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6 HIDDEN MAINTENANCE COSTS TO LOOKOUT FOR AS A BUYER

6 HIDDEN MAINTENANCE COSTS TO LOOKOUT FOR AS A BUYER

by | Apr 16, 2022 | Advice For Buyers, Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance

So you have finally closed on the home of your dreams. You went through all the steps and paperwork, so you can now relax. As long as you keep up with your mortgage payments, your financials are all set – to an extent.

Now that you own a home, you need to maintain it. Maintenance can cost a good chunk of money. The worst maintenance costs are those that you did not see coming before you purchased the home. Here are six hidden expenses that are often overlooked.

  1. New Locks
    1. As soon as you get the keys to your home, it would be best if you get new locks. Think about how many people were given keys to get into your new home at one point.
    2. Cost: $100 to $350
  2. Tree Removal
    1. If you buy a home with a good amount of greenery, remember to budget for that maintenance. Tree removal and trimming can cost a good amount of money.
    2. Cost: $75 to $4,000
  3. HVAC
    1. The best way to prevent expensive repairs on your HVAC is to maintain it twice a year. The best bang for your buck is getting a service contract. These typically give you two checkups a year from a technician to prevent serious issues.
    2. `$70 to $100 twice a year
  4. Duct Cleaning
    1. If the home you purchased was previously lived in, you should check out the duct situation. This can be a huge issue for people with allergies. You should get a one-time duct cleaning when you move in. The cost of cleaning varies on the size of your home.
    2. Cost $450 to $1,000
  5. Fire Extinguishers
    1. In many states, home sellers must keep a fire extinguisher within 5 feet of the kitchen when the house hits the market. If your new home doesn’t have any, you should buy at least one.
    2. Cost $20 to $75 per extinguisher
  6. Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
    1. It is recommended to install a smoke detector in every bedroom in your home. New homes will typically come equipped with these. Previously owned homes may have outdated systems that need to be replaced.
    2. Cost $12-$18 per unit
4 WAYS TO CHOOSE THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YOU

4 WAYS TO CHOOSE THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YOU

by | Dec 18, 2021 | Advice For Buyers, Advice For Renters, Buying a Home, Home Inspection, Neighborhood

If you’re starting to think about looking for a new home, picking the neighborhood can seem almost as complicated as picking the house itself. Here are five things to keep in mind as you explore neighborhoods you might like to live in.

1. Time the Commute to Your Job

If one of your reasons for moving is dissatisfaction with your commute, make sure you actually time your commute from your potential new home before you assume it will be faster. Even if the new neighborhood is closer to your job, traffic patterns and road conditions might make for a long drive. If possible, time your commute during rush hour, so you get the most accurate picture.

2. Go For a Walk

There’s no better way to get a sense of a neighborhood than taking a walk around it, ideally at a couple of different times of the day. Look for amenities that are important to you, like parks or grocery stores, and features you’re less fond of, like proximity to major roads. These little explorations will help you get a feel for how happy you could be in this area.

3. Attend a Local Event

If you’re looking to get a feel for the people who live in the area as well as its layout, try to attend a local festival or other events. Assess the crowd to see how well they match your vision of your ideal neighborhood. Take your time to people-watch and get a sense of the community. Local school events like sports games or plays are a particularly good way to see the community; even if you don’t have school-aged kids, you learn a lot about a community from how it treats its students.

4. Read Up on the Neighborhood

Do some research to see how this area has been mentioned online and in the news over the past few years. This will give you a sense of all sorts of important local issues: the job market, the controversies, the politicians, school events.  A town or regional paper is a great place to start because it will show you what locals think are important and how they go about having discussions.