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Moving In & Other Tips |
Post Move in Tips
Now that you have moved into your new home, there are several things you should do as soon as possible:
- Call utilities – gas, electric, water, cable, telephone. Be sure service is in your name.
- Call the local county tax office and apply for a homestead exemption.
- Locate the main circuit breaker and familiarize your family with its operation. Be sure you have a list of where each circuit breaker operates.
- Purchase a general purpose fire extinguisher for each floor of your home plus one small extinguisher for grease fires in the kitchen. Demonstrate for all family members.
- Sit down with your family and discuss an emergency evacuation plan in case of fire. Be sure everyone knows the layout of your new home and understands where he/she should go.
- Keep first aid materials and a book on procedures in a convenient place.
- Put a list of emergency phone numbers next to each phone in the house.
- Store all touch up paint in a safe place where it will not be susceptible to freezing or overheating. Oil based paints should not be stored near your furnace or water heater. Be sure to mark each can of paint so you will know where it was used.
- Locate the main water line shut-off and show all family members how to use it.
- Attach furniture protectors underneath furniture legs to protect hardwood and ceramic tile floors.
- Replace the batteries in all smoke detectors at least twice a year thereafter.
General Maintenance and Customer Resposibilities
The following is a list of general items which are considered normal homeowners’ responsibility. We strongly urge that you maintain these items in order to assure the life of these products.
- Replacing faucet washers and/or cleaning aerators
- Cleaning sump pump and pit
- Periodically checking circuit breakers
- Changing light bulbs or fluorescent tubes
- Threshold weather-stripping
- Glass or glazing
- Exterior caulking
- Clogged commodes
- Grout or caulking around the tubs, sinks, vanities, and tops
- Damaged concrete or asphalt due to salt, traffic or other usage
- Normal concrete stress cracks – exterior and interior
- Furnace filter changes
- Motor lubricants, i.e., appliance motors, blower fans, etc.
- Hot water heater flushing
- Condensation and icing during cold weather months
- Freeze-proof hose bib damage
- Erosion of landscaping
- Disposal jams
- Damage from gas and oil leaks on driveways, tire rutting and minor settling cracks on driveway
- Sealing of driveway and approach
- Garage door lubrication
- Minor adjustments to doors, bi-folds and cabinet hardware
- Damper regulation
- Garage door weather-stripping
- Sliding door, rollers, tracks, and thresholds
- Paint touch up due to move in or normal wear and tear
- Cracking of exterior wood trim
- Changing the batteries in your smoke detectors (we recommend at least every 4-6 months)
- Testing your smoke detectors (we recommend once a month)
General driveway maintenance
Concrete residential driveways enhance the appearance of the home and will provide many years of service with a minimum of maintenance. In order to maintain a durable driveway that will be relatively free of surface blemishes throughout its service life, the homeowner must follow the following recommendations:
- Don’t drive on new concrete for at least 7 days.
- Don’t allow drain water to undermine the slab and cause settlement cracks.
- Don’t allow snow and ice to accumulate on the slab during the first winter. Keep it cleaned off.
- Refrain from the use of de-icing chemicals (salt or calcium chloride) for snow and ice removal the first winter. Sand can be used for traction.
- WARNING: Never use de-icers containing fertilizer ingredients such as ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate. Concrete should also be protected from exposure to liquid fertilizer systems used for lawn treatment.
- Apply a driveway sealer.
- Michigan is a severe weather region, therefore, it is especially important that concrete driveways be sealed.
- Even when de-icing chemicals are not used on your driveway, these chemicals are inadvertently carried on the bottom-carriage/tires of your vehicle(s) from public roads onto your driveways. It is imperative that you maintain your driveway stringently and regularly. Delcor Homes cannot be held responsible for concrete disintegration (pitting, scaling) due to any de-icing materials, directly or indirectly applied.
Customer Care/ Seasonal Maintenance Items for your home
SPRING:
[ ] Inspect exterior caulk and paint, and repair as necessary.
[ ] Inspect roof and gutters for snow and ice build up. Repair as necessary.
[ ] Feed and seed lawn, re-work any topsoil erosion.
[ ] Inspect and repair for any screen damage.
[ ] Change smoke detector batteries.
[ ] Check your sump pump.
SUMMER:
[ ] Apply weed killer to lawn. (This should be completed prior to temperatures consistently averaging 70 degrees F).
[ ] Complete any interior caulking, grout or paint touch ups.
[ ] Have air conditioning system cleaned and inspected.
[ ] Clean faucet aerators.
[ ] Inspect hot water heater for mineral build-up; drain and refill.
[ ] Seal coat asphalt driveway and approach.
FALL:
[ ] Remove hoses from sillcocks and winterize.
[ ] Inspect and clean heating system.
[ ] Inspect fireplace operation and inspect flue or chimney for possible cleaning.
[ ] Mulch perennials that need winter protection.
[ ] Change smoke detector batteries.
[ ] Check your sump pump.
WINTER:
[ ] Change furnace filters in December and February.
[ ] Clean and check sump pump and pit.
[ ] Recaulk and regrout at bathtub and plumbing fixtures as required.
[ ] Keep fireplace damper and glass doors closed when not in use, to prevent cold air entry and heat loss.
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How to Apply a Driveway Sealer |
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One of the most economical and easiest methods of sealing is to apply boiled linseed oil thinned with kerosene or mineral spirits, mixed approximately 1 to 1. The mixture is usually applied in two applications by roller, spraying or by a squeegee. Resealing with this boiled linseed oil mixture should be done at least every two years.
The concrete sealing should be done after approximately 30 days of air drying, when the surface is dry, and preferably when the air temperature is above 70°F.
It should be noted that some temporary discoloration of the surface may be expected when sealing with a boiled linseed oil mixture.
Most ready mix concrete suppliers have concrete sealers available or can give instructions where sealers can be purchased.
A detailed Technical Sheet on Concrete Driveway Sealers is available from the Michigan Concrete Association and its members.
The value of your concrete in place far exceeds the cost of sealing. It is highly recommended that you make this small investment to help provide the durability you expect and to maintain a relatively blemish free surface throughout the driveway’s service life. Please contact the Michigan Concrete Association for additional information:
2500 Kerry Street,
Suite 106, Lansing,
Michigan 48912
(phone) 517.487.1181
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Best of Living Program |
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Delcor neighborhoods encourage getting to know your neighbor and maybe even gaining a lifelong friend.
Delcor plans monthly events for neighbors to gather and meet each other. In addition, each neighborhood has its own website where you can see photos of fun activities, post messages on a bulletin board, read the neighborhood newsletter and view the password protected directory.
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