Ah, the joy of buying and moving into your first new custom Florida home! There’s nothing like the thrill of transitioning from rentals, roommates and possibly parental basements.
You definitely should enjoy receiving keys at closing, final walkthroughs with your ICI Homes builder, and the arrival of moving vans or friends’ and relatives’ pickups packed with your stuff.
And while homeownership comes with more obligations than renting, don’t let these new responsibilities dilute that joy. You and yours budgeted and planned for this purchase, so you likely know things such as home maintenance, property taxes and backflow tests (we’ll explain) are headed your way.
To get you started, here are some practical tips for first-time homeowners.
Key takeaways
First time homeowners should understand their builder and manufacturer warranties, including coverage timelines and how to request service.
Adding basic safety equipment like first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and non slip rug pads helps protect your household from day one.
Knowing how to shut off water, electricity, and gas is essential for handling emergencies quickly and minimizing damage.
Backflow testing is a routine responsibility that protects your home’s water supply and is handled annually by a professional.
Setting aside a home maintenance fund prepares you for future repairs, replacements, and routine upkeep with less stress.
Know your warranties
Buying a new custom Florida home that’s built to ICI Homes’ rigorous EQ Factor standards means it shouldn’t need much attention for quite some time.
Since everything ages, that’s also why homeowners receive builder warranties. Every ICI Homes customer receives an HBW 2-10 Warranty, one of the most thorough residential real-estate warranties.
You’ll have received information about it, but be sure you know the HBW 2-10 Warranty’s ins and outs, and don’t hesitate to contact our ICI Homes warranty pros with questions.
The same goes for manufacturer warranties you receive for new appliances. Know timelines, coverages and how to enact them.
Add practical safety equipment
This probably isn’t on your initial to-do lists during moving chaos. But it’s a smart to-do to add.
Stock a few home first-aid kits in common areas that make sense for you and yours, such as kitchens, bathrooms and kids’ activity areas.
Add easy-to-use home fire extinguishers in the kitchen and near the fire pit on your lanai.
If you have rugs, apply grippy mats or tape under them to keep them from slipping.
Which leads us to…
Be familiar with shutting off utilities
More safety-first tips you hopefully won’t need, which you learned about during final walkthroughs. But knowledge always is power.
Learn how to activate your main water shut-off valve in case Fido knocks off the faucet in the laundry-room doggie shower. Or a toddler tosses a toy down a toilet. Oops!
This shuts down water to your entire home, allowing time for assessment and cleanup.
As for backflow testing, it’s an annual check of the plumbing device that prevents a reverse flow of water that can contaminate water supply. A plumbing professional handles this chore.
Another crucial shut-off: the main electrical switch in your breaker box, should you need to extinguish electricity to your entire home.
If you have gas service and suspect a leak, immediately evacuate and call the gas company.
Grow a home maintenance fund
Eventually, something will require attention. You can get ahead of much of it with these handy how-tos in our homeowner maintenance video series.
But it’s always smart to sock away coin for a new fridge, pool pump or painting project.
Ready for your new custom Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.
To get you started, here are some practical tips for first-time homeowners.
