The real estate is booming and I’m seeing a lot of my friends here in Pittsburgh purchasing their first homes! With low rates nationwide, people are ending their lease and investing in a house instead. And while I’m always PRO- buying your own property than renting an apartment or house, I’m here to remind first-time home owners not to forget the maintenance that goes with it! READ: make sure you budget for these things!

Sharing a checklist below!

Our second house (a lake cottage) shown above, where I photoshopped the paint color to visualize before getting it painted.

If you’ve been following for awhile, then you know we also took advantage of the low rates and purchased a house in 2020. However, it’s a second home that we’ve now turned into a short-term rental property. But before we bought this house, we had to crunch some numbers – not just mortgage payments, but also all the utilities and maintenance costs – to make sure we can afford it. So I’m sharing a maintenance checklist below to prepare you for the extra costs of owning a house!

First-Time Home Owners Maintenance Checklist

Plumbing Issues

Plumbing is a common problem especially with older homes (smaller and older pipes, mature tree roots).

And with Pittsburgh being full of old (but charming) houses, it’s a common issue I’ve seen amongst friends’ houses, including ours. So for my new home owners here in the Burgh, make sure to have a list of Pittsburgh plumbing services like this reliable Pittsburgh HVAC company that not only does plumbing, but heating and cooling too! If you’re not from around here, make sure to do some research on trusted companies in your area and save their numbers. You’ll never know when a pipe gets clogged, or even worse, bursts in the winter!

Be prepared with unexpected costs. Saving some dollars for such house maintenance will come in handy!

Heating and Cooling

Speaking of HVAC companies, maintenance and/or repairs for your HVAC unit is also another cost to be aware of. That’s why when house-hunting, we always check the year when the HVAC unit was installed. The newer, the better – because HVAC replacement can easily cost thousands of dollars!

We got lucky with our Pittsburgh home having a newer unit. With the lake house, since it’s generally cooler up there, it only had central heating. The good thing though is the heating system is pretty new. So we plan to upgrade that and add cooling for next summer.

Anyway, make sure to include replacing filters in your maintenance checklist as well!

Washer and Dryer Maintenance or Repairs

Regularly clean and inspect your washer and dryer. It’s actually recommended to have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned by a HVAC specialist to prevent dryer vent fires. Get it done annually before or early Fall when it’s more common. As for your washer, make sure to clean it regularly to avoid molds and that musty smell!

I always leave the washer door open after running laundry to let it air-out and avoid moisture build-up.

Lawn/Yard

One of the things I appreciate about renting an apartment? You don’t have to worry about lawn and yard work! Now that you own a house, make sure you include this in your maintenance list! From the gardening tools and mowing equipment you need to purchase, to the actual work of taking care of your lawn and/or garden, and let’s not forget things you’ll need to buy for maintenance like weeds and feeds, mulch, and even seasonal plants if you like to up the curb appeal of your home.

Also be prepared for your water bill to go up in the summer when you have to water more often. And if big trees need trimming, that’s another cost you have to be aware of. Of course, you can always hire someone to do this all for you. In that case, search for lawn companies in your area, get estimates and then add that to your monthly expense!

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms/Sensors

Regularly check your sensors – they usually have a test button to set the alarm.

Make sure to replace batteries regularly. If you need to add or replace sensors, I suggest going with a smart sensor so you can easily check the status online or through an app on your mobile phone.

Seasonal Cleaning and Prep

Depending on the upcoming season, there are different home maintenance you need to do or prepare for. For example in the Fall, raking the leaves and cleaning the gutters are important. As the weather gets cooler, winterizing the house is another thing you’ll need to do.

For Spring, you’ll want to give your house exterior a bath with a power washer. Then come summer, dealing with bugs and pests can be part of your maintenance checklist as well. Check out this home maintenance checklist divided into seasons from an article by the NY Times.

Home Improvement Projects

Last but not the least, the never-ending home improvement projects! Haha!

Once you own a home, there’s always something you’ll find that you want to improve. Maybe you want to create a feature wall in your bedroom. Perhaps your closet is too small and want to expand it. Maybe you want to tackle the unfinished basement and turn it into livable space.

Want to open up walls in the kitchen or living area? How about installing a barn door? The list goes on. It’s definitely exciting, but most definitely requires time and money!

These are some of the common house maintenance items you need to be aware of.

So you can prepare and budget for these types of things. Of course, there are other things to add, depending on the type of home, location, and what other features it has – for example, a pool or chimney. I just wanted to share this maintenance checklist so you can be prepared. Owning a home, especially your very first, is so exciting and fulfilling.

But let’s not forget the hidden costs that come with it!

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