Finally, becoming a homeowner is one of the most important moments in a person’s life. After years of living in tiny apartments, dealing with different landlords, and worrying if the rent was going to rise, getting your own home feels like a huge relief. But you must not forget that having your own home means getting some new responsibilities as well. While renting was stressful in some ways, in others, it was easier. That’s mostly because you didn’t have to worry about maintenance, property taxes, etc. When you own a home, everything is up to you and you only. This task can seem pretty daunting if you don’t have any prior experience with owning property. Before actually purchasing a home, it’s good to educate yourself on these things. So, we decided to help with that and made a list of 6 responsibilities every new homeowner should prepare for.
Monthly payments aren’t over
Just because you are not renting anymore does not mean you can stop making monthly payments. Only now, it is not rent; it is your mortgage. You will have to pay a certain amount of money every month, depending on how much money you loaned. According to research, an average mortgage in the USA takes approximately 30 years to pay off. Some mortgages allow a fifteen-day grace period, but that varies. Skipping mortgage payments negatively affect your credit score, and if you skip it several times, it can lead to foreclosure. The best thing is to properly educate yourself on what kind of mortgage you are applying for and all the details. This is where a good real estate agent plays a big role. He will guide you through the whole process of getting loan approval and help you understand everything about your mortgage. And with the amazing rebate programs, it truly pays off to get a quality real estate agent.
You are responsible for the repairs
One of the responsibilities every new homeowner should prepare for is all the repairs that might come up. One of the luxuries of renting was that your landlord was responsible for most of the repairs in your home. Any issues with plumbing, electrical wiring, heating, or gas pipes were not up to you to fix. But when you are an owner, there is no one else but you to deal with. It is up to you to pay attention and make sure everything gets fixed. This is an added cost because even though some repairs you can do by yourself, most of them will require a professional.
Prepare yourself for home renovations
After going to open houses, bidding wars, and finally purchasing a home, be prepared for the next stage. Home renovations after moving. It’s infrequent to buy a home where there are no repairs or renovations needed. In most cases, some work will need to be done to make the house fully work for you and your family and tailor it to your needs. Figuring out how to renovate your home after moving is complicated for a new homeowner, so it’s best to take it slow. Experts always advise not to rush with the renovations but to be patient instead. If you are young and this is your first home, you should consult with professionals before committing to an extensive renovation project. This is another reason why being a homeowner is such a responsible thing.
One of the responsibilities every new homeowner should prepare for is maintenance
One more thing that comes with buying a home is maintaining the outside of your home as much as the inside. Especially if you have a home with a big backyard, depending on the season, your responsibilities will change. For example, in the fall, you will have to rake leaves, clean the gutters, do some paint touch-ups if necessary, clean and inspect windows and doors, declutter the garage, etc. Then during the winter months, you will have to make sure your pipes don’t freeze, check smoke detectors, clean and inspect the fireplace, check your heating system so you can be calm knowing you will be warm during the cold months, etc.
Find a good moving company
Another thing you should prepare for as a new homeowner is to ensure everything goes smoothly on your moving day. If you are not careful, so much can go wrong on that day and tarnish this exciting moment in your life. If you are unsure how to survive a complicated moving day, don’t worry, there are experts that will help you prepare for this event. But know that it is, at the end of the day, up to you. As soon as you close the deal on your new home, you should start planning for this. Research good moving companies, ask them what they will do to ensure the safety of your items during the transport, what their price is, etc.
You have to pay property tax
Owning a home means having to pay property tax. There is no set amount of the property tax as it depends on a couple of different things. First, it depends on the value of the property; this means the land and the house on it. In some places, this also includes cars or other similar properties. The property tax is then calculated by the local government. It may seem annoying to pay all this, but the money from property taxes goes to bettering your city and neighborhood, so it’s for a good cause.
In conclusion
These are the 6 responsibilities every new homeowner should prepare for. It may seem like a lot, especially financially, but it’s absolutely manageable. You just need to start prepping early and be smart about it. At the end of the day, you have done the hardest thing already. You have finally purchased your own home. Everything else seems easy in comparison to that. This is a big moment in your life, and you should be proud and celebrate it.
Written by: Lisa Roberts with US Moving Experts