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10 New Home Surprises

Do not be fooled into thinking that the cost of buying a home is summed up in your mortgage. When budgeting for buying a new home, you should be aware of these 10 expenses that might take you by surprise, as discussed by an MSN.com article.

The Right Tool for the Job

As you will soon discover, probably the day you move in, you will need tools, and lots of them. Houses require all sorts of fixing, and there is a tool for everything. Hammers, screwdrivers, drills, wrenches, duct tape, levels…all of these things are necessary and will cost you.

Be My Guest

You didn’t buy all that extra space for nothing. Maybe you have guests often, maybe you don’t, but once you buy a new home, plenty of friends and family from afar will probably want to come see it. This means that you have to provide all of the comforts of home for your guests. If you are dedicating one or more rooms to this purpose, you will need to furnish them with beds, dressers, nightstands, décor, lamps, etc. Even if you are not planning to have a guest room, you will still have to provide towels, sheets and some meals to your guests.

Fix It

You just closed on your home, you walk in, and the first thing you notice? Something doesn’t work. Maybe the hot water heater won’t work or maybe the dishwasher leaks. Or maybe the garage door won’t open or a door won’t stay shut. In any case, you will have to fix it, sometimes quickly. Even if you’re buying a brand-new home, something will not work to your satisfaction. Be prepared to spend anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars on repairs, depending on the severity of the problem.

What Happened to the…?

When you buy a house, you may be under the impression that the seller is leaving certain items. This could include window coverings, picnic tables, hot tubs or anything, really. If you want to replace any of these things, this is another expense for which you’ll have to account.

Get a Green Thumb

If you are moving from an apartment, condo or townhome to a house, you will probably have a yard and/or garden to maintain. Heck, you may even have to landscape the place! You could find yourself purchasing anything from sod and fencing to lawnmowers and gardening shears. Or, you can always pay someone to do it for you, but that will cost, too.

The Great Commute

Depending on where you moved, there may be added costs to your commute. If you moved further away from your workplace, there is the added cost of gas plus wear and tear on your car. Depending on where you live, there might be other costs such as tolls, train or bus passes or even a second car for your partner or spouse. Although you may have thought of how your commute will fit in with that perfect house before you made an offer, you may not have thought of all of the specifics of the route you would need to take.

The Great Commute, Part II

Maybe your current car can’t even tolerate your new commute. Maybe they plow less here or get more snow, in which case you might need four-wheel drive or new snow tires. Maybe you will find that you’ll need cruise control so your foot won’t fall asleep while driving 65mph for an hour straight. Or maybe the age and condition of your car is just not up to snuff. Make sure you think about the possibility of buying a new car in order to stay sane in your new home.

Is that Another Window??

Window coverings are the dirty secret of new houses. When you put an offer down, you were probably blinded by the beauty of those huge, beautiful bay windows. But did you think how much it would cost to cover them so your house doesn’t roast and you don’t bleach your furniture? Most windows in a home will need some kind of covering, whether it’s curtains with tiebacks or simple shades. Even if you are frugal when shopping for window coverings, you still may end up spending a pretty penny.

My New Hobby

Moving to a new house often means a new area, which often means new attractions. Proximity to a golf course might mean that you want to take up golf. Or, surprise! Everyone in your community is part of a hiking club. New hobbies and recreational activities require new equipment: golf clubs, tennis racquets, hiking boots, swimsuits, kayaks, dog Frisbees…

Pottery Barn, Here We Come!

When buying your house, you may have made the mistake of thinking that all of your old stuff would look just fine in your new house, or that you would be content with a new house with old stuff. It is inevitable that something doesn’t work: the sofa doesn’t go with the newly installed carpeting; the dining table is too small for the space; you need at least five bookcases to make the study look “intellectual.” Whatever the case, be prepared to either be satisfied with what you have or with spending a good deal of money on new stuff.

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