As 2023 draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back at our Homeowner Orientation series. Our goal was to cover relevant topics that homeowners need to know in order to effectively care for their new home during the first year of ownership. We appreciate all the positive feedback and engagement we’ve received throughout the year, and we look forward to sharing more helpful homeowner resources with you in 2024.
January: Introducing: Your Guide to the First Year of Home Ownership
In January, we introduced our Homeowner Orientation series as a comprehensive guide to the first year of home ownership. By spotlighting one topic per month – covering everything from seasonal maintenance to choosing the perfect paint colour – this series centered around Cachet’s core belief of providing our homeowners with the resources and confidence needed for a seamless and exciting home ownership experience.
February: Caring for Your New Home
In February, we started with some of the basics of caring for your new home, beginning with the things you’ll want to know as soon as you move in. We discussed the importance of having a regular maintenance schedule and broke it down into weekly, monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual lists. We also included helpful tools and supplies you’d want to purchase as you settle in, as well as went over some key skills every homeowner should know, including how to test smoke alarms and unclog drains.
March: Your Spring Maintenance Guide
With a general understanding of what tasks need to be done after moving into your new home, March’s focus was a Spring Maintenance Guide that provided you with a comprehensive breakdown of important items to inspect. Some items covered in our Spring Maintenance Guide include the importance of cleaning or replacing the furnace filter, humidifier and heat recovery ventilator (HRV), and checking your siding for structural cracks and water pooling.
April: Caring for Your Garden
Having checked off your spring maintenance list, we were excited to share one of the more creative and fun parts of caring for your new home: a list of to-dos to help you get ready for a great season in your yard. We covered a variety of garden-friendly topics, from how to prepare your seed beds and lawns to testing and fertilizing your soil; to picking the right flower and vegetable seeds for your garden; and maintaining hardscape and setting up patio furniture.
In May, we brought things back inside with some interior decorating tips, specifically, how to select and hang window treatments to complement your new home. We explained the different types of window treatments and their benefits, as well as how to select the best ones for each room.
June: Your Summer Maintenance Guide
With temperatures beginning to rise, we shared our Summer Maintenance Guide to help keep you on track with your home maintenance. From the interior of your home to your lawn and garden, we provided a breakdown of items for inspection. Topics covered include ensuring your air conditioner is properly functioning, inspecting plumbing for leaks, learning how to deal with pests and insects, and much more!
July: Caring for Your Hardwood Flooring and Stone Countertops
In July, we discussed two of the most popular features in home design: stone countertops and hardwood flooring. We explained the benefits of the most common types of stone countertops – granite, quartz, marble, and soapstone – as well as how to maintain and care for each kind. We also covered different types of hardwood flooring, and explained how best to clean each type to maintain its beauty and durability.
August: An Overview of Tarion’s New Home Warranty
We know that purchasing a new home is a big investment, and it’s natural to want to ensure that it’s protected from defects and or any issues that may arise. In August, we took an in-depth look at Tarion’s New Home Warranty program and broke down the different warranty stages, including the pre-delivery inspection, 30-day warranty, 1-year warranty, 2-year warranty, and 7-year warranty, all of which serve to provide peace of mind to new homeowners.
September: Your Fall Maintenance Guide
In September, we shared our Fall Maintenance Guide to help you get your new home ready for autumn. Some of the items we covered were checking and resetting the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), inspecting your roof’s surface, soffits, and planting perennials, trees, and shrubs before the first frost.
October: Caring for Your Appliances
In October’s Homeowner Orientation installment, we provided a guide on caring for your appliances and provided you with valuable tips and techniques to keep each home appliance in excellent working condition.
November: Your Winter Maintenance Guide
In this last installment of the Homeowner Orientation series, we shared our winter checklist of items to inspect to ensure your home is running smoothly throughout the season. In our Winter Maintenance Guide, we covered a host of important topics, including checking your air ducts, testing your sump pump, shutting off and draining outdoor faucets and irrigation lines, and more.
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Read More from This Series:
Introducing: Your Guide to the First Year of Home Ownership
Caring for Your Hardwood Flooring and Stone Countertops
