the air in your home moving.
5. Inspect Your Chimney
The hazardous gases created by a blazing fire are expelled via your chimney. Issues with the interior flue liner can cause combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, which harms both people and animals, to seep back into your living room. A professional inspection of your chimney, with the help of a camera, can help keep your family safe.
Another reason to schedule routine chimney inspections as part of your answer to what do you need for your first house is to help identify potential structural issues. If you don’t have a chimney liner or cap to guard against water damage, the brickwork in your chimney may deteriorate over time. As this happens, your chimney may begin to tilt or possibly collapse.
If you detect these issues in time, you can address them appropriately to prevent them from worsening. If you let them sit for too long, they can spread to other important components of your home, especially the roof. Regular inspections can save you time and money by preventing this extensive structural deterioration from getting out of hand and necessitating costly chimney repairs.
6. Waterproofing
Waterproofing your home offers several benefits. It helps prevent mold, mildew growth, and wood rot. It can also save you money on the repairs you need to perform.
Keeping mold and mildew at bay is especially important since they can lead to various health issues. In case of wood rot, you may need to replace entire sections, which is expensive. Luckily, you can avoid all this with waterproofing.
The foundation is a common victim of water damage. Issues with this structural element typically require some of the most expensive and extensive repair jobs, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. Waterproofing will keep your foundation dry, saving you a lot of money.
Waterproofing your home as part of your answer to what do you need for your first house will also make it more energy efficient. Since a waterproof home is more airtight, it retains heat better in the winter and maintains a cooler temperature in the summer. As you get settled in your new home, this can help you enjoy lower energy bills all year round.
Another notable benefit of this home improvement project is it’ll positively affect your home’s value. A well-maintained home in great shape is assigned a higher value than a neglected home. If you intend to sell, you can also list your home for a higher price.
Start in your basement if you store appliances such as a furnace, dryer, washer, and other valuable items there. Excessive moisture can cause significant damage, even putting them out of service and leaving you with no choice but to get a roll off dumpster rental. Undertaking this home improvement project will protect your belongings in case of flooding, so you don’t have to shell out more money on replacements.
Waterproofing is an investment that pays off in the short and long term. So, don’t postpone this project, do it as soon as possible to start enjoying the benefits. It’ll save you headaches and a lot of money down the road.
Nothing beats the feeling of finally owning your first home. Whether you intend to stay there and make it your family home, or it’s just the first in your real estate venture, you’ll likely be wondering what do you need for your first house. Use this read as your answer to the question what do you need for your first house.
