Just Bought a Home in Scotch Plains? Here's Your First-30-Days Fix-It List

The first month in your new home is the perfect time to handle repairs and upgrades while you're in project mode.

Congratulations, you're a homeowner. Whether you bought a classic colonial in Scotch Plains, a split-level in Fanwood, or a cape cod in Westfield, the first month in your new home is the perfect time to handle repairs and upgrades.

Week 1: Safety First

• Change all exterior door locks. You don't know how many copies of the old keys are floating around.
• Test every smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Replace any more than 10 years old.
• Locate and label your main water shutoff, electrical panel, and gas shutoff.
• Check that all windows lock properly.

Week 2: The Basics

• Replace the furnace filter and find out when the HVAC system was last serviced.
• Caulk around all bathtubs, showers, and kitchen sinks.
• Tighten every loose doorknob, cabinet handle, and railing in the house.
• Fix any toilet that runs, rocks, or has a weak flush.

Week 3: Make It Yours

• Paint before you're fully moved in. It's 10 times easier to paint empty rooms.
• Install shelf brackets, curtain rods, and towel bars where you want them.
• Mount your TVs with proper anchoring into studs.
• Assemble furniture, or let a handyman knock it out in a fraction of the time.

Week 4: Prevent Future Problems

• Inspect the deck, patio, and fencing for damage. Address wood rot and loose railings now.
• Clean gutters if the previous owner didn't.
• Weatherstrip exterior doors and windows. Especially important in older homes.
• Make a list of everything you want to fix or upgrade in the next 6 months.