47 IBS 2022 and First Year of Home Ownership

Overview of the IBS (International Builders Show) 2022. Amy attended the show in Orlando and shares about the huge event and what they experienced.

·     Workforce Development – always looking for ways to fill the void in the trades.

·     Land development, affordable housing and what is “the missing middle”.

·     Modular housing products i.e. SIPs panels (structural insulated panels).

·     Virtual reality for new house plan review

·     Wall panels that replace tile

·     Site scape- this is a design app that you can use on your phone

Things to do in the first year of homeownership

Create a homeowner’s journal with insurance paperwork, maintenance records, inspection report, contacts for electrician, plumber, HVAC and others

Make a list and prioritize.  

   1. Safety first. 

·     Change the furnace filter

·     Clean the refrigerator coils

·     Change the toilet seats

·     Smoke detector and CO batteries and test

·     Clean the lint out of the dryer vent - clean the lint screen after every load. A dirty lint screen uses about 30% more energy and is a common cause of fires. Doing dryer loads one after the other save energy, when the dryer is still warm. Over drying also ruins clothes and wastes energy.

·     Locate the main water shut

·     Locate your electrical panel

·     Locate the gas meter and attach a wrench to it for emergency shut offs

·     Inspect the crawl space and attic

·     Test your sump pump

·     Replace washing machine hoses with stainless braided hoses

·     Flush water heater                

2. Organization, maintenance, and remaining unpacking

·     Create a sanctuary-one room that doesn’t require much work and you can  escape to when the rest of the house gets to be too much.

·     Meet your neighbors

3. Non-essentials - improvements and projects you’d d like to complete in a        year like landscaping, renovations and large purchases. Live in the house for 12-18 months before doing any major renovations. What you think initially may change after living there for a while. 

If you have any questions or have a story you want to share email us at [email protected]. 

This podcast is recorded at The Winterblue Room in Seattle, WA.