For many people, the decision to buy a home is a no-brainer. After all, what’s not to love about owning your piece of the home-owning dream? But as with anything in life, homeownership has pros and cons.
In this blog post, you’ll explore both sides of the issue as well as some things you’ll have to do as a homeowner. This will help you decide if owning a home is right for you.
The Pros of Homeownership
Many benefits come with owning your own home. First and foremost, when you own your own home, you have a place to call your own. You can paint the walls whatever color you want, remodel the kitchen to your heart’s desire, and make the space your own.
Second, as a homeowner, you’re building equity in your property. Over time, your home will likely increase in value, and when you sell it down the road, you stand to make a profit. Finally, homeownership can sometimes offer some tax advantages. Depending on where you live, interest on your mortgage and certain home improvement expenses can be deducted from your taxes.
The Cons of Homeownership
Of course, there are also some drawbacks to homeownership. For one thing, as a homeowner, you’re responsible for all maintenance and repairs on your property—and those costs can add up quickly. Also, you’re responsible for property taxes and homeowner’s insurance—costs that can quickly increase over time.
And finally, unlike renting an apartment or house, if you need or want to move somewhere else down the road—say, for a new job or because of family reasons—selling your home can take months (or even longer). And in the meantime, you’ll still be responsible for payments on a property you no longer live or want to live in.
Must-Dos for Every Homeowner
1. Care for Your Lawn
For many homeowners, lawn maintenance is a necessity. Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, and raking leaves are all tasks that must be performed regularly to keep the yard presentable. Nevertheless, lawn maintenance can also be a source of enjoyment. Working outside in the fresh air can be therapeutic, and taking pride in one’s yard can be a source of satisfaction.
Furthermore, maintaining a well-groomed lawn can increase the value of a home. For all these reasons, it is essential to approach lawn maintenance with the right attitude. Viewing it as an opportunity to relax and beautify one’s home, lawn care can become a pleasure rather than a chore.
2. Inspect Your Roof
Inspecting the roof regularly (at least once a year) for signs of wear and tear is crucial. Look for missing or damaged shingles, cracks, holes in the flashing, and other areas of concern. If you have a leaky roof, you’ll need to fix it, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can hire a professional roofing contractor to do it for you.
3. Clear Out Your Dryer Vent
Did you know that over 15,000 house fires yearly are caused by clogged dryer vents? Lint buildup in your dryer vent is not only a fire hazard but can also lead to decreased efficiency and higher energy bills. To avoid this, clean your dryer vent at least once a year (more often if you have pets or live in an area with a lot of dust). You can do this yourself with a brush made specifically for cleaning dryer vents, or you can hire a professional duct cleaning company to do it for you.
4. Test Your Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are essential to every home’s safety system, so it’s vital to test them regularly (at least once a month) to ensure they’re working correctly. If they’re not, simply replace the batteries and/or alarm as needed.
5. Change Your HVAC Filter
Your HVAC system works hard to keep your home comfortable all year long, so it’s essential to change the filter regularly (every 1-3 months depending on your filter type). This will help improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and reduce wear and tear on the components.
6. Check Your Door Locks
If you want to be a homeowner, you should know that you’ll have to check your door locks regularly. After all, your home is only as secure as your locks. Checking them periodically is essential to preventing break-ins.
Fortunately, checking your locks to ensure they’re working correctly is easy. Simply open and close each one a few times, paying attention to how smoothly they function. If you notice any sticking or difficulty opening or closing the lock, it’s time to have it serviced or replaced.
So is homeownership right for you? Only you can answer that question. It won’t always be easy. As a homeowner, you’ll have to stay on top of everything, big and small. By weighing the pros and cons of ownership and the required tasks, you’ll better understand what factors to consider as you make your decision.
