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Owning a place to call your own, no matter if it’s not too stylish or on Greenland, is one of the most joyous feelings you can get out of something material.
It’s a place where you can start a family, begin concocting plans for world domination, run a completely legal personal business (NOT a meth lab!), and be protected from heavy rains and hailstorms!
Unless your roof is in tatters, that is.
You see, buying a new house is not just about the excitement of moving in – it’s also about being level-headed enough not to buy a massive, garage-lacking, possum-inhabited (and possibly thoroughly cursed) shack that you’ll have to invest triple the amount of money you paid for it in the first place – just to make it habitable!
In this article, we’re going to give you some tips on how not to buy a dilapidated pig in a poke and settle for a decent place instead.
1) Check the Roof
As we’ve already mentioned, one of the biggest culprits for the unhappiness of new homeowners would be the faulty roof. Indeed, observing the first autumn’s rain as it gently falls down the scattered leaves on the ground is quite a relaxing activity.
Having that same rain fall on your head, your TV, your cat, AND your momma is not so much fun, is it?
To prevent this disastrous turn of events, make sure to check the health of the roof of the property you’re interested in buying and take note of any problems that you notice!
2) Install Proper Ventilation in Your Rooms
When it comes to buying a new house, there are no guarantees that the place will have a decent ventilation system in place. You can check the place for any signs of ventilation only to find there is none in the entire house!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should not buy that house, but if you do – you’ll need to take into consideration the fact that you’ll need to install the ventilation yourself. Whether it’s some good ole fans or air conditioners is completely up to you.
Speaking of ventilation, it’s important to mention that installing reliable smoke extraction ductwork, particularly in your kitchen, as well as a fire system should be your No. 1 task before you move into your new home.
3) Insulate Exposed Water Pipes
Plumbing is also an important aspect of a potential new house that absolutely needs to be checked out. Old houses, in particular, can show signs of wear and tear when it comes to their pipes, so you’ll need to take matters into your hands if you find some ‘naked’ pipes in your new home.
The procedure is quite simple. You need to insulate them properly so that they are not exposed to excessive cold during the winter. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.
4) Hang a Clothesline
Hanging a clothesline in your backyard, or wherever you decide to put it, is similar to raising your banner after you’ve conquered a new territory – it shows that you’re now the boss of that land!
Whose knickers are going to fly and flaunt proudly in the wind? Yours!
What number will be on the Man U jersey that also flies on that clothesline? 15! (Let that Man City neighbor remember what Vidic did for your team!)
Other than this symbolic victory, having a ready clothesline also means you can start washing your laundry straight away – which will be useful if the settling in process drags on for days on end. (Of course, for this to work, you’d need a functioning washing machine set up, as well.)
5) Install Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs
The sooner you install them, the more money you’re going to save.
So, replacing the old lightbulbs should be one of the first things you should do after moving to your new home. This task isn’t all that arduous, especially in comparison to heave-hoing that 150-pound oak closet up to the stairs.
Plus, the light these energy-efficient lightbulbs give out is usually more pleasant to sit under than that screeching yellow stuff.
6) Plant Shade Trees
Another great pro move you should consider doing early on would be to plant shade-making trees in strategic spots in your backyard.
Since these will take years to grow, planting them early on is going to be a worthwhile investment after a while, so don’t be discouraged by the lack of quick results.
Thinking in advance with these trees can end up giving you not only plenty of shade for years to come but also some pears ‘n’ cherries, as well! (Depending on what you’ve planted, of course.)
In conclusion, equipping your house with crucial amenities does not only represent a need, but also a one-of-a-kind joy that you won’t experience all that often. Bottom line, as long as you’ve bought a decent house, to begin with, personalizing it shouldn’t be that much of a problem, either.
