Costly Maintenance Items to be Aware of When Buying Your First House

Getting the keys to your very first home can be one of the most exhilarating milestones of your adult life. Owning your first home also brings a sigh of relief after months of house hunting, hours of negotiating, collecting paperwork, and saving money for appraisals and the entire closing process. However, first-time homeowners have to remember that owning property comes with great responsibility.

There are several maintenance tasks that every first-time homeowner should take care of as soon as they can because if they aren’t taken care of they can be very costly. Now, let’s dive into costly maintenance items!

HVAC

One of the most important and most costly items that a homeowner needs to be sure is in good condition is the HVAC. If you are used to renting then you probably have never had to worry about the HVAC so it can seem intimidating, especially considering the HVAC without the HVAC system your home can’t have cool air or heating. First-time homeowners should set up an appointment to make sure the HVAC system is working properly and make sure it has clean filters. Failure to do so can result in thousands of dollars worth of repair.

Water Damage

Another maintenance cost that can be extremely costly if not taken care of is water damage. It is important for new homeowners to check their walls, ceilings, and floors for signs of water damage. Water damage, especially if the home is older, can lead to things such as mold or rotting wood. This type of maintenance issue can range from low to high thousands of dollars, depending on how deep the damage is. Some things that indicate water damage are dampness in the floor or wall, water stains or paint damage, or even if you feel that a room is humid.

Mold

With water damage comes another high costing maintenance issue that will not only damage your house but also damage your health. New homeowners should check and make sure that there is no sign of mold or mildew in the house. Breathing in mold from your home can lead to extremely life-changing respiratory issues.

While it is possible to remove the mold by yourself, it may not be the safest choice depending on how wide the mold has spread throughout the house. You can work with professionals to replace damaged areas of your home. Depending on the moisture outside, you may need new siding for your home if the exterior is also suffering from damage. Mold removal can be extremely costly if it has already damaged a large amount of the house.

Hot Water Heater

Hot water heaters usually work well for a decade but afterward, it can be a costly maintenance repair. As a first-time owner, it is hard to know how long the previous owner has had the hot water heater. Therefore, it is a good idea to check and make sure it is up to date immediately after they purchase the home.

A yearly maintenance check can save a new homeowner thousands of dollars if they don’t keep up on the maintenance once every year. You can often know that the water heater needs repair if there is a loud humming sound or a water leak. After replacing a water heater, many homeowners do a complete overhaul of their bathroom.

Renovating a bathroom can add tremendous value to your home. Consider these custom bathroom designs when drawing up plans for this project. You can get creative, even if your bathroom space is smaller in size.

Although there are a variety of household items that often break or get damaged over time, don’t let that scare you away from buying your first home. Regardless of the quality, most of these maintenance items happen naturally and are difficult to avoid. Use the tips to be proactive instead of reactive after purchasing your first property. There are plenty of things you can do as a homeowner to look out for these upcoming obstacles. Not to mention, when you are shopping for your first house, you can now be aware of these items before committing to a property that might have more damage than you think.

About The Author: Alex Capozzolo is a partner of Henry Buys Homes, a real estate company in Jacksonville, FL. He has been writing for the real estate industry for several years. Henry is a licensed agent that operates in the Florida market.

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