Moving into a new house? Here are 15 things you need to do ASAP

Pour water into it to make sure it works. The most common time for a sump pump to fail is the first heavy rainfall after months of not being used. The submerged or partially submerged portions of cast iron pumps can rust and seize. And they’ll burn out when they switch on. Don’t get caught with your pump down and the water rising. After a long dry (unused) spell, pour a bucket or two of water into the sump to make sure the pump kicks on. And do you have sump pump backup? A good sump pump installation should include a backup system for breakdowns and power outages.

If you don’t have keyless locks, be sure to hide a house key so you don’t get locked out. Consider a location other than under the welcome mat, like in a garden hose or under a flower pot.

Check out our best Christmas present hiding hacks.

Keeping doors and windows locked is your first line of defence. Make wireless alarms your second. Burglars hate noises, so even a small alarm usually sends them running. The alarms are available at home centres. The alarms don’t provide the same security as pro-installed monitored systems since the wireless devices are activated by doors or windows opening (not glass breaking). Use the alarms for doors and windows in ‘hidden’ areas of the house where you don’t normally gather and that are often dark. Attach the alarm to the door or window (with a screw or double-sided tape) alongside the magnetic contact strip (they don’t have to be touching, but within one centimetre.). When the door or window opens, breaking magnetic contact, the alarm shrieks (these little units have a piercing alarm). The door alarm has a delay feature, giving you time to set the alarm and leave, then open the door and deactivate the unit when you come home, without setting it off. The window unit has an on/off switch. The alarms will work on any door or window, and the batteries last two to three years.

I’m a burglar – here’s how to outsmart me.

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.

Here are some important things to do when planning to sell your home.

These are additional things you don’t need to do immediately, but doing them keeps you ahead of potential problems. Install a whole house surge protector to prevent your plug-in electronics from voltage surges. Replace traditional rubber washing machine hoses with no-burst hoses to prevent a costly flood.

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Source: Family Handyman