Buying a home for the first time is one of life’s most exciting moments. You get to have a tangible representation of all that you’ve thus far accomplished, and it’s in the form of a place that you love which you can forsee making memories in that will last for the remainder of your lifetime.
Yes, it’s an amazing experience to buy a house, but you must realise that buying a property is not the end of the experience. In fact, it is just the beginning of a new way of life. There are things you must do and remember to be a successful long-term homeowner.
Expect the Unexpected
Buying a house is a huge undertaking, and with it comes many unexpected expenses. You never know when a storm will flood your first floor, when the neighbour’s dog will destroy your flower beds or when your air conditioner will give out. All of these things cost money to replace or fix, thus you should always maintain a savings fund for emergencies or other unexpected costs.
Keep Up With the Upkeep
Spinning off from the first point, you never know when something might go wrong, at a point of no return. If you make sure to keep your water pump system clean you could avoid a flooding disaster. Change your air conditioning filter and you’ll keep it running smoothly. These regular maintenance tasks greatly reduce your need for an emergency fund, so keep up the upkeep before you need to really dip into it.
Get to Know Your Neighbours
If you get to know your neighbours, they may wind up becoming your best (and most convenient) friends, but even if they’re not people you want to spend a lot of time with, being friendly and maintaining a civil relationship could help you with an innumerable amount of situations in the future. Maybe you need someone to walk your dog while you go off on a day trip, or water your plants if you’re away for a week. They will hopefully tell you if they notice anything strange happening on your property while you’re away, etc. Always better to be friendly than closed off and impersonal, as the benefits of living in a community are ones that money can’t buy.
Don’t Worry About the Housing Market
First time home buyers tend to get stressed when they hear news about a plummeting housing market, but truthfully it doesn’t matter how much your home costs or is worth unless you are trying to sell it. There’s no point in worrying about It the entire time you own it though because if you are in a stable position in life, you can wait out the fluctuating market prices and sell when the price and timing is right.
Don’t Buy a House You Don’t Like
If you don’t like a house, the decision should be nonexistent. Don’t just buy a property because you think I’ll do well in the market In twenty years or refund your retirement. You’re better off sitting on your money until you find a property that’s more than your house, but is your home.
