When you become a first-time homeowner, it can be very exciting and somewhat stressful. You are now faced with a new set of challenges. There are a lot of things you need to learn—and as you go along, you may make a few mistakes.
Many of these mistakes can be easily avoided when you are properly prepared. Don’t let potential mistakes ruin your excitement. If you plan ahead and use the following tips, you can enjoy your new home with out worrying about what to do to keep your home in tip top shape.
Ignoring Routine Maintenance Can Cause Big Trouble
You probably just had a walk-through with a licensed inspector during your home buying process, and you’re most likely aware of issues that need attention. Just so you know, that’s not where home maintenance ends. Home maintenance includes things that you may have never thought of, like cleaning out the gutters, power-washing, prepping your pipes for winter and so much more.
The best way to avoid forgetting about these crucial tasks, which could lead to costly trouble later, is to create a quarterly or monthly maintenance schedule for all of the areas of the home. This should include indoor and outdoor maintenance, plumbing and electrical.
Getting Locked Out of Your Own Home
Remember, being a brand new homeowner can make you more susceptible to getting locked out. You now have new keys, and you may run out to get something and realize that the new house key isn’t on your old keyring. This mistake can lead to another one: choosing a bad locksmith. If you’re in a hurry to get back into the house, you may forget to do some research and listen for clues that something’s not right.
Always ask the locksmith for an estimate prior to his/her arrival. If the locksmith cannot give you a quote or a price over the phone—that is a big red flag. This is one way to test whether a company is reputable to reinforce the online research you did. Also, always remember to check reviews online.
Making Major Renovations Too Soon After Moving in
People may get excited when they think about how to make their new home feel more like home with some renovation projects. While small changes should be expected, major renovations can usually wait. Give yourself time to live in our new home, see how you and your family feels, then determine what bigger renovations will look like as needs arise.
For example, you may decide that the location of your refrigerator makes it difficult to move around the kitchen easily. This may be a focus of a kitchen renovation that would have otherwise not been considered.
Not Budgeting for Additional Home Improvement Expenses
Moving to a new home can be expensive but any mature homeowner will tell you that there’s always more to budget for—and something always seems to pop-up out, like a malfunctioning washer or dryer right after you need to fix a leak in the roof. Plan for the unexpected fixes by putting some extra money away for emergency house repairs and purchases.
Making Big Life Changes at the Same Time
As you may already notice, becoming a first-time homeowner can be hard work. Add having a baby or getting married at the same time to that! It increases the likelihood that you’ll make mistakes or become totally stressed out. If possible, take time to get to know what it’s like to be a new homeowner and avoid making expensive mistakes that come with being stressed, and in-turn, overlooking simple details.
Dodge New Homeowner Mistakes
There are always going to be some mistakes you may not be able to avoid—but there are others that you can. As you become more familiar with your role as a homeowner, keep these mistakes in mind. If you plan ahead as best you can, you’ll be able to enjoy all the excitement of owning your first home with less stress and frustration.
Contact me for more information about buying a home.
