Can you believe it’s been a year already?
Happy first anniversary in your home! A full year has passed since you got the keys, started settling in, and discovered which things about the house worked exactly as expected—and probably a few that didn’t. By now, you’ve had a chance to experience the home through the seasons and learn considerably more about it than you knew on closing day.
That makes the first anniversary a useful time for a quick maintenance check. Some household systems need attention based on their own schedules rather than an anniversary date, of course, but if you haven’t addressed these items recently, they’re worth checking:
- Have your heating and cooling systems serviced as recommended
- Clean the dryer vent and check the exterior vent opening
- Inspect and test the sprinkler or irrigation system, if applicable
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and maintain or replace batteries according to manufacturer instructions
- Check around windows and doors for signs of leaks, damaged caulking, or weatherstripping
- Have wood-burning fireplaces and chimneys inspected and cleaned as appropriate
One year also gives you something you didn’t have when you bought the property: experience living in it. You’ve seen where water collects after a heavy rain, which rooms are harder to heat or cool, what gets used every day, and which improvement ideas still seem worthwhile after twelve months. That’s useful information when you’re deciding what deserves attention next and what turned out not to matter nearly as much as you expected.
Most of all, I wanted to mark the occasion and let you know I haven’t forgotten the day you became the owner of this home. I was grateful to be part of it then, and I’m still here if you ever need a real estate resource—or simply need the name of a good local professional to help take care of the place.
Here’s to the memories you’ve already made and all the ones still to come. Happy 1st Home Anniversary!