home owner illustration
Purchasing your first home can be an exciting time, especially if you’re moving into a much larger space than you’re used to. Before you venture into the world of homeownership, here are a few tips to help you along the way.
Don’t Overdo Furniture
If you’re used to living in a small space, upgrading to an entire home can seem a bit overwhelming. Naturally, you likely want to fill your new space with furniture that reflects your personality and makes your home feel cozy, however, doing so all at once can be expensive. Rather than buying pricey furniture for your home, instead, take hand-me-downs from friends and relatives or purchase used furniture to help you get by while you upgrade one room at a time. That way, your space doesn’t look totally empty but you’re also not breaking the bank buying pricey furniture you can’t afford.
Make a Maintenance Checklist
If you’re used to being a renter, then owning your home may come as a shock to you the first time something breaks, because you have to pay for that repair yourself. One of the best homeowner tips you can get is to make a home maintenance checklist that you go through once or twice a year. This keeps small projects top-of-mind and can help you address small issues before they become costly fixes.
Neglecting Supplies
As a renter, you probably don’t need to have a lot of tools handy around the house, because when something goes wrong you can count on your landlord to fix it. This isn’t the case when you’re a homeowner. The last thing you want to happen is to have something break and then not have the right tools and supplies to fix it. Put together a small toolkit of handy items, such as a hammer and nails, tape measure, drill, and pliers, which can help you out with many of your smaller home repairs.
Not Being Energy Efficient
Energy efficiency is a must if you plan to be in your home long term. If you have appliances, windows, and other items around your home that aren’t energy efficient, you could be potentially wasting hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on energy bills. You don’t have to upgrade to pricey equipment to take advantage of energy savings. Something as simple as investing in a smart thermostat can help you take advantage of significant savings that really add up over the years.
Owning a home can be a very rewarding experience, especially if you’re smart with your home. Using the right tips, your home can save you money while providing a beautiful place to live and raise a family.