Photo by CongerDesign via Pixabay
You recently purchased a home, and as a new homeowner, you’re itching to get moved into your new kitchen so you can get settled and start entertaining. Wait! Before you get caught up organizing your pots and pans, do a little preventative care. If you want a kitchen you can entertain in hassle-free, take the time to do these things.
Deep Clean
Whether you purchased new construction or an adorable 1920s bungalow, you need to deep clean. Either hire a reputable company, or take on the task yourself, but do it. Clean all the cabinets high and low, doors, knobs, any framing, behind and under all appliances that may have come with the house.
Next to tackle the sink hardware. Clean the faucet, remove calcium build up and run drain cleaner to preventatively tackle any clogs hidden just under the surface.
If your home came with an oven and dishwasher, use the self-clean settings they have and clean them yourself after. Starting with a fresh, clean slate will ensure your kitchen stays in good shape with just a little ongoing maintenance.
Test and Clean Your Hardware
Check that all cabinet doorknobs and drawer pulls are properly attached. Make sure that all your drawer tracks align and slide in and out well. Ensure that all hinges are tight and squared.
Pest Control
Check your countertop and backsplash for any cracks or holes that could be the perfect escape route for any ants or roaches that may try to find a way into your home in the future. Seal up any gaps you find with caulking or grout. Then, treat the whole kitchen with preventative pest control. You can find industrial-grade solutions online that are very affordable and will last you through the lifetime of your house. Once you treat the kitchen space, you’ll want to let it stand for at least a few hours before you wipe down the counters again and start putting away your belongings.
Preparing your kitchen for daily use and entertaining is important and is not an area you want to neglect during your move in. With these steps you’ll be ready to get things organized just the way you like and get to entertaining.
About the Author
Judy Szablak
With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.
She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.
Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”
Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com
