The Clueless New Homeowner's Guide to Spring Maintenance

There are few things as satisfying in life as owning a home. My husband and I made this discovery last summer, when we purchased our first home: a beautiful two-story with an attached garage. We walked around for days just staring at it in awe. It even came complete with elaborately planned landscaping - uncommon trees and flowers, tigerlilies strewn everywhere. I remember being so happy about the landscaping (little did I know). We proceeded to settle in, unpack our boxes and get on with life. Oh, yeah - we thought we were all set.

It didn't take long before we came to a realization which is surprising, if you have never done anything but rent. Houses require near-constant maintenance to retain their appearance and value, and to stay in working order. Like a child, or a dog, or even a car, your home must be touched up, checked out and groomed regularly. If you neglect your home's regular maintenance, then small, easy to fix repairs can end up costing you thousands of dollars and countless headaches. So, when gearing up for spring cleaning on your beautiful new home, don't forget to add these five important items to your list.

1. Change Your Furnace Filter

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't feel too bad. We discovered this little gem when our registers started belching out black dust mid-January (I know, I know - see "clueless" part of title). It's relatively easy to do, and relatively inexpensive - most filters cost between $2.00 - $20.00, depending on how fancy you want them. Although our parents advised us to change the filter monthly, we haven't exactly met that standard. Either way, State Farm's website suggests you make sure to do it every spring. That way, in the fall, you're ready to go.

2. Clean Your Kitchen Exhaust Hood & Filter

State Farm also recommends you do this each spring, and for good reason - an overly soiled kitchen exhaust filter can easily lead to fires, and is often overlooked. Anything which helps to prevent your house going up in flames is a good thing.

3. Check For Damage To Your Roof