10 Things Only a Homeowner Can Understand
Now that one of the month’s major holidays has past, homeowners across the country may be in major clean-up mode. They’re likely finding wrapping paper and cookie crumbs in parts of their home they forgot existed. If they’ve had family and friends over for the holidays or are planning to do so to welcome the New Year, they may be picking up or preparing for guests that may or may not abide by their house rules. Yes, once you become a homeowner, you do abide by a slightly different set of rules than you did when you were renting. From habitually removing your shoes when you step through the front door to meticulously scrubbing the floors on a masterfully-scheduled basis, there are just some things that only fellow homeowners understand. So, while everyone is savoring their last few moments of 2015 and preparing for a healthy, happy New Year, here are 10 things that only homeowners may understand: 1. Homeowners would prefer a clean house over their favorite drink. Whether it’s coffee, wine or water, nothing tastes as good to a homeowner as a spotlessly-clean home. There is something incredibly intoxicating about walking into a clean home that is all yours. 2. Homeowners will work harder to get their house clean than they will during a month’s worth of gym time. Before becoming a homeowner, you probably would never dream of wiping out your windowsills on a regular basis. And, you’d certainly never get so apprehensive when your family members begged you to bring their four-clawed friends onto those hardwoods you just spent your three-hour sweat sesh to get clean. 3. Homeowners want you to take your shoes off, even if they say you don’t need to. Let’s face it, homeowners; before you owned a home, even you didn’t take your shoes off when you came through the door. For the full explanation of why you do now – and why you want to insist everyone else does, too – reread number two! 4. Homeowners ARE always trying to keep up with the Joneses, Smiths or whoever lives next door. Your next-door neighbor just put a fence up for their new puppy. On the other side, your neighbors started work on a massive screened-in porch; behind them, your neighbors are enjoying their new patio. OK, homeowner, you’re up… and, it will need to be bigger and better. When you’re a homeowner, it’s hard to resist the urge to keep up with what the neighbors are doing to their homes. 5. But, you may love the Joneses, Smiths and whoever else lives next door. That’s the best part! When you’re a homeowner, you’re not maliciously trying to compete with your neighbors; they may even be your good friends! When you’re renting an apartment, you may not feel like being all that social with Mrs. Whatwashernameagain down the hall. But, when you’re planning to live by your neighbors for several years, you could find yourself lending a hand or even sharing meals on a regular basis. And, that’s a great, great perk of owning your home. 6. Homeowners tend to become Mr. or Ms. Home Maintenance. Remember the leaky faucet your landlord used to fix? Or the time your rental unit’s refrigerator door fell off and your landlord bought you a new one? Well, when you’re a homeowner, not only are you in charge of keeping the hardwoods, carpets and more clean… you’re also in charge of any repairs or routine maintenance that your home requires. 7. Which is why they have a love-hate relationship with their home. Yes, you love all of the personal touches you’ve added to the home you own. But, there’s the cleaning and maintenance that’s required. Oh, and remember what you paid for your home? Now, you’re probably glued to the market, watching prices and interest rates rise and fall. Sometimes you love the deal you got… and, sometimes you loathe it. 8. In a sense, homeownership means you’re stuck in one place. Of course, in theory, you can sell your home at any time; but, when you own, it is highly unlikely that you’ll pick up, sell, buy and move from one year to the next, like you’re freer to do when you’re renting. Home ownership definitely keeps you grounded and that typically means that you’re putting down roots for a number of years. 9. Which is why you’ll always be doing something new to your house. When you’re planning to stay in one place for a while, what do you do to add a little excitement to your home? Homeowners can tell you… start changing things up! From building an addition to remodeling one room one year and another the next, if you’re not changing your location, you’ll start changing your home! 10. And, alas, there will never be enough fun money. From entertaining to home maintenance to remodeling and every other reason listed above on this list… home ownership is expensive! It’s not just because of that monthly mortgage payment. Home ownership means that you’re also paying insurance, property taxes, possible HOA fees and any other repair or replacement cost that comes up along the way… but, if you’re a homeowner, we’re willing to bet that you’d be happy to do it all over again! J Not in the homeowner’s club yet, but feel like you’re ready to join? Contact a trusted Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty agent to start talking about the home-buying process today!
