Do You Know Your Home? Part Two

Five more ways to help you settle in after moving

If you missed Part One of getting to know your home, read it first to get to know your property!

There are many things that you’ll learn about your home the longer that you live in it. In Part Two of Know Your Home, we’ll focus on a select number of items that you should know, sooner rather than later.

Here are five more areas to investigate, with easy courses of action to take that will protect your investment:

  1. Dryer
  2. Shower head(s)
  3. Eavestroughs
  4. Manuals
  5. Numbers and Places to Know

Dryer

Even if your home came with a brand-new dryer, you’ll want to clean your vent ductwork. It should be done every year to prevent build-up, so it’s smart to investigate how easy it is to access the hose behind the dryer. Can the hose be pulled out for vacuuming and cleaning? Or does the dryer need to be moved?

If you’re moving into a home with an existing dryer, remove the hose, brush and then vacuum it to dislodge and remove any lint build-up. Since you don’t know how diligent the previous owners were with cleaning the lint catcher (it should be emptied after every load), you’ll want to start fresh. Taking care of your dryer will not only reduce the chance of a fire but also improve efficiency.

Shower head(s)

As with the dryer, you don’t know how often the shower heads were cleaned by the previous owner. We suggest getting a new, efficient shower head and cleaning it every year. If you like the existing shower heads, simply detach them, check the washers, and give them a good cleaning (a vinegar and water soak is a good way to remove deposits).

Eavestroughs

The eavestroughs and downspouts may not have been inspected prior to purchasing your new home. If there aren’t any existing guards, you’ll definitely want to (safely and cautiously) get up on the roof and clean them out, or have a professional gutter cleaner take care of them for you. Protect your roof and prevent leaks by keeping your gutters free and clear of debris.

Manuals

If the previous owners were organized and diligent, you’ll find the manuals for all of the major appliances in your home. If you can’t find any or all of them, it’s worth an ask of the former owner, if appropriate. If not, go online and find the makes and models of your appliances and download the manuals. They’ll come in handy if you run into problems later on.

Numbers and Places to Know

To close out Part Two, we have a list of important neighbourhood and municipal numbers that you need to know:

  • Your Neighbour(s) – Reach out to a few neighbours and make friends. Get their contact information because it’s inevitable that you will need them in a pinch. Whether it’s in case of an emergency, to handle your mail, or to borrow a tool or a lawnmower because yours is broken, having a reliable neighbour is priceless!
  • Waste/Recycling Pickup – Contact the city for a copy of your waste pick-up schedule, or sign up for notifications so you know when your waste is picked up.
  • Non-Emergency Numbers/Utility Numbers – Besides 911, find out the other area numbers that you may need to know for police, city services, hydro, gas, internet, water, and other information.
  • Hospital/Emergency Clinic/Vet Clinic(s) – Not only learn these important phone numbers but know where the locations are. How long will it take to reach them should something happen to your family, furry or human?

Thinking of moving to the next stage? Let’s chat. Send me an email (hillary@hillarylane.ca) or text/phone (416-882-4707)

Photo by Vinicius “amnx” Amano on Unsplash