New homeowners may face intense difficulties in their first year or two living in their own home. Many new homeowners think that the changeover from renting to owning is a cakewalk, but the reality is there are a number of new responsibilities that come along with homeownership that a renter simply doesn’t have to worry about. Until you arrive at this new phase of life, it’s easy to forget that these responsibilities exist. Homeownership is a critical stage, even though first-time buyers are getting older in the United States and around the world, and it’s still important to make this jump from ‘borrowing’ space to commanding it. Your home is often your most valuable asset and can be leveraged for many other important financial needs in the future, but maintaining the property can sure feel daunting at times. Here are a few tips for the newbie homeowner on how to know when you can do things yourself, and when it’s time to call in a professional technician.
Start with your home’s needs
Homeowners face steep difficulties in this acclimation period. For example, as a new owner, you may be facing trouble with your existing HVAC system that requires urgent repair in order to provide your home and family with comfortable, cool air. Installing a new system is the best way to prevent a compressor leak or spotty ductwork from hampering your in-home comfort. However, a total replacement of your air conditioner system isn’t necessarily the only option that you have. Your HVAC system is made up of a series of interworking parts that each contribute to the eradication of humidity from the interior of your home and promote an alternating warm climate to escape the chill of winter and cool air to beat the summer heat. It’s a good idea to get your existing system checked by a technician before signing on to purchase a new home, but even after you move in, repairs can be made simple with the help of an HVAC professional.
Another area to focus on is in your windows. Old windows that weren’t properly fitted or maintained provide an aggressive heat sink that sucks the climate-controlled air within your home out into the open air. Aging windows are a major drain on your energy bill because your air conditioner is spending a massive amount of effort heating or cooling a bubble of air that surrounds your home instead of just the thermostat has driven space within your home. Hiring a contractor to replace these with new windows is a great way to increase your home’s energy efficiency and protect your home against natural disasters and human intruders alike.
Consider your personal needs as well.
Homeowners must contend with far more than simply housing issues. Those battling chronic conditions must see their health care provider regularly. With the continued spread of COVID-19, this has become much harder to accomplish without the help of telemedicine services. Getting a prescription refill has become more challenging and less intrusive bugs like the flu is sending sufferers into panic mode as they try to grapple with discerning their symptoms from COVID-19. Searching for how to get a prescription without going to a doctor’s office has never been more important than in this moment.
It’s incredibly important to take care of your family’s health as well. After moving out of your apartment, it can be harder to find a community you trust to help you if you’re suffering from sore throats and headaches. This is especially true for homeowners that have moved into rural areas. Your nearest neighbor may-be minutes or miles away, and creating a community around you is just as important as tending to appliances. It’s always a good idea to get to know your neighbors as a point of camaraderie, but the benefit of nearby friends has become ever more important in this day and age. Also, find a practitioner you trust in your new area and a pharmacy that will be convenient to your new home.
Make sure you tackle home improvement projects as quickly as you can in order to head off the larger jobs and engage with your surroundings in order to build relationships in your new community.
