5 things every first time buyer should fix first
You've got the keys. The survey is done. Now what? Here are the five things that will save you the most time, money, and stress in your first year.
Moving into your first home is equal parts exciting and terrifying. Suddenly you're responsible for everything — and nobody taught you any of it. Here's where to start.
1. Bleed your radiators before winter
If your radiators are cold at the top but warm at the bottom, they have air trapped inside. Bleeding them takes 5 minutes, costs £1 for a bleed key, and can save £50–80 on your heating bill. Do this every October — it's one of the highest-return 15 minutes you'll spend all year.
2. Fix any dripping taps immediately
A dripping tap wastes 5,500 litres of water per year and costs you money on every water bill. The fix is a £2 rubber washer and 45 minutes of your time. Don't leave it — it won't fix itself and the constant sound at night is maddening.
3. Learn to unblock a drain
This will happen. Kitchen drains block with fat and food residue. Bathroom drains block with hair. A £3 plunger and 20 minutes is all it takes. Calling a plumber costs £60–120 for the same job. This is the most common callout in the UK — and the most pointlessly expensive.
4. Fill the holes from the previous owner
Almost every house comes with mysterious holes in the walls — from previous picture hooks, curtain rails, shelves, or worse. Polyfilla and a filling knife cost £5. The result looks professional with 20 minutes of effort. This is also useful when you're renting — filling your own nail holes protects your deposit.
5. Get to know your boiler
Know where the pressure gauge is (should read 1–1.5 bar), how to top up the pressure via the filling loop, and when it was last serviced. A boiler service costs £60–100 and could save you from a breakdown mid-January — when every engineer in the country is booked out for weeks.
The bonus: know where your shut-offs are
Before anything breaks, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink), your fusebox (hallway or under the stairs), and your gas meter shut-off (outside or in a cupboard). Knowing where they are when something goes wrong is worth more than any tool you own.