9 Very useful tips for first-time home owners

After months of house hunting, a multitude of legalities, and reams of paperwork, you’re finally ready to realise your dream and move into your very own home but, as it’s also one of the largest financial investments you’ll ever make, it’s important to start off on the right footing.

This is according to Cobus Odendaal, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Johannesburg and Randburg, who says that whilst buying a home is a smart investment and offers a lot of benefits for you and your family, owning a home also comes with a few disadvantages and many responsibilities.

“You now have additional monthly expenses like building insurance and municipal rates and, unfortunately, you can no longer just pick up the phone to call the landlord when something goes wrong – you ARE the landlord.

“It can easily become overwhelming not to mention costly, especially if you’ve bought an older home that requires updating but, if you are prepared from the get-go, you will experience all of the joy with few of the potential headaches.”

Odendaal offers the following new homeowner tips to make your transition to property owner a little smoother:

Create a Homeowner’s File

Before you move into your new home, create a binder or allocate a drawer in your filing cabinet for important documents relating to your home, including your mortgage and home insurance paperwork.

Once you’ve moved in add all your appliance user manuals and warranties and keep all receipts relating to home improvements as you will need these for tax purposes when the time comes to sell.

After your move in, use the same binder to store all of the guides and warranties for your new appliances. Store receipts for any home improvement and moving expenses here as well. You’ll want to hang on to these for your taxes. You can also start collecting contact information for reliable contractors in this binder.

More here on the legacy file you should have for your home

Start an Emergency House Fund

You never know when something is going to go wrong, or how much it is going to cost and, as repairs are now your responsibility, this can real put a strain on your finances if you aren’t prepared.

And, the longer you live in your home, the more likely you are to experience surprise issues like plumbing faults and electrical failures or even big-ticket repairs like new roofing, plumbing, heating or roofing issue so start an emergency savings account as soon as possible and try to contribute to it religiously.

Make Friends with Your Neighbours

This is a good idea for a number of reasons. Building a relationship with your neighbours will help to resolve disputes more easily should they ever arise, enable you to get good recommendations for any services you may need and it’s also better for security as neighbours who know each other, look out for each other.

Put Together a Basic Toolbox

The last thing you want to become is that new neighbour who always borrowing something and you don’t want to have to call out a contractor every time anything small goes wrong.

Purchasing your first home has likely left you stretched thin money-wise, so you don’t need to go overboard but it’s a good idea to buy the essential tools you're most likely to need.

These include a hammer, flat-head screwdrivers, Phillips-head screwdrivers, a hammer, a wrench, a torch, and a power drill.

Find out more about the tools every home owner should have

If Possible, Get Small Projects Finished Before You Move In

It is a good idea to complete certain small projects such as painting rooms or removing old wall-to-wall carpeting before moving into your new home. Your home is then liveable and you have time to plan bigger projects properly.

Wait To Start Any Large Projects

Home improvement projects are expensive and, to avoid completing unnecessary projects, it’s always best to live in your new home for several months before making any final decisions.

This will allow you to get a feel for your home, how the existing layout works and what really needs to be changed. It will also give you time to save for any upcoming projects.

Focus On Upgrades That Will Give You the Most Bang for Your Buck

Unless you have a generous budget, it’s best to focus on improvements that will give you the most return on your investment. Take the time to do a little research - find out what the most popular features are in your area and how much the work will cost.

As a general rule of thumb, projects that typically yield a good return include kitchen and bathroom upgrades, repainting in neutral tones, and an attractive outdoor living area or deck,

Complete One Project at a Time

It may be tempting to finish all your improvements as soon as possible, but don’t work on multiple home projects at once. Not only will you exhaust your finances, but you will also make your new home unliveable and add unnecessary stress to your everyday life.

Pay Attention to Your Energy Usage

This is especially important if you’ve bought a bigger home than you lived in before. Pay attention to how your home is using energy and learn how to reduce your carbon footprint and save money. You’ll be surprised how small changes can affect your electric bill and ease your monthly expenses.

Homeowner tips and tricks for reducing your energy costs:

• Lower your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees.
• Switch out lightbulbs for energy-efficient LED lightbulbs.
• Move your refrigerator away from your oven.

“Buying your first home and getting your foot on the property ladder is an exciting time and, if you are properly prepared, it will be the best investment you’ll ever make,” concludes Odendaal.