Congratulations on buying your very first home! If you’re been renting for your entire adult life and in doing so essentially paying someone else’s mortgage for them, finally being a homeowner is a really great feeling. Any money you put into your home now is an investment towards your future. Of course, with all the joys of being a first-time homeowner, there are some downfalls to remember as well.
As a renter, if anything breaks or goes wrong with your home, it is up to your landlord to fix it for you, and all of those costs fall on them. As a homeowner, however, home repairs, renovations, and upgrades are your responsibility. Here are some of the most common things you may have to deal with as a homeowner that you didn’t as a renter.
Pests
Pest control is another thing that will be your own headache to deal with as a homeowner. Gone are the days when you can just call your landlord and wait for them to take care of your pests. Whether they’re cockroaches, termites, rats, or raccoons. You will have to be the one to call the exterminator and cover the expenses.
Repairs
If your home is damaged in an earthquake, flood, any other type of natural disaster, or requires repairs for some other reason, you will have to either hire a professional to come and fix things or deal with fixing them yourself. Things go wrong in houses all the time, sometimes just due to. age. There could be structural issues, electrical issues, plumbing issues, etc. and all of these will now be your responsibility to take care of.
Homeowners Associations
Depending on the location of your home, you may be a part of a homeowners association or HOA. This is not a choice and if you choose to buy a house that is part of an HOA you must pay their yearly fees and abide by their rules. Every HOA is different so make sure you inquire about the rules and fees ahead of time so that you aren’t surprised later on.
Renovations
If you want to knock down walls, add on to your house, paint, etc., all of these renovations will need to be planned and funded by you, the homeowner. Renters never deal with renovations in any capacity, so you may be in for a shock when you realize how stressful they can be!
Landscaping
Of course, if you want to make any changes or upgrades to the interior or exterior of your home, you will have to set up and pay for those things. But one thing you may have forgotten is that you will also need to take care of the upkeep on your yard. Depending on the size of the yard, costs can really add up. So make sure to set aside part of your budget for the property your home is on and not just the home itself.
Overall being a homeowner is a great accomplishment and something you should be proud of. It can also be a little overwhelming, so just make sure you are prepared for what’s to come.