Common Maintenance Items that are Forgotten by New Home Buyers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - July 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Buying a new home can be exciting and overwhelming.  Before closing, most buyers have done home inspections, including expert inspections and testing of pest control, radon, fireplace, and HVAC units.  Inspection specialists are great resources to ensure you are purchasing a house without major issues when it comes to making a good investment decision.  Smart buyers use these reports to negotiate repairs.

It’s so easy for new home owners to forget about common maintenance tips that can help them continue to protect their home for the long-term.  As a realtor, I have seen home owners who neglected to do the easy improvements after purchasing a new home, and years later find they now have costly items and repairs that could have easily been avoided.

Here are some common tips to help you continue to protect your home from costly repairs and damage:

* Keep your Home Inspection Report for periodic review after your purchase your home.  This report is not just for repairs done before purchase, but also can be used for maintenance.  Good home inspectors point out items to watch for in the future and make suggestions for improvements.  Use this report and schedule the suggestions on a calendar.  So many times this report is never looked at again after closing.
* Schedule pest control and termite treatments quarterly.  Get a service immediately. Even brand new construction homes can get damage from those little monsters called termites.  Termites feed on moisture, so just a small amount of water or humidity can be a perfect feeding ground.  If you have a service contract with a reputable pest control company and you find damage they are, in most cases, required to fix the issue for free.
* Change air filters monthly if it is new construction, quarterly for oder or used homes.  This improves air quality and energy efficiency.
* Seal cracks, as well as the entire driveway and sidewalk area, to prevent further damage and to keep cracks from expanding due to weather.
* Seal or paint decks within 6-8 months of move-in date of new construction and immediately with older homes.

" I did not even think about sealing my sidewalk and driveway.  We had an icy witner and within months I noticed cracks on my brand new sidwalk."  Sue K, new home buyer.

All these maintenance tips can protect your biggest investment and save you money on costly repairs in the future.


About Michele Sliwa: Music City’s Business Woman’s Realtor, Michele Sliwa combines success in the fashion & event planning with her experiences as a property manager to guide anyone through the perplexing maze of home building, selling, and buying. While working closely with builders and designers as her house was being built, it became apparent that Michele had an innate ability to understand complex processes and make smart decisions with ease; her builders and designers strongly suggested she become a realtor. Since then, Michele has perfected the art of real estate interpretation and communication and her clients value her ability to manage and clearly explain all of the moving pieces of the buying, selling, and remodeling process.  Michele successfully completed the  Masters Bu  siness Agent program and is a New Home Specialist.  Michele has the uncanny ability to spot trends in the market before many others do; this unique talent gives her and her clients a distinct edge. She is a self-professed foodie and amateur chef. Michele is passionate about art and music and volunteers for the Nashville Symphony and Nolensville Elementary School.