It's hard to match the euphoria that accompanies the purchase of a new home. That euphoria can quickly be replaced with disappointment, though, if certain items around your home begin to suck up all of your available cash. That's why it's important to take action right after you move in so that you can take care of these money suckers once and for all.
Poor Insulation
A lack of insulation in your home's attic is easy to overlook during the homebuying process. After all, many attics can be difficult to access, and a lack of insulation isn't something that would cause immediate concern for a home inspector. If you don't have enough insulation in your attic, though, you could experience mounting utility bills as your home loses valuable conditioned air. Therefore, after you move in, have your home inspected by a qualified insulation installer to see if any changes need to be made.
Old HVAC System
You can tell a lot about someone by the way they maintain their HVAC system. Unfortunately, you may move into your new home to find that the previous owners didn't put much stock in proper HVAC maintenance. Typically, this means that your HVAC system will operate inefficiently, causing high utility bills and potentially expensive repairs. That's why AC repair and maintenance is one of the first things you'll want to address after you move in so that any lingering problems don't have a chance to cause major disruptions.
Toilet
If the previous homeowner wasn't living in the home when you took a tour, it's likely that the water to the toilet was turned off. Unfortunately, with the water off, it's easy to hide problems, such as toilet leaks, that can lead to major water bills down the road. Not long after moving in, it's a good idea to run a dye test on your toilet. By putting ten drops of food dye into the supply tank and leaving it overnight, you'll be able to spot any leaks that need to be repaired.
Light Bulbs
Although LED light bulbs are more affordable than ever, there is a good chance that you'll come across at least some incandescent light bulbs when you move into your new home. To help lower your electric bill, it's important to replace these light bulbs as soon as possible. Make sure that you check each fixture for wattage limits so that you don't accidentally cause the fixture to overheat.
With so many different items to look into after you move in, it's wise to create some type of checklist. This ensures that you can take care of essential items as you find time instead of trying to do everything at once. Then, when your checklist is complete, you can be sure that your home is operating as efficiently as possible.
Author Bio:
Meghan Belnap / Blogger, Researcher and Freelance Writer
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
