Have you recently bought a new home or are you looking to purchase a house? If you are on the hunt, you may want to consider checking the various real estate listings on a site like DDProperty. Once you buy a new place to live in, there are several things you need to know about home improvements, permits and more.
1. You will probably need to make some changes immediately.
Even if you passed your initial inspection, there are probably a ton of things that you will need to do right away, according to Pure Wow. Make sure that before you buy your home, you leave enough money in your savings account to make those tweaks immediately. Also, keep in mind that if making those pressing improvements means holding off on buying new furniture, it is more important to make those changes happen right away rather than upgrade your furniture and decor.
2. Your new improvements will probably require permits.
Keep in mind that the changes you want to make to your property will probably require permits, depending on where you live and how many renovations you plan to make. A remodeling of the kitchen and a window installation both likely require a permit from the city government. Before making these renovations, make sure that you do your research and talk to attorneys and contractors to ensure that all of your projects are legal.
3. These changes could save you money in the long run.
If you are worried about the expenses involved with making these home improvements, you should be aware that these could actually save you money in the long run, especially if the renovations are energy-related or can help the environment in some way. For example, you can earn a 30 percent tax credit when you install a geothermal heat pump and you can save money on monthly energy bills by installing a solar panel and in turn selling electricity from your panels back to the grid.
Improving your house in other ways, like expanding your bathroom or kitchen, can also give your property a much higher value when you eventually sell, according to HGTV. Just make sure that you don’t improve your house so much that its property value is much higher than the other properties in your neighborhood, as doing so can make your property much more difficult to sell.
4. Your neighbors might be upset about your additions or other projects.
You might want to check with your neighbors before making major changes or additions to the property to make sure that they are okay with these upgrades to your house. It is better to be safe when working on major house projects, as you don’t want to piss off your neighbors, especially if you are new to the neighborhood.
5. You need to follow trash and recycling laws.
Make sure that you know which days the trash and recycling are collected to ensure that you are properly following all trash and recycling protocol. If there are specific items that are collected on certain days of the month, like big electronics, make sure that you are following those rules as well. Follow all of these laws perfectly to avoid getting hit with unnecessary fines.
6. Your lawns will need attention during each and every season in different ways.
Keep in mind when buying your first property that you need to take care of it and give it attention during every season, even in the winter. While spring and summer are all about keeping the grass perfectly manicured, you need to keep your lawn raked in the autumn and front walk shoveled and grass short in the winter.
7. You are liable for things about your house and yard that affect your neighbors and the general public.
If you have a tree that hangs into a neighbor’s driveway or an icy sidewalk out front, you might feel that you are only responsible for your own upkeep and safety. However, it is essential that you keep your neighbors and the general public in mind when taking care of your house and yard, as you could be held liable for any mishaps that occur on icy sidewalks that are not salted.
8. You can make improvements gradually.
While you might feel the urge to take on all of your projects at once, you should keep in mind that you can take on these projects gradually and pace yourself. Pacing yourself and tackling things one at a time will ensure that your money and energy go further in the long run.
Now that you know all there is to know about making additional interior and exterior upgrades as a first-time homeowner, it is time to jump in and start improving your house one project at a time!