New Homeowner Tips and Tricks

By Pinewood Furniture

Nearly every week, we have new homeowners come into Pinewood Furniture.  Most have them have the same goal - to find quality hardwood furniture that will last a lifetime.  And they find it!

But we've also found that many NEW homeowners can be overwhelmed with the whole process of becoming a homeowner!  We figured we'd put together a blog this week of five tips and tricks to help you keep your sanity!

1.     Create a “home binder”.   By keeping all of your records in one place, you’ll save quite the headache when it comes time to file taxes, take advantage of a warranty on a fridge or dishwasher or make a claim on your homeowners insurance.  And whenever you get a receipt for a repair or upgrade to the house – keep it here.  All of those improvements will ultimately help the resale value!

2.     Get ready for unexpected problems.  Things WILL go wrong…and it’ll happen when you least expect it.  A hidden leak in the shower.  A busted furnace.  A smart rule of thumb is to set aside cash for these unexpected repairs – and an amount recommended by financial experts is 1-3 percent of your home’s initial price EACH YEAR to cover these expenses.

3.     Stock up on furnace and water filters.  Changing these filters is one of the easiest ways to save money in the long run (it’ll ensure a smoothly operating system that will keep it running longer)…and one of the easiest ways to look out for your health (since the air and water will be cleaner).  But good luck trying to remember to pick up these filters every few months.  Instead….buy them once a year and schedule the replacement on your calendar.  MUCH easier to remember this way!

4.     Stock up on insurance. Make sure you fully understand your homeowners insurance.  Two areas where many policies lack are flood and fire protection, which aren’t always standard.  And check out your car insurance policy as well.  Now that you have a home…you’ve got a much bigger asset that you can lose in the event of a lawsuit!

5.     Invest in quality.  Be willing to spend a little more on quality if it’s going to last the test of time.  From a stove to an office desk…from a quality paint for your walls to Amish furniture…you’ll save yourself SIGNIFICANT amounts of money in the long run by investing in a product that’s going to last you for decades as opposed to a product that will just last a few years.