Congratulation on purchasing your new home! Your adulthood journey begins here. Owning a home is no easy task! Many responsibilities come with homeownership. This will be an excellent article if you have never owned a home before. We will go over some of the things you may overlook when purchasing a home. Every home is different, and the amenities inside each home are considerably different. However, there are everyday things that you need to be aware of so you are prepared for them. Without performing any of the below maintenance, it will most likely cost you a fortune in repair costs.
1. Change out your air filter
Every home has a furnace and a connection between the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit outside the house and the vent system inside the home. It is essential to locate this vent because there will be filters around the intake of the duct. My intake vent is located in the second-floor hallway in the ceiling. It consists of two air filters that are 20x25x1 inches. These filters prevent dust and debris from entering the HVAC unit outside your home. If it becomes clogged up, there will be a reduction in flow to the unit, which causes overheating and permanent damage. It can be costly to fix an HVAC, averaging thousands of dollars. Make sure to replace the air filter every 4-6 months, depending on how dusty your area is. This may sound obvious. But it is also essential to make sure the size of the new filters fits the vent. When you take out the old filters, make sure to write down the size. They are usually located on the side of the filter. You can purchase air filters anywhere from big box stores like Smith’s or any specialized HVAC stores in your area. I have my favorite filter down below at the end of this article.
2. Maintain your front and backyard
Most living communities will require you to pay a home-owner association fee. These are organizations that help to make your community look fantastic and presentable. They will inspect your house yearly to identify problems that are not compliant with your community. These problems include weed control, property trash, inappropriate parking, etc. The upkeep of your front yard is more likely to be intense if you live in a very wealthy neighborhood. The cost of the HOA also depends on the amenities that they provide. For example, my HOA is 53 dollars per month, whereas some HOA can cost up to 200 dollars for their clubhouse services like pools, gym, and towel services. Besides the front yard, you are also supposed to fix your backyard within one to two years after purchasing your home. An unfinished home is not only unsightly, but your neighbor may also report you to the HOA. If you are not compliant with them, you will most likely receive warning letters and penalty fees.
3. Install a water softening system/ Check your plumbing
A water softening system is essential. Not only for your skin and health but also for your appliances and plumbing at your new home. It reduces the incidence of kidney stones, gives you smooth skin, and reduces the amount of soap you need. Furthermore, plants and fish will thrive with a water softening system. Failure to install a water softener promptly can increase the likelihood of leaking and water damage to your property. Hard water stains can become unsightly over your faucets, kitchen sinks, and toilets. They can be challenging to remove. However, installing a water softening system is easy, and it can be done in 24-48 hours. It costs between 2000 to 4000 dollars depending on your needs. You can have RO softened water throughout your home and even alkaline water coming out of your faucet.
4. Pest control
No one wants pests in their home, but it is one of the everyday things that can happen to any homeowner. They can be hidden under your home’s foundation and inside the walls. If you have aquariums and plants, you will most likely encounter pests as they can thrive in stagnant water. Most new builds have a pest defense system installed under the foundation. Check the side of your home to see if they have it pre-installed. Homebuilders kept that in mind, and they allow commercial companies to inject pesticides to reduce the pests inside your home. The service may cause 200 to 400 dollars every year. But it is well worth it. If plants and aquariums cause the pests, reduce the humidity in your home. Also, avoid any stagnant water. Check all of the plumbings inside your home for leakage. You will most likely keep the bugs at bay with all of these setups.
5. Setup your billing system
There will be a lot of bills to pay once you own a home. The luxury of renting a place where the homeowner pays for the bill is gone. You will need to make account with many companies for this purpose. These bills include trash, water, electricity, gas, property tax, HOA fees, etc. Most importantly, you may also need to buy home insurance. It can be costly for a first-time homeowner, ranging from 1000 dollars or higher depending on the size of your home. Some may even need mortgage insurance if you loaned from the bank. I remember how surprised I was once I got all of these bills in my mail. I was panicking and trying to figure out how to pay my bills. My suggestion is to be systematic about your accounts. Make sure to have a calendar system so you stay organized. For the first few months of homeownership, make sure not to make other big purchases until you figure out the logistics.
If you are interested in home improvement, here are some of the products I use,
Buy the best water softener salt here: https://amzn.to/3NaToLa
Buy this water softening system if you want to DIY: https://amzn.to/3NduDOr
Buy hard water stain remover here: https://amzn.to/3FNqT3y
Measure your water hardness with my TDS meter: https://amzn.to/3Pi8Rei
I use this air filter for my home: https://amzn.to/37OnT