Property Station

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Notes on running a home well

What we have learned about warranties, maintenance, and the paperwork of ownership, written for people who would rather fix small things than pay for big ones.

Ownership

The documents to keep from closing day (and what each one is for)

The deed, the Closing Disclosure, the survey, the inspection, the policy, the warranties, and the builder handoff. What each is for later, and how to file it.

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Maintenance

A first-year maintenance schedule for a newly built home

New homes need maintenance from month one. A month-by-month schedule for the first year, why new-build tasks differ, and what to log for the warranty.

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New construction

How to read a builder warranty

Builder warranties are precise, not friendly. The sections that matter, the definitions that hide exclusions, the tolerances that decide claims, how to file.

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New construction

The new-construction warranty timeline: what to check before each window closes

Builder warranties close in stages: workmanship, then systems, then structure. What to inspect before each window ends, and how to send a claim that counts.

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Seasonal prep

Storm and freeze prep by region: what your house needs before the season

Hurricane country, freeze country, and the places that get both. The tasks that protect the house before each season, and what to keep in the record.

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New construction

What a punch list is, and how to make a good one before closing

A punch list is the written record of defects the builder agrees to fix. How the walkthrough works, what to check room by room, and why it matters later.

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Home records

Why every home needs one record

One record for what the house is, what has been done to it, what covers it, and who worked on it. Why the binder fails, and what a working record looks like.

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