New Homeowner Tips

Getting started on a new house

Buying a home is a huge step. Learning to maintain and improve it is a long series of baby steps, sometimes painful and sometimes rewarding. To help get new homeowners off on the right foot, we asked our Field Editors, some of the sharpest DIY veterans around, to pass along their best tips for choosing, maintaining and improving a home.

Scout the neighborhood

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Ask questions

We went on three separate occasions (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) at different times of the day. We asked neighbors about the neighborhood, schools, etc. It gave us a real indication of what the neighbors and neighborhood were like. We bought the house and love the neighborhood—no regrets.

Jon Rump

Tackle one project at a time

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Do one project at a time

When we first bought our old house, I tore right into a porch and kitchen remodel and started on a fence. Before I knew it, I had the whole house AND yard torn up. Ultimately it all came together, but there was a lot of added stress with everything going on at once.

Kirk Pennings

Make a homeowner’s journal

Buy a ring binder and keep insurance papers, repair receipts and all other paperwork pertaining to the house in it. Storing all your house information in one handy place makes life easier for the homeowner and can be a sales “plus” when selling the house later.

Debora Emmert

Get to know your house before making big changes

Live in your home for 12 to 18 months before undertaking any major renovations such as additions or knocking down walls. What you initially think you want may change after you've lived there for a while.

Fran Carpentier

Check the furnace filter

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Look for clues

This can give you some insight into whether the previous owner took care of regular maintenance.

Michael Guarraia

Don’t be afraid to DIY

Ninety percent of a DIY project is having the guts to try. Worst case—you mess up and then bring in the professional. Best case—you save money, learn something new and feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Fran Skwira

Finish projects . . . now

Don't learn to live with incomplete projects. If you do, the last couple of pieces of trim can linger for years!

Jack Bauer

Budget for trouble

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The worst will happen sooner or later

We bought a house with an old furnace, and we knew it was going to go. Sure enough, the first winter did it in. But since we were prepared, it was just an expense, not a financial shock.

Pat Minick