If you've just bought a new home for the first time in the Lowcountry, or are planning to buy one soon, there are a few things you should do as soon as you move in. Being a new homeowner is an exciting time, but you want to make sure to follow these next few tips as soon as you move.

Inspect Your Foundation 

There are many reasons that a foundation can become damaged. existing cracks can become larger, causing more serious issues down the road. Make sure that the ground around the base of your home slopes away from the foundation to prevent water from collecting around it.

If you find any cracks at all, you should repair them as soon as you can.

You might not think this is necessary if an inspector already checked your foundation. But something could have been missed, so it's still a good idea to check it thoroughly yourself.

Create A Homeowner's Journal 

Putting together a homeowner's journal is a great way to make sure all repairs and other expenses are documented. You can simply use a binder to bring all those receipts and paperwork together. That way you won't have to go digging for them later.

Get A Home Warranty

When you buy a home in Beaufort for the first time, you'll soon discover that you're the one who has to replace or repair things in your home that break. A home warranty can cover a wide range of items in your home, such as plumbing issues, garbage disposal, duct-work, central vacuums, appliances, and much more. 

A home warranty gives you peace of mind, knowing that if something major breaks, then the cost of repairing or replacing it will be covered. Make sure to shop around for a warranty that's right for your home.

Change Your Locks & Add More Protection

Changing the locks on your new home is important, as you have no idea who was given keys to your home by the previous owner. Hire a locksmith if you don't know how to change the locks.

You should also add an alarm system of some kind. You can just start with a video doorbell, and work up to something more elaborate if you can.

Locate Your Main Water Shutoff 

The fifth and last tip is to locate your main water shutoff. Knowing where this is will come in handy during the event of an emergency. These emergencies include a leaky faucet, a busted water pump or a leaky washing machine pipe or another type of plumbing pipe. Shutting off the main water supply will stop the water from continuing to run. 

After you locate the main water shutoff, turn it off and on a few times. This will help you react fast when the time comes. 

Buying a new home in the Beaufort and Hilton Head area is an exciting new part of your life. Make sure your new experience starts off successfully by following these basic tips.

Are you buying or selling a home in Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Port Royal, Lady's Island, Habersham, Coosaw Point, or Fripp Island? We can help with our full range of home buying and selling services and military relocation! You can use our convenient and powerful home search to find the home of your dreams in the Lowcountry! And check back on our blog every week for informative real estate and local Lowcountry information. Contact us today at 843-321-2158.