For most people, becoming a home owner is the ultimate dream but it’s also one of the largest financial investments they will ever make – and there’s a lot that they don’t tell you before you sign on the dotted line.

“There is no landlord to call to sort out problems and foot the bills – you’re suddenly solely responsible for maintaining, and sometimes improving, your biggest asset,” says Stephan Thomas, Secure Estate Specialist for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs.

“And as rewarding as being a homeowner can be, make no mistake, your home will have a more than a few surprises in store for you over the years, and the right time to learn how to deal with them is not when you’re in the middle of a crisis and knee deep in water.

“It can also prove very costly, especially if you’re not in the know, so my best advice is always for new owners to get to know their homes as quickly as possible so that issues can easily be dealt with whilst still manageable.”

Thomas offers the following essential tips and tricks to avoid and solve problems, save money and improve your home and investment:

• Change the locks make spare keys – It may seem unnecessary, but there’s no way of knowing whether there are copies of the house key floating around, and who might have them. Over time, most people will give out keys to baby sitters, contractors, domestic staff and friends and very often they are not returned. And to err on the side of caution, change the locks before you move your belongings inside.
• Take your time with renovation projects – If possible, first live in the house for a few months before starting to make changes to get a better idea of what already works and it is you really need and want to change. That way, you’ll be able to better prioritize renovation projects.
• And if there are multiple things to do, it’s often best to take it one project at a time as opposed to carrying out a massive renovation all at once. This way, over time, you’ll get a proper feel for the place and how it ‘lives’ and you will be far less likely to make costly mistakes.

• Focus on improvements that will give you the most bang for your buck – Not all upgrades are equal and if you are renovating to increase the value of your investment rather than to merely satisfy personal needs, then you need to choose those that will offer the best return in the long run. Projects that typically yield a good return include an updated kitchen, a neutral paint job, an outdoor deck and a bathroom remodel.
• Know where the property lines are – Every homeowner should know where their property line begins and ends. If you don’t have a copy of your building plans or they don’t clearly depict the boundary, your local municipality will be able to give you a plot plan that clearly shows where your property line is located. It’s important to have this information in the event disputes with a neighbour regarding walls, fencing, trees and other issues that could get contentious.

• Locate your main water shut-off valve – The time to locate this valve is not after your geyser has burst and you’re standing knee-deep in water. Every home is different, but in South Africa, the main water valve is usually near the perimeter of the house, at ground level, near your water meter.
• Shut off the water before going on holiday – Every insurance broker can tell you stories about homeowners going away only to return to a soaked house and costly water damage. It may seem unlikely but it does happen – more often than you think.
• Maintain an emergency fund for unexpected problems – You should be prepared to deal with unexpected problems when they arise. These can be expensive many repairs also cannot be delayed as you can’t do without a geyser or working plumbing or live with a leaking roof.
• Make sure you are properly insured – It’s important that homeowners understand that they need to be adequately insured for the replacement value of the building, not just the market value, plus all the contents and they must specify items that are valuable.
• No-one wants to dwell on unpleasant events that may never happen but the fact is that they can – and often do – occur and being well-prepared for any eventuality is not only sensible; it affords you peace of mind, allowing you to get on with life with one less thing to worry about.
• Don’t ignore your gutters – A clogged gutter can cause damage to your roof and, eventually, leaks inside the walls. Make sure you check them regularly, especially during the rainy season.
•  Galvanized pipes often get plugged – If you have galvanized steel pipes in your home and low water flow at the taps, chances are the pipes are to blame. Galvanized pipe is prone to mineral build up, which eventually chokes off the water flow.
•  Handy hack for clogged drains – A wet-dry vacuum slurps blockages out of plugged drains so well that even plumbers use this trick sometimes. If you need to increase suction, seal around the nozzle with a wet rag.

“Maintaining a home may seem daunting, but forearmed with a little knowledge, it’s not very difficult at all to stay on top of things, especially if you know your limits and take the time to hire credible contractors for any large modifications or necessary repairs,” says Thomas.

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