You have moved into your new home. What now?

Get acquainted with your new neighbors. Find out about trash pick-up and recycle day, about schools and bus stops, where to shop for groceries, hardware items, health and beauty needs, prescriptions. Using these needs as ice-breakers is a good way to "get acquainted."

Take responsibility to assure that your home has adequate safety devices - lighting, fences/walls, locks, smoke detectors, and alarms.

Home fires kill approximately 6,000 people in the U.S. each year and injure thousands more-occurring mostly at night. Studies indicate that most die from smoke and toxic gases-many never awaking to know there is a fire. Smoke detectors (at least one on each floor) and an effective evacuation plan are a necessity for all of us. Your plan should include at least 2 routes to the outside from every room in the house, especially bedrooms.

You should know:

• Where the heating fuel main shutoff is located.
• Where the main electrical shutoff or fuse box is located.
• Where the main water shutoff is located.
• Where all fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are located.
• Where the main drain line cleanout is located.

Planning for "continuous cleaning" of your home will have many advantages over the periodic upheaval type cleaning which will find you devoting an entire day to cleaning-probably one of your weekend days!

If you enjoy gardening and yard work, you may wish to care for your lawn. If this is not your forte, hire a lawn care company to relieve you of this responsibility. It is important to keep the exterior of your home looking neat and well cared for.

Areas where there is a high level of humidity and moisture may

encourage the growth of mildew. Millions of tiny mold spores hover in the air and tend to settle in damp, dark places where they can flourish. Mildew looks unsightly, causes an unpleasant musty odor, and can even cause damage to surfaces. Some of these problems will have simple solutions; others will need professional advice.

Electrical and plumbing problems can persist and become costly if ignored. Ask your new neighbor or a friend to recommend a reliable repair person to "fix" small problems immediately.

Many simple home repairs can be made if you are willing to learn to do them yourself. Repair books, video tapes, and your local library are great sources for gaining the know-how-remember you will need some basis tools.

Some repairs are better left to the professional. Complicated electrical, plumbing, roof, and foundations repairs probably fall into this category. This can often save you time AND money in the long run-even save your life!

The Department of Energy upholds that utility bills represent the largest chunk of monthly expenditures after rent or mortgage.

• Identify the high energy users in your home:
• Heating and cooling 58%
• Water heating 18%
• Appliances 12%
• Lighting 8%
• Other 4%

Heating and cooling is usually the biggest culprit. The most effective step you can take to keep this cost down is to assure that you have adequate insulation. Also, more heat is lost through windows and doors per unit of area than through any other part of a home. Storm doors and windows reduce energy costs by minimizing heat loss. Adding weather stripping and new caulking will also help prevent air loss.

• The thermostat should be placed on an inside wall and away from windows and doors where cold drafts can cause the furnace to run even when other parts of the house are comfortable.
• Clean or replace furnace filters monthly-your system will not work so hard.
• Properly ventilate the attic to relieve heat buildup.
• Ceiling fans can make a room feel 7 to 10 degrees cooler than it actually is.
• If you have a heat pump, keep the outside unit free of any blockage. Hose it down periodically to remove dust, dirt, lint, leaves, and grass clippings.

Water heaters should be set on 140 degrees, and the size of the heater should match the size of your family.

Appliance use can easily be conserved:

• Each time the oven door is opened, the temperature will drop 25 to 50 degrees
• Refrigerators and freezers operate more efficiently when filled to capacity. Place items slightly apart on refrigerator shelves to allow air to circulate around them. Be sure these appliances are airtight, and keep gaskets clean.
• Set the washing machine for the size of the load or wait until you have a full load. Wash with warm or cold water, and always rinse in cold water. Keep the dryer lint filter clean.
• Use cold water in the garbage disposal-it saves energy and solidifies the grease.
• Dry dishes naturally by opening the dishwasher door instead of going through the drying cycle.
• Use small kitchen appliances such as toaster oven or electric skillet whenever possible. The microwave is a great energy saver.

Lighting is only a small part of your energy cost, but it CAN add up:

• Use fluorescent lamps when possible-they produce 4 times as much light per watt as incandescent bulbs and have a life approximately 10 times that of an incandescent bulb.

An important incentive to maintaining your home is its RESALE value. By keeping the house in good repair, you will avoid the last minute panic of getting it ready to "show." The better its condition, the more you will be able to command on resale.

Avoid the stress of selling your home, while trying to buy another home! Get pre-qualified for your next home - BEFORE you sell your current home!