Cross-posting from the OB!

What do you wish you had done that you didn't do after closing on your home? What advice/tips do you have that you wish someone had told you?

On my mind:
- Already taking care of the material issues that the inspection report uncovered. (Replacing fogged windows, some roof maintenance and fixing some wood rot on fascia)
- Spackling some cracks on the wall interior
- Repainting interior before moving all my **** in
- Steaming/deepcleaning carpeted rooms
- Installing water softener
- Bringing electrician out to see if they can install an outlet above fireplace for a TV mount
- Installing smart thermostat in home and carbon monoxide detector in garage
- Hiring a handyman to fix smaller issues from inspection report
- Termite prevention treatment (home has never had pest infestation issues)
- Buying a mower, weedwhacker, edger
- Buying broom, mop, vacuum cleaner (indoor and outdoor wet dry vac), ladder
- Any tips on dealing with stucco on exterior? Foundation is fine. A couple hairline cracks here and there that I've heard I should touch up with elastomer paint.

Until most of the above is done, thinking about only moving my bed into the house and keeping all my other ****/furniture I'm keeping in the garage.

Other Qs…

- Sprinkler system in yard. Best way to mow around the heads/ensure the blades are high enough?

- Also. I loathe wasps and dirt dobbers of all types. Any tips on preventing those jagoffs from making my home their home besides sweeping with Raid twice a month?

- No HOA fees but there are deed restrictions and an "architectural committee". How do I find out who I need to contact for approvals (ie roof updates). Does this usually come with title work? Part of me just wants to see how much I can do before getting a slap on the wrist and claiming plausible deniability

Thanks all, I'm about to be a naive new homeowner and don't know **** about home maintenance frankly.

Getting a head start with your advice is appreciated!

Sounds like you are on the right track, so kudos there and congrats on the purchase.

-Take pictures/video of every inch of your house before and after you move everything in
-If you are calling out a plumber/electrician for anything have a punch list - you are already paying for the service call so might as well get your $$$$ worth
- If you are in an area prone to power outages I highly recommend an electrician install a generator switch to your panel (not too expensive)

Install a sediment/particulate filter on the incoming water line at the same time you install a water softener. Make sure it has a loop and shut off valves to allow for easy filter changes and quick shut off if there is any kind of plumbing issue.

Ghost of Bisbee said:

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Until most of the above is done, thinking about only moving my bed into the house and keeping all my other ****/furniture I'm keeping in the garage.

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As somebody who has moved around a lot (actually finishing off a trans Atlantic move right now), you sound like you are looking for perfection before you move in. Doesn't exist with home ownership. Do the necessary cleaning like the carpet cleaning then move all your stuff in and start putting things where they belong. Clear you garage for cars too and figure out your storage. So many people do exactly what you are saying here, then never bother dealing with excess clutter in their garage and end up perma storing $5k worth of trash they have no use for and park their $50k vehicles outside.

Use your move to prioritize purging and organizing or you'll get wore down by doing the other stuff and never do it.

If you have/buy a freezer, make sure it has a power alarm in case the circuit ever trips.
Label all your breakers if they aren't already.
Have a pretty good idea of where power, water and other utilities come in from the street to your house.
Know where your water meter is and how to turn it off at the meter in case of a major leak.
Make sure you know how to clean the emergency drain pan plug on your AC. Wasp like to build nest in them from where they come out of the house and plug them up.
Clean your A/C condenser fins yearly.
Drain your water heater tanks every couple years.
If you need to plant trees or shrubs, do it the first year. They take a long time to fill areas and look like you want them to. If your house has no shade from trees on the side where the sun sets, plant a shade tree. It will eventually pay off in utility cost if it can provide shade to that side of the house in the summer.
Buy tools and watch Youtube. You'll save yourself a ton of money fixing things yourself.
If you buy a gas powered mower, make sure you use fuel treatment the last mowing of the fall.

Find the air compressor attachment to blow out AC drains instead of paying $250+/year to have it done. Replace AC now if it's aged ten years or more.

Glad we got out the engineering graph paper and planned all the tree planting. Plant trees now. Wish we discovered mulch earlier and should have gotten landscaping cues from existing homes. Deer proof plants is a cruel joke. If we had any furniture, do the floors first.

Buy kid friend furniture and upgrade after kids. You never know when kids might happen.

Save interior remodeling projects for appraisals to lower taxes.
Don't forget homestead, it's shocking how many first time homebuyers don't do this.

Go wireless audio, etc. Go zero maintenance on all things exterior now, or you will want to later.