25 Crucial Lessons First-Time Home Buyers Learned The Hard Way

Buying a home is a major milestone, but for many first-time buyers, it comes with unexpected lessons. A Reddit user asked, “What’s the biggest thing you learned when buying your first home?” and the responses were filled with insights, warnings, and helpful advice. Here are some key takeaways from the discussion.

#1

Image source: majesticalexis, seleznev_photos

It was midnight. Our third night in the house. The chirping began.

It was the highest smoke detector in the vaulted ceiling in our living room.

Luckily we had 9-volt batteries and had bought a ladder that day. We lucked out.

Make sure you have 9-volt batteries. Even hard-wired smoke detectors will beep when the backup batteries die.

My boyfriend says every homeowner needs a ladder and a shop-vac.

#2

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Unless you have concrete plans to get engaged and married soon, I would not buy together. People break up all the time, and sorting that out and selling a home you co-own is a nightmare—especially if you are not equally contributing to the down payment and monthly mortgage.

#3

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Water. Look out for the risk from water. Can be invisible risk for years. In a mostly flat landscape, the water risk from being near low points can be invisible. The local creek may have been buried in a sewer system. But when there’s torrential rain, suddenly the sewer system will back up into the basements of all the houses near the low points. Closely examine the basement for evidence of earlier water damage which has been buried behind new Sheetrock or wall to wall.

#4

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Pay for the sewer scope. Just closed less than a month ago and just found out we have to replace most of the plumbing. Yay homeownership.

#5

Image source: anon, Tom Rumble

The location is more important than you think. Your realtor is not looking out for your best interest.

#6

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When I bought my first home I was given some good advice. Which is to wait 6 months on any Non-Absolutely necessary project. If you think it is still important after 6 months then do it. .

#7

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Do not underestimate the amount of work required for a “fixer upper”. Yes it sounds fun, but it takes a special kind of buyer. In hindsight, I’m very glad I chose a move-in ready home, there’s enough work to do as-is.

#8

Image source: 8YYYxx8, Theme Photos

Start learning small repairs. Such as changing a wall outlet or switch, covering a hole inside or outside, installing a door or door k**b, leaky faucet, change a toilet handle, etc…

The more you can do on your own, the more will save you from calling for a repair service. Most just charge to come out and inspect/assess the issue and then give you a rate. And some services charge extra to come out on a weekend, like AC repair.

#9

Image source: kfdizzy08, RDNE Stock project

Make sure home inspector actually gets into the attic during inspection. 🙄 Apparently my inspector had MS and didnt. I didn’t know that until my ceiling sprung a leak 5 weeks after closing. Needless to say repairs were covered and I got an inspection refund and an apology. But that could have been catastrophic for my $178k first home purchase! I was pissed!!!

#10

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Best advice I got on buying a house: don’t listen to your parents

They’re too out of touch with what the current market is like for first time home buyers.

#11

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Be mentally prepared for how much furniture costs, and how long it could take to arrive if you’re buying something new… lots of furniture is back ordered or takes 3-6 months to ship.

The first few weeks you’ll notice a lot of things that feel urgent but after a while you may get used to the quirks of your house. I had to adjust to how cold it is without heating on all the time, or how long it takes for the water to heat up. We were considering installing a water recirculation or instant heater but eventually I got used to just waiting longer for the water to heat up.

#12

F**k home inspectors. Hire a tradesperson that you trust — an electrician, a plumber, a roofer, etc. and pay them their hourly rate to come out and do an inspection and give your their honest opinion about the shape of things and if the work was done well. I wish I had done this. My home inspector came highly recommended and he honestly didn’t know a d**n thing in retrospect.

Image source: AresValerous

#13

Image source: Radiant_Classroom509, Benjamin Elliott

Road noise sucks. If you can at all avoid it, do so. Location matters. The better a location you can buy in, the more appreciation of your home value is possible. Also, if you choose to sell, it’ll sell quicker if it’s in a better location.

#14

Image source: alken0901, Upppppppppppp

Diatomaceous earth. You will need it eventually. I had ants one summer and a roach setup shop in my fridge in the fall. Diatomaceous earth meant the difference and bought time while I waited for the exterminator appointment.

#15

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Stressing so badly about mythical problems that don’t exist (yet) is a problem that you need to work. Relax, build your savings and you’ll be prepared for anything.

#16

I went into my first home without a single dollar on a credit card. Not so much anymore….those Home Depot and Lowes card got quite the workout for the first 8 months. It’s settling down now.

Until something breaks.

I will say, learn to be handy if you aren’t. I saved hundreds of dollars cleaning my own gutters and replacing a thermocouple on my furnace. I learned a lot too. YouTube is your friend!

Image source: Triple_C_

#17

Image source: allfloof-nothoughts, Mohamed hamdi

It’s way more expensive than just the closing costs and monthly payment. We bought a few months ago and have already spent over 50k in various projects we either wanted or needed to do. Thankful to have the income to support it, but I know a lot of people do not think beyond the closing costs and monthly payment when buying.

#18

If you like an appliance and listing says it’s included, take pictures and try and grab the serial number so it can be included in future at closing. We had the sellers switch out a high end appliance with cheap used one.

Image source: 404Dawg

#19

Get preapproved before you do any searching so as not to get your hopes up and waste you and your agent’s time.

Image source: majjyboy23

#20

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You don’t have to do or fix every little thing right away. Sit back and evaluate the must-do from the nice-to-have projects. Your life will be so much less stressful.

#21

“What’s this stain/spot?”

“Oh, not sure, been there since we moved in.”

Water damage from an active leak. That’s what it is. Trust no one. Don’t trust the realtor, don’t trust the bank, and trust the sellers and their agent least of all. Assume everyone is a lying piece of s**t trying to unload onto you what the last lying piece of s**t loaded onto them. Everyone is lying, just assume that out the gate. No one cares about you. You’re not paranoid. You’re not being a hassle. You’re not being rude. Trust no one.

Image source: Anonymous_Otters

#22

Anybody that has an interest in you making the purchase is to be trusted with a grain of salt.

Image source: Retrofool

#23

If the furniture seems to be in an odd layout on a room, make sure you check or get your inspector to check for any damage or structural issues. I have some very uneven floors that I didn’t notice because furniture was covering those areas during my walk throughs, and thinking back I remember thinking why do they have the furniture laid out like that.

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#24

Make sure the previous owner pulled all the proper permits.

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#25

One of my key things is what you are seeing outside your windows. And do you have an opportunity to create a nice view. You may not have that chance out all windows but it you can have a nice shot of nature in one or two directions, even if you have to create a garden, it’s a luxury. I feel like you can always fix up the inside however you like which is why I’m always so focused on what surrounds and/ or if there is a nice patio or balcony or yard space.

Image source: Amalfi-state-of-mind