Buying Your First Home? Learn These 5 Essential Home Maintenance Skills as Soon as Possible

New homes can be scary. But when you take the time to think about it, and plan ahead, maintaining a home is easier than you think a manageable mix of experience and common sense. Here are five skills that will help maintain your new home for years to come.

Fixing A Toilet

It’s not as daunting as it sounds. Just remember that toilets work with gravity the water wants to flow freely. Don’t be afraid to open that tank up and adjust the floater and valves as needed. Occasionally run the water (flush the toilet, turn on the sink) in unused rooms, like the guest bathroom, to keep the pipes clear and functioning.

Dealing With Animals

Sometimes your animal neighbors invite themselves in. While it’s always better to use professionals if you have a large-scale or persistent pest problem, there are steps you can take to minimize animal visitors before it comes to that. Check for termites by looking for raised, hollow tubes along the wood (tubes filled with bugs). If you have mice, and know how they’re getting in, block their holes with steel wool and set friendly traps ones that capture instead of kill. But make sure to release the captives far from your home.

Electricity and Water Awareness

Know how to shut off your electricity and water, just in case. Find the shut-offs when you first move in. And take the time then to test the breakers and label them, clearly, directly, with permanent marker. That way there is no confusion if one gets tripped.

A Regular Deep Clean

On a regular basis, give your house a deep clean. Scrub the bathrooms, clean the kitchen appliances and floors/walls. Doing this will not only prevent the accumulation of dirt and grime, which could lead to bigger problems later on, but will also give you a chance to do a run-down of your house and see what needs fixing/updating/replacing.

Be Prepared

Gather your home maintenance kit (Home Maintenance for Dummies has examples) before you need it, and keep it up if you use all the nails, replace them. It’s also a good idea to make a maintenance calendar with notes on what needs to be done when this makes it easy for the homeowner, and anyone they need to step in. Finally, in being prepared, don’t forget to maintain your fire and carbon monoxide detectors with regular checks and battery changes (suggested every six months, regardless of battery life).

Your first step in preparation is to contact me to find you the perfect home – J.P. Cook – 602-320-4253.

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22601 W Mohawk Lane Surprise, AZ 85387

$461,410

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,284 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6693500

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

Introducing the latest addition to Surprise, is Frontera in Mesquite Mountain Ranch. Available now is this new detached single-level home, situated on a corner next to a park, this charming one-story residence features four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a two-car garage. Boasting front yard landscaping, granite countertops, a generously sized kitchen island with a single bowl sink, tile flooring, stainless steel appliances, and a gas range, this home is designed for modern living. It also comes equipped with a smart home package, a gas tankless hot water heater, and Deako smart light switches for added convenience. Residents of Frontera, will have access to an array of community amenities, including hiking and biking trails, pickleball and basketball courts and play areas.

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1266 W Sparrow Drive Queen Creek, AZ 85140

$461,173

3 Beds

2.5 Baths

1,967 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6681587

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

North Creek Community will have you feel like your on vacation all year long. Community amenities include a resort style pool, 2 pickle ball courts, full court basketball, bocce ball, corn hole, fire pits, grilling area, tot lot, walking trails and so much more!! This 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home is great to entertain family and friends. Updgrade features include upgraded white knight granite, gas range, Matt black fixtures, upgraded flooring. Hurry this home is beautiful.

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19625 W Cambridge Avenue Buckeye, AZ 85396

$460,995

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,070 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6676007

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

Explore this exciting Slate home, ready for quick move-in! Included features: a covered entry; an inviting kitchen boasting 42'' upper cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances and a center island; a relaxing great room and adjacent nook; an inspired primary suite showcasing a large walk-in closet and a private bath with double sinks; two secondary bedrooms with a shared bath; a central laundry; a fourth bedroom with an attached bath; a charming covered patio and a 2-car garage. This home also offers 7'' x 22'' stone tile flooring, cultured marble bath countertops, additional windows and ceiling fan prewiring in select rooms, coach lights, front yard landscaping and concrete pavers at the driveway and walkway.

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41108 W Haley Drive Maricopa, AZ 85138

$460,990

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,142 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6632233

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

READY FOR MOVE-IN... This home has 4 bedrooms with a flex space to be used as den or a formal space. We added a shower in the powder room for a total of 3 full baths. Large walk in shower at owner's bath with dual vanity sinks. Stainless steel gas range. Benton ''White'' Birch cabinets throughout the home with 42'' kitchen uppers and roll outs at pantry. AZT Della Terra Quartz countertops in the owner's bath and at the kitchen and on the enhanced kitchen island. Tile backsplash in the kitchen has Colorwheel 4x16 tile. Upgrade flooring includes level 9 carpet in bedrooms/closets and the remaining of the home has DT Cannes Masso 18x18 tile in the great room, kitchen, entry, halls, bathrooms and laundry and so much more.

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