Unexpected Lessons For First Time Home Owners
We talk a lot about things to do as you get ready to purchase a home and I know at times it can seem a bit overwhelming. But I actually want to take one step further and share some insights from first time homeowners and the lessons they learned…. Some of them were Somewhat unexpected for the new home owners.
1. One of the things we here so often is just how important it is to save for unexpected expenses.
From a leaky faucet to a sudden appliance breakdown, it's crucial to have a financial buffer for these unforeseen costs.
That emergency savings gives you some peace of mind that you have the funds dedicated to making home repairs and dealing with maintenance… and It prevents you from dipping into your general savings or relying on credit cards when unexpected issues arise.
2. Speaking of maintenance… we’ve also heard so much about people being taken by surprise at the amount of time and effort required for routine maintenance. From lawn care to gutter cleaning, it's easy to overlook these tasks when you're caught up in the excitement of owning a home. But regular maintenance is crucial to avoid more significant problems down the line.
This goes to spending AND time… so not only is it part of your budget for home maintenance… some homeowners find that they become DIYers whether they really want to or not. Being a renter can kind of spoil you a bit. You don’t have to worry about every little thing like you do when you own. Changing a faucet… even new light bulbs… or a new ceiling fan when yours goes out… basic lawn care or landscaping. And I swear grass grows at a rate that just defies science at times!
Now of course you can pay to have these things done but that is often an extra expense that you may not have or want to pay. Plus, you have to coordinate those individuals to do the work which can take longer.
Some things are bigger and may require you hire someone. For example, Plumbing and electrical need people who are licensed. But other things can be done yourself if you are so inclined… but all of it will cost something. So, budget it and work on that savings account.
One maintenance and expense item that I rarely think of so, I often don’t mention, came up for a friend of mine recently… trees… if you have large trees in your yard, especially old trees, those will need to be dealt with from time to time. They will need to be trimmed. Depending on where they are and what kind of trees they are, they may drop seeds and leaves which can effect the maintenance on your gutters.
So maintenance is a responsibility that probably needs some managing. And there are several ways you can do that.
Consider creating a calendar or schedule. For example, Remind yourself when you last checked all your smoke detectors and put a reminder in your calendar when to do it again. Make a note of when you change light bulbs and air filters. Make a note of when you get new appliances. That will help you if you ever need to use a warranty on that appliance. I’ve had times where something broke and to be honest, I had just lost track of how long we had owned it… so it may have reached it’s life expectancy. Unfortunately, those appliances won’t last forever.
Also, keep in mind, Automate anything you can… sprinkler systems and such can be controlled on apps now! The calendar you use for reminders could be in your phone or on your computer so it pops up for you in a way that you will easily see.
It can also be really helpful to find reliable professionals for bigger maintenance projects to save time and ensure the quality of the work.
Next, I have some things people have told us, they wish they would have noticed before they bought their house… many of them are things that involve extra expenses and things to require you to think a little ahead and perhaps plan for….
a. Some people loved the gorgeous sloping lot they chose their new home on, but didn’t think about wanting to maybe have a garden or something of that nature and then they had to actually build up the yard or look for more creative ways to plant with such challenging a landscape
b. Having lots of windows is great for letting in natural light or even air flow when the windows are open, but what about curtains for all those windows? Window treatments can be expensive, especially if the windows are odd sizes. Consider checking those out before you buy or consider that as an expense to plan and save for.
c. Where are all the electrical outlets?? One thing I loved about my house was the family that built it thought of things like, always needing an outlet. There are plenty and they are well placed. Look at your living room and thinking about how your furniture will best fit and then look at your outlet options. If you want your TV on a specific wall, is there a place to plug it in? What about lamps by your couch? What about outlets in your bedroom near your bed? Or on the proper wall in a home office to handle your computer and such. It may sound like a simple thing but it can become big if it’s not planned well. It may be enough to make you reconsider the purchase or you could plan that expense and have someone install more outlets for you.
d. Is the roof normal? What do I mean by normal? Is it straightforward or does it have lots of different peaks and such? This can actually effect the cost to replace it… not the first thing most of think of right?! I never would have, but rooves often need to be replaced while you own your home, so it’s something to keep in mind as you plan for the future.
e. Trust a licensed inspector before a friend or even your realtor. There may be repairs needed on the home you are considering and someone may say, oh that won’t be much, probably under $5000 and then you get estimates and its 2 or 3 times that much. A realtor knows lots of things and has seen lots of things and may truly have a good idea on a cost, but its still best to get estimates from someone who does the type of work needed to get a better idea of the real cost.
f. A DIY project may seem simple at first... and sometimes it is… sometimes it is very straightforward… just changing some light bulbs. Others just keep growing as you tend to find a new problem as you deal with an existing one.
I remember once, We changed a light bulb and the fixture broke. The light bulb got stuck and it broke that part of the fixture. It was a ceiling fan, so we had to choose to either replace the light fixture part or get a new fan. The big issue… there are 2 matching fans in that room… they were no longer being made so if we got a new one they would no longer match… so changing a bulb turned into replacing 2 ceiling fans. Ya’ll, you just never know what will happen and it’s crazy how often things just cost more than you think they will.
By the same token, there are times when a project will be easier and cheaper than you thought. Those are definite wins! So just roll with whatever happens and do the best you can, just know there are just some things you can’t predict.
g. That commute was far… drive it… drive from the house you want to buy to work and just see. Even if it’s not far, it may be some crazy route that is just difficult and it’s really the only way you can go. I’ve seen people decide it just wasn’t worth it to live in a certain neighborhood due to crazy traffic. They ended up buying in an entirely different area of town. So… just a suggestion…
h. Loved the house, but the neighborhood was noisy. A cute house on a super busy, noisy road can make you regret a purchase quickly. Drive by at different times during the day… drive by on different days and get a feel for the neighborhood and what it’s really like...
I’m gonna be honest, there are several of these I wouldn’t have thought of on my first home, but now, I get it and these are real scenerios we we’ve seen. So just some food for thought as you plan your purchase.
And of course, I have 2 bonus tips today!!
Did you know A home purchase is a matter of public record? Meaning you could end up on mailing lists for various companies where you start receiving mailouts… some will look legitimate and some will be… others won’t. Be careful what you agree to and do your research before doing business with anyone. If it looks to good to be true, it often is. It’s important Protect yourself and your information at all times. So stay vigilant.
2nd tip… consider building a strong support network. Owning a home can be overwhelming at times, and having a group of trusted people to turn to for advice or assistance can make a world of difference.
Connect with neighbors. Meet them and get to know them.
There may be local community groups you can join with other homeowners facing similar challenges. Online forums and social media groups dedicated to homeownership can be great for this. You might be surprised how many people are in the same boat with the same issues… kindred spirits can not only help your morale, it may help you find resources for challenges you are dealing with. So, get some help if you need.
The point of all this was not to overwhelm you but to give you some real life examples of things to look for… and if you don’t, don’t worry or freak out about it. There are always ways to find solutions to challenges that come up. We truly just want your home buying experience to be as easy and painless as possible.
Homeownership can be a journey filled with learning opportunities and it can also be wonderful and fulfilling.
If you have any questions, ASK, if you would like to share your own experiences, feel free to reach out to us, we would love to hear from you.
Until next time, stay curious and enjoy your first home adventures!