Ok Now Be Scared..

Zunni · May 2005

<div class="IPBDescription">I just bought a house</div> and I realize that I have no clue what sort of things I need to do in terms of preparing myself to own/move into a home....

I have the financing sorted, but in terms of a "checklist" what sorts of things do I need to ensure we do..

I have a few things on my list

Buy fridge/stove (we have a washer/dryer already)
Get home insurance
Figure out moving expenses and details.

But what else do I need to do???

Nemesis_Zero · May 2005

I'm not quite certain this is the group you want to ask that, Zun <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' />

[WHO]Them · May 2005

Garden Gnomes to ward off the Vampire Bears.

Tonee · May 2005

-fridge (food)
-Beer fridge
-pc
-tv + other consoles
-coffee machine
-microwave

Monkfish · May 2005

A shed, then put a TV in it or something.

X_Stickman · May 2005

Make sure that you've got the right house address for the house you're moving to. Because when i was about 5 my parents bought a house and... we tried to move in to the wrong one.

Yeah.

ElvenThief · May 2005

Broadband connection asap

Spooge · May 2005

If you have any amount of property, you'll need tools. Lots of tools. Get on a fertalizing plan asap. The longer you neglect your grass, the longer it takes to bring it back.

Get to know your electrical system-assuming you're buying a previously owned home. Make sure all your outlets are grounded. If not, update any outlets used by your gear.

Have lots of expendable cash handy. You'll be spending more than you think just getting up to speed on the little things. They add up quick.

Get a bottle of PeptoBismol for your signing day. I swear I almost threw up 3-4 times.

Get to know your plumbing system. Find all the shut off valves before you need them.

Beware of <a href='http://www.vicomsoft.com/glossary/parkinsonslaw.html' target='_blank'>Parkinson's Law.</a>

Stay extra friendly with your neighbors. They'll keep a closer eye on your house when you aren't home.

Get to know any trees and their species on your property.

That's all for now.

Legionnaired · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (X Stickman @ May 4 2005, 12:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Make sure that you've got the right house address for the house you're moving to. Because when i was about 5 my parents bought a house and... we tried to move in to the wrong one.

Yeah.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
...

L-O-L, in the truest sense of the expression.

im_lost · May 2005

Make sure the smoke detectors work, change the batteries if needed.

Redford · May 2005

Post images of said house.

Zunni · May 2005

Will post pix later tonight hopefully...

I have most of the "things" mentioned.. the grass post (and all the other points contained within ) was exactly what I'm looking for. Things that you don't immediately think of, but need to be done..

My first improvement to the home will be running network cable and patch panelling it up, so that should allow me to become knowledgable about where the water is, and check the electrical service out..

napi · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Them)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Garden Gnomes to ward off the Vampire Bears. </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>

Agreed

You also need a pond with little fish in it... so you can spear them with spikes in times of excess anger

MrRadicalEd · May 2005

Utilities man... gas( if avalable), cable... if dsl needs to be installed call as early as possible to schedule for one.

Find neighbours to mooch off of- I mean help out with things if needed..
Pack things up by room so when you unpack boxes and furniture are grouped in a per room basis.. makes for sorting easier.

Edit: I don't like to be surprised so I checked the draining situation all over the house. Gutters.. condition of the electrical/central air. Washer hookups and dryer vent.. condition of the garage door. That's all that comes to mind at the moment.

Spooge · May 2005

If you have a fire place, get it swept before you use it. Only exception is if you're sure it's been cleaned recently.

Depot · May 2005

Not in any particular order of importance:<ul><li>Check your attic insulation: enusre it's appropriate for your region. Not only will this keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, it will save you money on your utility bill.</li><li>Hopefully you have a Home Depot nearby. Travel there (on a non-weekend day) and befriend several associates in the departments you will frequent, such as hardware, building materials, and outside garden. Try to select seasoned associates who know what they're talking about. If going there to replace a broken part ALWAYS take the old one with you, or at the very least be able to accurately describe it. Go to their How-To Clinics: they're a wealth of information.</li><li>Shop for homeowners insurance - it's worth the effort.</li><li>Don't scrimp on home tools, whether it's a pair of pliers or a lawnmower - you get what you pay for. I have a Honda lawnmower that's 11 years old and runs like a top.</li><li>Pest control: hire a professional, ESPECIALLY if you have children.</li><li>Neighbors: make friends with them, they can be your best friends or your worst enemies.</li><li>Learn to do-it-yourself.</li></ul>

Spetsnaz · May 2005

-Bed
-Beer
-TV
-DVD
-Fridge
-pron
-woman/wench

X_Stickman · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spetsnaz @ May 4 2005, 06:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> -Bed
-Beer
-TV
-DVD
-Fridge
-pron
-woman/wench  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
I like how "pron" comes before "actual woman".

Spooge · May 2005

Figure out your trash/recycle/yard waste collection schedule. Also, find out if it's legal to burn brush on your property.

GrayDuck · May 2005

Depends on the condition of the house. Is it movein-able? Do you have a window where you can gradually move in (like is the lease up on your apt at the same time you close on your house?)

When we bought our home, we had about a month left on our apartment's lease. That transition time was really nice to have. As far as what NEEDS to be done is signing up for all your utilities (gas/electric/water/trash/phone/etc). And it's much easier to do house maintainence before you're moved in. Like we painted all the inside rooms, and re-carpeted before we moved. NOTE: I bought cheep carpet. It wears like cheep carpet. That is one of my greatest regrets.

Umm can't think of anything else. Congrats!

Petco · May 2005

Robot ninja gorge to guard your house.

arctica · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Petco @ May 4 2005, 03:35 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Robot ninja gorge you guard your house.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
aka home security. Brinks or ADT. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />

On the issue of trees; If there's one quite nearby (like, on your lawn), make sure its roots aren't making their way underneath the house or piping. We have a -giant- cottonwood in our front lawn, and the roots are really screwing the foundation up. The shading is fantastic, but it's a lot of harm.

R_A_C · May 2005

We have a frikken huge cotton wood tree also, it's a HUGE pain to clean up all the crap it drops. If you have a cotton tree that's not too hard to remove, do so before it is too hard. You'll be doing you and the future residents of your house a huge favor.

Gliss · May 2005

stairs

Tyrain · May 2005

Make sure it's not built on an indian graveyard that was used as an atomic waste landfill. These mutated indian ghosts do no good for you.

Xyth · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Tyrain @ May 4 2005, 04:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Make sure it's not built on an indian graveyard that was used as an atomic waste landfill. These mutated indian ghosts do no good for you.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
<i>You removed the gravestones but not the bodies?!</i>

Re-seal all your windows, get a nice big thing of caulk (lololol!) and re-line the outside of each window. Stops escaping heat. Make sure all the doors are flush to the ground when closed. Look for holes in the basement floor, in any floor for that reason, and fill them.

All of these will help keep out bugs and stuff, and save you future hastle. Also perhaps invest in some of those little ant traps and put them around, whether you have ants now or not, just to stop it before it starts.

DOOManiac · May 2005

Lawnmower

Zunni · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Depends on the condition of the house. Is it movein-able? Do you have a window where you can gradually move in (like is the lease up on your apt at the same time you close on your house?)</td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>

It is very move-inable.. there's nothing immediate that I need to do.

I don't take posession until July 29th so we have a lot of time to prepare.. but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything..

douchebagatron · May 2005

do you have a basement or a crawlspace under the house? attic or a crawlspace above the house? we have a crawlspace under and above the house, and trust me. its no fun going in there. get all your work done at one time. if you are running cable through the ceiling or under the house, do it right the first time, and do it to last.

if you have gutters, rip them all off. they are way more trouble than they are worth. what the hell do they even do, other than give you a buttload of stuff to waste your time on in the fall. having water drip down off the roof all around the house is well worth not having to clean out the gutters.

if you have a long house with wood floors, dont put down any rugs or carpets. buy a scooter. saves time and energy.

Depot · May 2005

Not sure if Home Owner Inspections are mandatory in Canada or where you live, but if they're not by all means have one done BEFORE you sign the papers. These guys often turn up hiddens problems you'd never dream of finding. If possible purchase a HOW (Home Owners Warranty).

Pull up the crime stats on your neighborhood. See what crimes are the highest, and during what time of day they all normally occur. This information should be readily available online. Also research sexual predators in your area.

A security alarm is a must, and well worth the initial expense and montly monitoring fee (mine is $23.49/month usd). Make sure all doors are alarmed and have at least 2 motion detectors installed. Also a good idea to have a keypad bedside. Deadbolts need to be installed on all entryway doors. If you have sliding glass doors install the lock for them.

If you have a garage install a garage door opener. Genies are very good, and their top ones have lifetime warranties. Your wife will LUV you for it! <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' />

Depot · May 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (6john @ May 4 2005, 08:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>if you have gutters, rip them all off. they are way more trouble than they are worth. what the hell do they even do, other than give you a buttload of stuff to waste your time on in the fall. having water drip down off the roof all around the house is well worth not having to clean out the gutters. </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>
Gutters, if not properly maintained (re: cleaned out regularly) can cause more problems then they fix. But to make a blanket statement to "rip them all off" is poor advice. I don't have gutters installed all the way around, but where they are installed they need to be.

Home Depot sells gutter guards for any type of gutter they sell. I have them installed on my vinyl gutters and NEVER evar have to clean them out. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' />

Ok Now Be Scared..

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