First-time homebuyers have a lot to juggle between touring open houses, finding the right real estate agent, and carefully balancing their finances. New responsibilities and decisions can stack up quickly, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel overwhelmed! With the right clarity and know-how, buying a home can be smooth and even enjoyable.

1. Start with the Home Appraisal
Not all homes require appraisals, but when taking out a loan (which is usually what first-time homebuyers will be doing), lenders will require this assessment to confirm the home’s market value. Home appraisals vary in price depending on things like the size of the property as well as the location.

2. Invest in a Home Inspection
After the appraisal, the property is evaluated again under a different lens via a home inspection. Often a similar cost as a home appraisal, the home inspection is a far more thorough examination performed by a third-party professional (licensing requirements vary by state) in order to determine the overall condition of the home at the time of the inspection.

3. Factor in Moving Costs
On the absolute lowest end of the spectrum, new homeowners can expect to spend a few hundred for a cheap, local move. But for those who are moving from out of town or have a large amount of furniture that needs to be transported, moving costs can rise. Moving is one aspect that can vary wildly depending on the homeowner’s needs and their willingness to use a little of their own elbow grease.

4. Consider Renovations and Repairs
No home is perfect, and any house will inevitably require a few repairs and potentially a few renovations before it fits what a new homeowner needs. Those that skipped their home inspection just might be saddled with major repair costs when issues come to light at this point. In worst-case scenarios, high-ticket items, like the HVAC system or roof, may need major repairs or replacements.

5. Expect Consistent Maintenance Costs
The most common rule of thumb for a homeowner’s maintenance fund is 1 to 4 percent of the home’s value per year to cover the inevitable knicks and bruises encountered along the way. Starting with a home inspection by a trusted professional will help reduce surprises and create an actionable home maintenance plan for years down the road!

We always appreciate an easy write-up! As inspectors, we perform an unbiased, non-invasive inspection. This means that not only will we never put holes in walls or otherwise damage property in order to perform our assessment, we also won’t move furniture or objects. If an area we need access to is blocked, we write it as such—it’s up to the current homeowner to make sure that all access points are clear. If you’d like to help sellers prepare for their inspection, ask us about our Pre-Inspection Checklist! 

Bugs are a part of our diverse and fascinating ecosystem, but most homeowners don’t exactly want to recreate it indoors. If you’d like to avoid a hefty pest control bill, here are a few DIY solutions for dealing with infestation.

How to Annihilate Ants
Ants tend to be drawn to different kinds of food based on the time of year and type of ant. According to pest experts over at the Family Handyman blog, homeowners can lay out a selection of proteins, sweets, and fatty foods in their home to determine which foods their ants are most drawn to. From there, toxic ant bait that corresponds to these different “diet preferences” can be used to lay waste to any ant colonies that have found their way indoors.

How to Clobber Cockroaches
The best answer to keep cockroaches away is to clean up spills quickly, avoid leaving out food for long periods of time, and take out the garbage in a timely fashion. Cockroaches are known to reproduce extremely quickly, so catching sight of a single one of these critters should trigger homeowners to take action. Chemical bait can be placed under sinks and near trash cans, enticing roaches to bring the toxic food back to their families. This then eliminates the colony.

How to Terminate Termites
The most reliable method for terminating termites is through using boric acid, an ingredient in certain insecticides. Drill holes into infected wood and apply this spray to cracks and other access points to eliminate termites where they’ve established themselves. Another option for a DIY termite trap is simply laying two wetted cardboard pieces on top of one another, leaving it near a termite nest, and allowing the insects to become caught in the material. This method isn’t thought to be as effective or consistent as using high-powered poisons and baits, but can be employed as a supplemental option. Remember, when in doubt with this issue, call a local pest control specialist!

How to Slay Silverfish
Silverfish are drawn to common household items like glue, carpet fibers, and paint. So, a solid DIY way to catch silverfish is to wet a roll of newspaper and lay it out for a few days. Silverfish are likely to crawl inside the paper and can be disposed of easily. Alternatively, pest experts at Good Housekeeping recommend making use of diatomaceous earth, a white powdery substance said to be harmful to these insects.

How to Smash Spiders
To begin a fight against spiders, homeowners should thoroughly vacuum their homes, including under furniture and inside closets. Spiders tend to establish their lairs in seldom-frequented corners of houses, so a committed effort is needed for this step. From there, any pesticides or repellents can work nicely. As a homemade option, essential oils are said to be effective such as lavender, rosemary, and peppermint.

In general, homeowners can work to keep pests out of their homes by doing things like trimming back bushes and sealing openings to the outdoors. For more information on keeping pests away before they find their way in your home, check out this quick guide!