25. DON’T touch your retirement savings. Never put yourself in a situation where you have to dip into your retirement assets to buy, maintain or improve your house. That’s a good indication you've stretched yourself too thin. Try to have an emergency fund that covers three to six months of expenses to avoid this.
26. DO re-evaluate personal documents. Major life changes such as a Houston home purchase are great reasons to review and possibly update your life insurance and important estate planning documents.
27. DO consider a home warranty. If you didn't negotiate one at closing, buy one. Many policies cover problems with appliances, heating or cooling systems, and interior plumbing. You pay a small cost annually, which is so much less than if you had to pay $3,000 to replace a furnace.
28. DON’T expect a major tax refund. Most people believe they will have a significant tax refund the year they buy a house. That’s not always true, especially if you purchase your house in the second half of the year and only have a partial year’s worth of deductions.
29. Ask the listing agent for past utility costs. This way, you won’t be surprised by how much it may cost each month for electricity, gas and water.
Maintain the exterior
30. Appearances matter. Curb appeal helps maintain property values. Take pride in your new investment.
31. Watch the heat. It can cause foundation problems. Consider placing a soaker hose 12 to 18 inches from the home’s outer edge during spells of extremely high temperatures.
32. Water rules. In many southern cities, homeowners can be fined for watering their lawn on the wrong days of the week.
33. Meet the landscaper. The lawn care vendor knows the yard. Ask sellers for contact information and fees.
Purchasing a Houston home? Selling? Give us a call at 281-326-HOME and visit our website at www.davidthelocator.com
At Innovative Realty Group we can help you with all of your needs. Looking for a Houston apartment? We also specialize in Apartment Locating and our service is FREE!
Content provided courtesy of USAA.
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