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Helpful Tips for New Homeowners

30 Mar

Helpful Tips for New Homeowners

Owning your first home is a major step in establishing a quality life for yourself and your family. Congrats on your new home purchase! These first few months will be exhilarating! However, there will also be plenty of stress as you learn to balance all the unfamiliar responsibilities. Many new homeowners make the most mistakes at the very beginning of this life chapter. 

For most, becoming a confident homeowner takes a few years of trial and error. But with the following advice, you can get ahead! 

Avoid spoiling everything you have worked hard for by making the right choices at the start of your home-owning adventure. Use the six beginner tips below to be the best homeowner and save yourself future troubles. 

1 | Be a Friendly Neighbor 

In your previous renting experience, you may have been familiar with the occasional neighbor. However, tenants tend to keep to themselves, especially when living in apartments. You want to be trusted and have people you can trust as a new homeowner. So, getting to know your neighbors and establishing a friendly relationship with them is a wise idea. 

Being a good neighbor doesn’t always mean you have to go door-to-door with freshly baked brownies as soon as you move into your new home. The little things count just as much. It’s all about showing your neighbors respect and proving that you are trustworthy. You can start by kindly waving with a warm smile when you see your neighbors checking the mail in the morning or relaxing on their porches. A friendly “How are you” can do wonders! 

2 | Prioritize Maintenance and Repairs 

After the exhausting moving process, you’ve finally settled into your very own home. It may be tempting to immediately personalize the space with expressive decorations, modern upgrades, and other improvements. But to be a successful new homeowner, you must always put repairs and maintenance projects before aesthetic upgrades. 

You are now responsible for the condition of your home. There’s no landlord or leasing company to lean on when sudden issues occur. So, before diving into all the exciting changes you want, save for emergencies. And if you haven’t yet, have the home inspected for any problems and take care of them as soon as possible. 

3 | Hire Trusted Contractors 

You’re off to a great start! You now know the importance of fixing repairs promptly and keeping up with routine maintenance. When a problem arises, be sure to handle it quickly and correctly. In other words, you may want to avoid taking a chance with DIY solutions. The Do-It-Yourself approach may be appropriate when you have the confidence and experience with the matter you’re facing. But this isn’t often the case. 

For most new homeowners, hiring professionals is the way to go. When searching for the right local company to help you, you must look at the quality of the service over the price. When a repair is not addressed correctly, you may have future issues that will cost you more money and hassle. So, ask the neighbors, read online reviews, and make other efforts to ensure the company you are considering is trustworthy and professional. 

4 | Take Upgrades and Improvements One at a Time 

More than likely, your savings are depleted after purchasing your first home. On top of that, you’re also handling more bills than you are used to. Money is tight! So, don’t make matters worse by spending every penny you have on new cabinets, fresh wall paint, and a larger sofa. 

Most new homeowners have the itch to quickly personalize their space, making it feel more like home. However, to save yourself from stress, you should gradually make improvements. 

For example, once you’ve built up your savings and are comfortable and confident with new homeowner bills, go ahead and get the breakfast table you didn’t have room for in your previous apartment. Then, after saving some more, switch out the outdated ceiling fans and lighting fixtures. Remember, you now own this home—You have plenty of time to make it your own. 

5 | Saving is More Important than Ever 

One of the most beneficial habits new homeowners can have is saving money. You need to be prepared for unexpected and often expensive issues, like AC malfunctions, leaks, or pest infestations. 

All these potential problems have two things in common—They need to be addressed quickly, and they won’t be cheap. This is where having built-up savings comes in handy. With plenty of money set aside, you’ll handle the emergencies with far less stress and much more confidence. 

6 | Have a Safe Spot to Store all Paperwork 

Organization is key for new homeowners. When it comes to all the insurance paperwork, ownership documents, appliance warranties, and contracts, it is essential to have a safe and well-organized storage place. 

For most, a folder will do the trick. As long as the papers are all neatly arranged, you can refer to them when needed. You’ll be surprised at how often these documents will come in handy throughout your homeowner journey. 

CITED: Investopedia.com, Moving.com, Familyhandyman.com 


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