New Homeowner? Prepare For Trouble Now

If you’re a new homeowner who’s only rented before, it might take some time to get used to this new level of responsibility. That’s not a problem – you don’t become a DIY expert overnight! But the sooner you’re able to tackle the basics, such as putting up a shelf and plastering over a hole in the wall, the smoother your transition to homeowner is going to be. 

If you do, you’re only going to have to worry about the bigger jobs, a.k.a., anything that can cause a lot of trouble and be expensive to fix. Subsidence, smashed windows, a collapsing roof – these are all examples of problems that’ll take a lot more time and effort to fix. 

As such, from the moment you move into your home, you should get to know the process of keeping your home safe and happy. Remember – the more you know now, the easier it’ll be to keep maintenance costs down! 

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Start Building an Emergency Fund

Now you’ve spent all that money on buying a house and securing a mortgage, it’s time to build an emergency fund. This will make it a lot easier to deal with repairs, breakages, and big bills that bust the budget. Three months’ worth of your income, or joint income if you’re in a couple, will keep you on the straight and narrow if anything expensive happens. 

Of course, it can be hard to build a separate fund at a time like this, but it’s essential to try. Even a couple hundred dollars in the pot can influence a better result.

Make Friends with the Neighbors

If you’ve got a friend either side of you (and across the street as well), you’re going to be surrounded by a little community of your own. This is essential for people who are living away from family for the first time; if you’re at least an hour away from your parents, having someone to rely on next door will make you feel a lot better. 

Getting to know the neighbors means there’s always someone to call in an emergency, someone to take in a package for you, and someone to keep an eye on your house when you’re away. 

Strike up a conversation on your first day in the neighborhood. Take over baked goods or invite them round for a coffee – a little bit of social interaction goes a long way. 

Save a Few Numbers

If you don’t know any repair companies yet, save a few numbers now you’ve moved into your home. Ask around friends and family for recommendations, but you can also head online to find reliable emergency water heater repair services that you might need to call on one day. 

Find those numbers now so you’re not scrabbling around for them later. Right now you’ve got the freedom of finding someone you actually want to work with, and to also get on the client list with an enquiry call. 

Don’t leave a task like this until later. You want to have a clear head and plenty of time to make a choice. When you really need repairs done, the resulting panic can make it hard to make an objective decision! 

Set Up Outside Security

No matter what area you live in, it’s worth it to have some kind of outside security that’ll ward off burglars and make you feel much more safe living in your home. Most people get an alarm installed and call it a day, but if you have a video doorbell or a motion light as well, you’ll have a much more secure loop to rely on. 

You can also use some gardening tips to make it harder for someone to sneak up on your property. Gravel across the driveway, for example, will always amplify footsteps. Similarly, planting tall bushes and/or trees around the perimeter can make it hard for someone to find a gap to come through. Small installations like these make a huge difference. 

New homeowners don’t get a guidebook to read from. A lot of the learning comes from doing the hard work, even if you’ve got long term homeowner parents to rely on! And the most important things to learn are the home based disasters that make life a lot harder. But if you’re prepared from the moment you’re given the keys, you’re going to be able to relax in your new space. Take tips like these to heart and use them to make homeownership easier.