There are so many reasons to choose new-build construction for your home. You get to pick your ideal floor plan, choose fixtures, countertops, flooring, and more to your personal taste, know that everything is up to code, and be the very first to fill the space with memories.
Even with all the numerous benefits that come with owning a new-build home, there are still responsibilities too. One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that because a house is a new construction it won’t require any immediate upkeep. While new homes certainly won’t require the same amount of care as older ones, there are still things that should be done to ensure your home remains a clean, safe, and efficient place to live.
We’re breaking down everything you need to know about properly caring for your new construction home, including some often overlooked aspects. Plus, get the inside scoop of what you should do before you move into your brand new home.
Older homes can have plenty of charm and character but with that comes potential trouble, think creaky floorboards, faulty electrical wiring, and dated appliances to start. There is also the added cost of trying to turn an older house into your dream home.
Having a newly constructed home that’s turn-key comes with tons of perks. Some of those include upgraded energy-efficient appliances, open floor plans, smart features, and custom finishes designed to your particular needs and taste.
Moving into a brand new Revere Homes custom-designed house, for example, means everything from the wall color to the kitchen backsplash is completed upon your arrival. You get to spend more time unpacking and enjoy your new home rather than having to immediately start worrying about the time and cost it will take to make your house a home.
While choosing a new-build home comes with incredible benefits, some people make the incorrect assumption that this translates to little or no maintenance. Just because you are living in a brand new home, however, doesn’t mean there isn’t any upkeep. While Revere Homes handles landscaping and snow removal for our residents, there are still several things to remember as a new-build homeowner.
We want to ensure you get to enjoy your new home for years to come and that means understanding what responsibilities go into caring for your new construction home. Let’s dive into the top 5 things to keep in mind.
Revere Homes want to keep your moving process as easy as possible. We’ll walk you through the construction and design process as well as all the exciting features of your new home. At some point, however, you’ll need to understand how everything functions on your own.
Every brand new appliance, heating and cooling system, water heater, and more will have an owner’s manual from the manufacturer. These will inform you how they work, how they should be maintained, and how often you’ll need to look after them.
While not the most exciting part about moving into your new home, ensuring things like your dishwasher and air conditioner are functioning properly is paramount to a comfortable home. Make sure at least one member of the household takes the time to read through this literature so you know how to properly keep each part of your house in working order.
In addition to appliances and systems, we recommend you also learn how to properly care for and clean your countertops, tiles, carpet, flooring, windows, and more. This way your home will maintain its sparkling new appearance for years to come.
This might take you back to the days when you earned your allowance by doing whatever household chores your parents demanded. Unfortunately, you likely won’t be getting money for doing routine upkeep on your home. That doesn’t make household maintenance any less important.
Some chores, like cleaning, are necessary of course, but there are certain chores that are integral to the safety and efficiency of your new home. This includes cleaning air vents, removing debris from gutters (as this helps maintain the integrity of your roof and foundation), changing the batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, and cleaning drains to ensure plumbing doesn’t get backed up.
It’s also important to keep an eye on plumbing and attend to any issues quickly before they begin to snowball. In addition to visually inspecting the plumbing, you might also want to have your septic tank cleaned and flushed regularly, watch for leaks, and drain any sediment from your hot water heater.
Another way to prevent any long-term plumbing damage is to re-caulk the edges of your bathtub or shower every year. Similarly, to enhance your home’s energy efficiency you can add some caulking around windows and doors.
Another thing to keep in mind? You should be changing the air filters and furnace filters monthly to ensure maximum airflow.
While Utah might get some cold, snowy winters, we also get plenty of heat. Those hot summer days will do much more damage to your home than winter ever could. Too much humidity in your new home has a serious impact on how your surfaces, flooring, appliances, and systems function. For example, high humidity levels lead to damaged walls, paint, and wood floors. Similarly, high humidity levels can also lead to mold growth.
So what are some of the things that contribute to higher humidity levels? Not running your air conditioner during the summer months is one of the number one causes. However, running the washing machine without proper ventilation can also lead to this.
We recommend purchasing a humidity gauge for your new home to keep an eye on its levels. Ideally, you want to maintain a humidity level of 60 percent or lower.
Whether you’ve worked with a real estate agent or a construction company directly, your brand new home will typically come with a warranty. This will usually cover any issues that occur within a year of owning your home.
Of course, as we’ve discussed, the responsibility of maintaining a new home falls to the owner. You should ensure you’re caring for it properly to ensure it’s safety, efficiency, and aesthetic. Most home warranties only cover HVAC, electrical and plumbing, and windows. Materials and building that were a part of initial construction.
It’s important to study this warranty so you know exactly what is covered and what is your responsibility. Here’s a helpful link through The Federal Trade Commission which provides excellent resources for homeowners of newly built homes.
Before you even get the keys to your house, you should complete a detailed walkthrough of your new home. This should be done through the builder or construction company and they should take you through all the workings of the house. This should include a high-level overview of proper care and maintenance practices, where everything is located, plus, it gives you an opportunity to visually inspect all surfaces for scratches or other issues.
You’re likely so excited to get into your new home that during this walkthrough you might spend more time imagining decorating than listening. It’s super important, however, that during this walk-through you pay attention. This is when you’ll learn where air filters are, circuit breakers, water shutoff valves, and other places of note in case of future problems that aren’t covered by warranty or in case of emergency.
As you walk through the interior of your new home be sure to carefully inspect any aesthetic issues like chipped paint, dented cabinetry scratched floors, or cracked tiles. Ensure all doors and windows work properly and have no gaps. It’s also important to remember what was agreed upon and bring a copy of your requests. For example, if you requested specific paint colors or countertops make sure they are all exactly what you wanted (and paid for). Make sure everything looks and feels level and all appliances are working properly.
Your final walkthrough can be a bit overwhelming so remember to take it slow. Bring a notepad to keep track of things or to write down questions you want to ask. Go one room at a time and approach methodically, assessing everything from top to bottom.
Living in a Revere Home means never having to compromise on any detail that you’ve been dreaming about. Imagine a pristine home, never before dwelt in where you create all the memories, all the pencil marks on the walls, all the laughter, and life that fills the rooms is yours alone. We pride ourselves on being experienced, creative, detail-driven home builders that listen and care about the people we’re building a new home for. We take all of that luxury, detail, and personalization, all that imagined perfection of a new home, and we make it your reality. Ready to make your dream home a reality? Contact us today to get started.
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