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 1. News


6 UNEXPECTED TRUTHS OF OWNING A FIRST HOME, ACCORDING TO HOMEOWNERS

By Barbara Bellesi Zito May 20, 2023

Our Editorial Process

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more
about our affiliate and product review process here.
Image Credit: Hunker in Partnership With Acme Real Estate


IN THIS ARTICLE

 * Utility bills
 * Contractors
 * Yard work
 * Snow removal
 * Emergency fund
 * Permanency

It's a big decision to move on from apartment life and purchase a home. But even
if you've carefully considered the amount of space you need and the mortgage
payment you can afford, that's just the tip of the iceberg compared to
everything else you'll be responsible for as a homeowner.

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We asked real homeowners what they experienced when they moved into their first
homes from an apartment — and some of the costs and considerations that were
easy for them to underestimate or forget about.

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1. YOU’LL WATCH YOUR UTILITY BILLS SOAR

Image Credit: Sanford Creative

It's common sense that the more electricity you use, the higher your utility
bills will be. But you might not realize ‌how‌ much more energy you're using now
that you've moved into a bigger space.

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Josh Petrawski, a homeowner and CEO of Sports & Fitness Exchange, saw his
utility bills soar when he bought his first home, especially during bouts of
extreme weather. "It was a lesson in being mindful of energy usage and finding
ways to make my home more energy-efficient," he explains.


2. YOU’LL NEED TO HIRE CONTRACTORS—OR LEARN DIY QUICKLY

Image Credit: Halfpoint Images/Moment/GettyImages

Even brand-new homes are not immune to faucets leaking and floorboards creaking.
But unlike having a landlord or superintendent's number saved in your contacts
list, you'll have to hire your own contractor to fix it—or buy the tools and
learn how to do it yourself.

Advertisement




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The 8 Best Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Home
By Caroline Biggs

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By Barbara Bellesi Zito



"Although some aspects of having a landlord can be unpleasant, there's nothing
like the convenience of having someone else handle the expenses and scheduling
of routine repairs," says Todd Saunders, a homeowner and the CEO of
FlooringStores.

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3. YOU’RE ON THE HOOK FOR YARD WORK

Image Credit: Hunker in Partnership With Acme Real Estate

If there was green space in your apartment community, perhaps you gave a
fleeting thought to the work that went into maintaining it, but now your yard
demands your full focus.

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"The house I moved into after living in an apartment had quite a big backyard,
so that multiplied the amount of work," said Miguel Camperos, a homeowner and VP
of Operations of SunVara, a gardening and beekeeping supply store.
"Additionally, chances are that you either have very few landscaping tools, if
any, prior to living in a house, so having to buy all of those things definitely
hits the wallet hard."

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4. ...AND SNOW REMOVAL, TOO

Image Credit: Philippe Gerber/Moment/GettyImages

If you live in an area where you don't see the white stuff in winter, count
yourself lucky as a homeowner. Otherwise, start scoping sales on shovels and
snow blowers. Now that you no longer can rely on an apartment building
maintenance crew, it's you who's heading up snow removal duty.

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You can't avoid it by staying in until it all melts, either. Depending on where
you live, you might be required by law to clear your sidewalks to provide safe
access to pedestrians. Property owners in New York City, for example, have to
abide by strict timelines for shoveling ice and snow from their sidewalks unless
they want to risk hefty fines.

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5. YOU’LL NEED AN EMERGENCY FUND

Image Credit: Catherine McQueen/Moment/GettyImages

Any surprises that pop up for homeowners are often more expensive than exciting.
As many a hapless homeowner has discovered, when one appliance conks out,
there's a good chance another one is next in line. That's why it's always a good
idea to save for the proverbial rainy day.

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"New homeowners should absolutely build emergency repair funds into their budget
since even simple fixes can be more expensive than you think," says Saunders.

Erin Nutter, a homeowner who runs The DIY Nuts blog with her husband, recalls
how shocking it was for them to discover just how expensive the "non-fun things"
were when they moved into their starter home. "From calling a plumber to getting
a new roof, the expenses can add up — and they aren't necessarily the fun things
you want to spend the money on," she says. "As a homeowner, you have to accept
that a new roof is needed more than remodeling a room just because you don't
like how it looks."

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6. YOU’RE TIED TO THE LOCATION—AT LEAST FOR A WHILE

Image Credit: Thomas Winz/The Image Bank/GettyImages

Perhaps you've bought a "starter home," not your "forever home." If so, packing
up and leaving for a new place isn't as easy as it once was — at least in
hindsight — when you had an apartment lease. Now, unless you have an extensive
budget and can take on a second mortgage payment, you'll likely have to sell
your home before moving.

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"Renting provided a certain level of flexibility and mobility that I sometimes
long for," said Petrawski.


HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A WILD RIDE

It's not just a mortgage payment that launches you into full "adulting" mode.
It's the hefty responsibility that comes with being the owner of your own
domain.

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"Perhaps the most daunting thing about moving from an apartment to a house is
the sheer amount of responsibility it requires," says Martin Orefice, CEO, Rent
To Own Labs. ‌Everything‌ is your responsibility now, from routine maintenance
to fixing or replacing things when they break. This goes beyond a leaky faucet
or temperamental toilet. Now you're on the hook for bigger and even more crucial
components of your house, he explains, including the roof and siding—two things
you never had to give a second thought to as an apartment renter.

"It's easy to feel incompetent in these situations," Orefice says. "Be patient
with yourself, do your best, and try to learn a little more each year."

Advertisement



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Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more
about our affiliate and product review process here.


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