< PreviousGOING FROM TENANT T O HOMEO WNER: WHA T T O KNO W You’ve been saving for a while, and you’re finally ready to move out of your apartment and take the leap to home ownership. Becoming a first-time homeowner is both an exciting and a stressful process, but the payoff is well worth it once all the papers are signed and the keys are in your hands. Be sure to read on for some useful tips for preparing for home ownership and what to expect once you move in. Creative Living 53 Digest1.indd 14/19/19 12:37 PMChances are, you’ve been renting from a landlord who was on the hook for minor repairs and major upgrades, not to mention yardwork and a lot of other upkeep. Now, all those tasks fall on you. SET SOME MONEY ASIDE A good rule of thumb is to set aside one percent of your home’s purchase price per year for maintenance. So, if for example, your home cost $300,000, you should put aside $3,000, or about $250 a month, for home repairs. If you’re buying a new construction home, you shouldn’t have major repairs right away and you’ll likely have a new home warranty covering any maintenance costs. By saving this money now, particularly if you’re moving into an existing home, you won’t have any surprises if a hot water heater breaks or if you need a new roof down the line. INSPECT BEFORE YOU BUY A proper inspection of your new home will alert you to problems that already exist. There shouldn’t be any issues in a new construction home, and, if anything, only minimal issues in an existing home, but an inspection can ensure that everything is installed properly or that you can negotiate with the seller for any minor repairs to be incorporated into the purchase price. STAY ON TOP OF MAINTENANCE This doesn’t just mean keeping up with yard work and cleaning, even though they’re important. You’ll want to do an annual survey of your major appliances and know what they look like when working properly. Keep your eye on the roof or visible pipes as well – catching a problem early is key to preventing expensive repairs. Keep the name of trusted plumbers, HVAC repairmen, and electricians just in case. GET A HOLD OF YOUR FINANCES Finally, another major difference between renting and owning is the status of your finances. The first year you own a home, your taxes will become much more complex – so this might be the year you turn to a tax professional (if you don’t already do so). Second, start to budget. Chances are, you’re going to need to fill up your additional square footage with new furniture or electronics. Other things like lawn mowers, grills, and other seasonal products will be needed too, so make sure to comparison shop at the right time for a great deal. Creative Living 53 Digest1.indd 24/19/19 12:37 PMYour Recipe of the Month Create a feast that all your guests will love this Holiday Season! To give you some cooking inspiration, here’s one of our favorite recipes to try: We were so inspired by Southern Living’s® recipe that we came up with our own adaptation. This isn’t your traditional cornbread stuffing! DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350˚; lightly grease a 13” x 9” baking dish. 2. In a large bowl, combine squash, sweet potatoes, apple, butter, brown sugar, marjoram, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, and ¼ cup water. Set aside. 3. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat then sauté onion, celery and garlic until transparent, about 5-10 minutes. 4. Add squash mixture to skillet. Cover, reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender; approximately 15 minutes. 5. Stir in half of chicken stock (1 can) 6. Remove from heat and set aside for 10-15 minutes 7. In a medium-sized bowl, combine stuffing mix, lightly beaten egg, remaining chicken stock (1 can), and remaining Cajun seasoning (1 tsp). Gently add to squash mixture. 8. Transfer to baking dish. 9. Cover and bake at 350˚ for 30 minutes. 10. Remove cover, add pecans on top. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 5-10 minutes. 11. Serve and enjoy! Sweet Potato Cornbread Stuffing with Savory Butternut Squash (adapted from Southern Living®) INGREDIENTS 1 large onion, diced 2 cups celery, chopped 2 small garlic cloves, pressed 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 1/2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch cubes 2 medium-size sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes 3 tablespoons melted butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon marjoram 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning 2 (14-oz.) cans low-sodium fat-free chicken stock 1 (8-oz.) package cornbread stuffing mix 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/4 cup pecansat its fi nest Never question the unparalleled reach and value you receive when you advertise with The Real Estate Book. 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Q: What are your top tips for preparing to sell a home in the fall? A: First and foremost, use the beauty of the season. If you’re lucky enough to live in a region that experiences changing seasons, take advantage of everything the season has to o er by incorporating autumnal fl owers, plants and fl oral arrangements into the mix. Whether it’s colorful mums or adding intense color and drama to the home’s exterior with perennials, feature a variety of fall fl oral arrangements both inside and outside the home. Next, be sure to check the roof and gu ers. While a roof’s drainage system diverts thousands of gallons of water from a home’s exterior and foundation walls, it’s important to keep the process moving in order to avoid water damage. In addition to taking the time to unclog and clean the gu ers, now is also a good time to inspect the roof from top to bo om. In addition to looking for damage to metal fl ashing in and around vents and chimneys, check ridge shingles for cracks and wind damage. While outside, take the time to check driveways, walkways and steps for any noticeable damage. Fixing any problem areas during the fall is critical in order to prevent li le problems from becoming expensive headaches down the line. Look for cracks that are more than 1/8-inch wide, uneven sections and loose railings on steps. Before the bi er temperatures of the winter season move in, take the necessary steps to ensure that outside faucets and in-ground irrigation systems don’t freeze and burst. Close any shut- o valves serving outside faucets, and then open the outside faucet to the drain line. If you don’t have shut-o valves, or freeze-proof faucets, you can buy faucet covers at your local home improvement store. Moving inside, check the home for air leaks, as gaps in caulk and weather- stripping can account for 10 percent of a home’s heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. While weather-stripping is the most cost- e ective way to control heating and cooling costs, it should be checked and replaced as needed every six months. And last, but not least, bring in a professional to inspect the home’s heating system to ensure it’s working properly before the cold weather arrives. For more information, please visit www.pillartopost.com. Today’s Ask the Expert column features Dan Steward, President of Pillar to Post Home Inspectors. 18TREB040_CL_Issue44_Digest.indd 48/28/18 12:04 PMSTAND OUT AND GET RESULTS with Multimedia Marketing Packages from Real Estate Professionals · LOCAL PRINT · WEB & MOBILE · DIRECT MAIL MNPS +800.841.3401 CALL US Request a FREE MAGAZINE from any market across North America TREB_Filler_Ad_Luxury_Digest_2.indd 11/25/19 12:04 PM16201.31.12.016.qxp_FILLER2 9/14/20 4:13 PM Page 1Next >