I was Bored...Blog of a First time Home Buyer/Owner

[sudz]

So, As some of you know, I bought a house. I'm all moved in now and settling down, and still being surprised daily at different aspects of home ownership.

So, I decided to start a Blog about it.

Right now, its about the home buying process. As much as I read and researched, I still was caught off guard by so many things.

All the literature I found was written BY the industry, and they don't tell you the nitty gritty details, costs, etc. They're all round figures with the most basic of explanations...

So I decided to Blog all my findings and how I went through the process, what I would change, and what to expect
I wrote it to be Light, Funny, Not professional, and informative.

If you have any comments, I'm all for it, But undersatnd that I in NO WAY am an expert, and am posting more about my experiences and what I would have done different, and what I believe would be a "better" way to buy a house, now that I've done it Once. (again, I know i'm not an expert)

Its more just so fellow first time home buyers can know what to expect.

Heres the link to the first post (theres 5 now, I have 3 pre-written that I'll be posting every few days.

http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/10/hello-world-first-home-blog.html

Let me know what you think! (either here or in the comments)

[oxide]

be prepared for the most ridiculous things to pop up everyday. i've been in my place for 5+ now and i still see weird things, or rather. discover them.

[sudz]

Yeah... hense the blog. It seems like every week something retarded happens.

Yesterday, was a 823 dollar tax bill from city of hamilton that my mortgage company refuses to pay for because they only pay "full year" taxes and have been collecting for my Q1 2013 taxes, not my Q4 2012 taxes. So now, I'm paying double tax payments unexpectedly. Thank god gas prices are falling or I'd be on a street corner trying to sell my body. (Jokes... but still 800 bucks isn't a drop in the hat... :-( )

[tmpz]

Is it still trying to kill you?

[Default User]

Beware of guys with clipboards walkin upto your door claiming they're from Enbridge

[FoXy]

Beware of ANYONE coming to your door wanting to get in your house. I get it fairly often.

[peterm15]

I always love the " have you found Jesus" ones.

It's even better when you open the door hungover and in your boxers.

[sudz]

LOL,We did have some Jehovah's witnesses, I thankfully wasn't home. Megan was, and she pretty much shut the door in their faces. I would have at least had fun... Things like Dark dreams, Killing people in my sleep, Burning inside my chest with uncontrollable shaking, etc. But yeah. I despise anyone who attempts to force their beliefs onto me. I don't go around telling them to abandon their belief in faith and jump on a different wagon.

But yes, that aside, I'm finding this fairly fun to write. I can't wait to be done the buying section, and On to the Trails and tribulations of home ownership.

[peterm15]

LOL,We did have some Jehovah's witnesses, I thankfully wasn't home. Megan was, and she pretty much shut the door in their faces. I would have at least had fun... Things like Dark dreams, Killing people in my sleep, Burning inside my chest with uncontrollable shaking, etc. But yeah. I despise anyone who attempts to force their beliefs onto me. I don't go around telling them to abandon their belief in faith and jump on a different wagon.

But yes, that aside, I'm finding this fairly fun to write. I can't wait to be done the buying section, and On to the Trails and tribulations of home ownership.

Jehovah's witnesses were the least pushy I've had.
It was actually 2 good looking young women who said " hey were having a party, here's an invite, have a great day"

If they were pushy, I'd a screwed with them though. Lol.

[sudz]

Is it still trying to kill you?

Not really. Maybe Heart Attack. I got a 500 dollar utility bill, It wasn't TOTALLY unexpected, but was still a shocker. Then the 800 dollar tax bill i wasn't expecting...

But yeah, I have started building my man Cave in the garage, I found out the shelves that allt he pool tarps/chemicals were on weren't drilled into a stud. I'm lucky chlorine didn't come crashing doown on my head. The shelves have since been removed. My garage currently looks like this:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/IMG_20121021_221840.jpg

Although its coming together slowly. I still have to add support legs on it so I can put a vice/heavy objects on it.

[Default User]

Awesome!

I'm hoping to redo my garage next spring. I found I need to build upwards rather than around. And find a way to have a built-in ladder / stairs to get up there.

[sudz]

Bahaha, So I just looked at my adsense account since starting this blog.

I've made... *drumroll*....

1 cent.

And thats estimated.

How the hell does Tm3 stay alive from ad support? or is it mostly sponsors and decals and license plate covers?

[asyed]

Beware of ANYONE coming to your door wanting to get in your house. I get it fairly often.

+1

its especially bad in the newer subdivisions since people come and claim they want to " see how your kitchen looks like" before buying from the builder...... there is a reason there are Model Homes.....

[bubba1983]

Bahaha, So I just looked at my adsense account since starting this blog.

I've made... *drumroll*....

1 cent.

And thats estimated.

How the hell does Tm3 stay alive from ad support? or is it mostly sponsors and decals and license plate covers?

the big chunk of it comes from sponsor monies, pay to advertise and solicit..

[FoXy]

We had some guy come to the door telling us he was "here to inspect our hvac equipment and furnace"... I told him I design hvac for a living so thanks but no thanks.... gtfo... lol

[oxide]

^LOL

[bhrm]

We had some guy come to the door telling us he was "here to inspect our hvac equipment and furnace"... I told him I design hvac for a living so thanks but no thanks.... gtfo... lol

LOL

I usually use the "I work for the company you are representing. You're doing a good job, move along now"

or

"Sorry, I don't speak english very well" in plain english.


anyways back to OP

BLOG is great to read. My only complaint is lack of visuals, even hilarious meme's would make it better.

Keep working on it because our generation will turn to the interwebz for home buying advice and not so much parents/family. or not as much.

[S.F.W.]

How the hell does Tm3 stay alive from ad support? or is it mostly sponsors and decals and license plate covers?

You got it, sponsors, decals, plate covers, apparel. All covers our hosting costs, software costs, event costs.

[Flagrum_3]

Nice blog there Sudz! You've got some pretty good writing skills also.

Good luck with your new abode.

_3

[sudz]

Thanks! I'm trying to keep up a post a day until I've written up to "moving day" from that point on, it'll be all about how my house is trying to kill me.

So yes, New post today:

http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/10/6-first-offer.html

[ZeroChalk]

keep up the good work!

[sudz]

Thanks! (Posted again this morning) Pretty good at keeping one per day! Eventually it'll slow down.

I've just passed the 500 hits milestone... but I still can't find it in the first 10 pages of google, dispite submitting it for indexing, etc. perhaps I need to set up tags or something. So new at this.

[mystix]

I have an essay that I have to write and its due tomorrow....but I spent the 30mins and read every one of your post. Thanks for the informative read.

Looking forward to the next one!

[sudz]

Thank-you! It means a lot!

:-)


I have an essay that I have to write and its due tomorrow....but I spent the 30mins and read every one of your post. Thanks for the informative read.

Looking forward to the next one!

[bubba1983]

i too, an finding this usefull....
ill be in the market at some point next year....im a mechanic...so crunching numbersw isn't my forte....

[sudz]

Updated again - About the Home Inspection. This was a fun post to write.

http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/10/8-house-inspection.html

[midnightfxgt]

Updated again - About the Home Inspection. This was a fun post to write.

http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/10/8-house-inspection.html

Solid post. My main issue with Home Inspections - they are not liable! Anyone can take a weekend course, and become a Home Inspector. However, if your inspector says everything is good, and you move in, thats it. Should the roof cave in a week later, too bad. You should have been warned, but its on you.

Finding a good inspector is key! :)

-John

[sudz]

Darren is a "master inspector"

And the stuff he found was crazy. That Mud Crawlspace? he had to bust out a thermal camera. to prove it was there so we could start searching for the access he knew it had to exist - The door was hidden behind their TV cabinet and dirty laundry piles. Nothing stopped him. It was like CSI. haha.

[midnightfxgt]

That Mud Crawlspace? he had to bust out a thermal camera. to prove it was there so we could start searching for the access he knew it had to exist - The door was hidden behind their TV cabinet and dirty laundry piles. Nothing stopped him. It was like CSI. haha.

Whoa... lol

If buying a resale, I would hire an inspector for SURE. I just think they should all have to be as good as Darren. Hell, if they were held more liable, I'd pay double or triple!

-John

[sudz]

Agreed regarding the liability, But I can see why they aren't. There are just some things that will be missed unless they literally tear the drywall off your walls.

For example, One my light fixtures had a 12 volt converter in it for those little halegon bulbs. It melted and nearly caught fire, 4 days after I got the house. Say it did catch fire, I'd be able to go to the building inspector and hold him liable? Totally not fair, But a hell of a fight in court, and ultimately, it'd just make the lawyers rich, and it'd be another set of insurance the bulding insepctors have to get, driving up all costs... so lawyers and insurance companies would be getting loaded, and the cost of buying a home would be inflated even more.

Double edge sword...

[Flagrum_3]

A wise friend once told me "Buying a house without first having it inspected, is like walking out of the house without first putting your pants on." ...or something to that effect...Basically you just wouldn't or shouldn't do it. ;-)

_3

[peterm15]

Depends on who you are.

I have friends in all fields of contracting, and am a contractor myself. There is no way I would pay for some random, who probably doesn't have a construction background, to inspect the house I plan on buying.

Case in point, my sister bought a house. Paid good money for an inspection ( got references and everything) within 3 months. Needed a new roof, had to have an electrician come in due to faulty wires ( said it should have never passed the electric inspection), plumbing problems and more.

3 months later. She started an inspection course, she has never built a damn thing in her life and knows nothing about construction. She eventually quit and went on to something new.

[midnightfxgt]

Ya, its good and bad.

Same thing with Contractors. It's easy to call yourself a contractor these days. My grandparents had a flood, and used the contractor from State Farm... everything was bad lol.

There are good home inspectors, and bad ones. Trick is finding the good one. I mean, if you use one, and nothing goes wrong, you'd probably refer someone.

[sudz]

Not sure if anyone is interested in following the blog, But I've updated it a few times since my last post!

http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/

Future Posts will have more (aka SOME) pictures. Also looking at creating a logo for the blog and maybe a custom template. This is all assuming the blog becomes a sustainable source of minuscule income. Otherwise I'll just update it like a personal blog.

[m_bisson]

Depends on who you are.

I have friends in all fields of contracting, and am a contractor myself. There is no way I would pay for some random, who probably doesn't have a construction background, to inspect the house I plan on buying.

Case in point, my sister bought a house. Paid good money for an inspection ( got references and everything) within 3 months. Needed a new roof, had to have an electrician come in due to faulty wires ( said it should have never passed the electric inspection), plumbing problems and more.

3 months later. She started an inspection course, she has never built a damn thing in her life and knows nothing about construction. She eventually quit and went on to something new.

Same. My dad and I are both in construction and were really unimpressed with the home inspector I got for my place. It was $400 too!

[sudz]

Eek!

I'd really recommend mine if your in the hamilton area, he's worth a call.
Darren, owns and runs Nook'n'Cranny Home inspections.

Also, Blog Updated. This post: My home is trying to kill me! (part 1 of 5bagillion)
http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/11/the-honeymoon-is-over-rose-colored.html

[Oakley]

your blog is really amazing...i thought my wife and i were ready to buy our first home but after reading your blog i think we might hold back few months and get things lined up a little better then we do now lol

[sudz]

your blog is really amazing...i thought my wife and i were ready to buy our first home but after reading your blog i think we might hold back few months and get things lined up a little better then we do now lol

Don't hold off because of my blog! You probably have an idea of where you want to live. Start looking at MLS for that, and do the self budgeting for your mortgage and what you can actually afford (because the bank will probably give you more than you could afford, realistically)

And also, Go to a few open houses on saturdays/Sundays. Just don't accept the pressure from the selling Realtors, as if they know you don't have your own realtor, they'll be cramming their business card down your throat.

Its Super fun to go to Open houses - its an afternoon of Free entertainment, driving around in your Mazda3! :)

(edit: Prime Open house time is 2-4 pm)
(edit edit: Its weird just walking up to a random house and knocking on the door, but after the 2nd or 3rd one, you'll get used to it. You just Park, Walk up, knock/ring, "I'm here for the open house" and they'll invite you in. (take off your shoes, don't use their bathroom. Only two etiquette items.) The Com-free houses are a bit more awkward, because you can't speak candidly as the home owner is showing you around. Avoid those at first if you can.)

[sudz]

Updated!

latest posts:

Utility costs and the evil 1-2 jab of tax+Mortgage company (http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/11/utility-bills.html)
The Garage/Workbench - the Key to DIY (http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/11/the-key-to-diy-garageworkbench.html)

[rajin929]

great posts!

we didn't have a clue on our utility usage either...what my wife and I did was set some extra money aside and used the first 3 months of home ownership as a trial period - we lived in house and used the lights/water/furnace etc. as we would normally, and waited to see what the bill was like.

by the forth month, we got a pretty good gauge of where the utilities would be to budget more accurately, and then we started to alter our usage if needed (for example, do the laundry and use the clothes dryer in the evenings when hydro rates are less)

our gas utility bill from Enbridge also showed a rolling 12 month usage history so for the first year, we could see how much the previous owners used. Knowing they had a larger family than us, we figured at MOST our montly bills would match but not go over thier usage.

[sudz]

Updated - A few times. :-P

Most recent post: The first fire - In the fireplace (http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2012/12/the-first-fire-in-fireplace.html)

[m_bisson]

Use real wood!

[eSS]

Nice write up. Enjoy reading them

[sudz]

Use real wood!

That's what she said!

[Jackal]

I've been reading your blog. It's interesting because my wife and I bought a house several years ago. I hear you about those utilities.
My pet peeve bills would have to be my Rogers bill (internet, two cell phones with data, and cable with a couple of added channels) and my landline Bell bill. I just cancelled my Bell landline because we mostly get telemarketing calls (no matter how many times we ask them not to call, they still keep calling) which wakes up our little baby. With the Rogers bill I scaled it down a bit but still it's high.
DIY stuff at home is always interesting but I am getting more adept at easy repairs. Today I finally got the central humidifier working (which will increase my water bill.)
Anyway, interesting reading about your first house adventures.

[m_bisson]

I've been reading your blog. It's interesting because my wife and I bought a house several years ago. I hear you about those utilities.
My pet peeve bills would have to be my Rogers bill (internet, two cell phones with data, and cable with a couple of added channels) and my landline Bell bill. I just cancelled my Bell landline because we mostly get telemarketing calls (no matter how many times we ask them not to call, they still keep calling) which wakes up our little baby. With the Rogers bill I scaled it down a bit but still it's high.
DIY stuff at home is always interesting but I am getting more adept at easy repairs. Today I finally got the central humidifier working (which will increase my water bill.)
Anyway, interesting reading about your first house adventures.


Not sure how desperate you are to cut that Rogers bill... But this is what I did: Cancel cable TV, internet, home phone. Sign up for internet with Teksavvy (http://teksavvy.com/en/residential/internet/cable/cable-28) and Netflix, which adds up to about $60 a month after taxes. You can still watch TV shows on ctv.ca, globaltv.com, etc.
My bill with rogers, not including home phone, used to be $130 for the TV and internet.

[Default User]

Rogers bills sucks

I did get a 25% discount though by saying I want to cancel some of the extra services because the monthly was too high.

HD cable VIP w/ movie network
Cheapest Internet (Lite I think)
Home phone w/ 1 service
2 cell phones w/ data
I pay roughly $250/month.

If possible - hunt kijiji to buy digital / HD boxes out right. Save on the monthly rental fees.

Cell phone data plans is a rip off especially if you have wifi at home and at work.

Enbidge Equal Billing is great to help you budget monthly bills. That way there's no surprises at the end if the month.

[Default User]

I can't be bothered by it - but my wife loves doing this ...

PRICE MATCH - most grocery stores and even Wal Mart practice this. So take advantage of it.

COUPONS - Manufacturer coupons (especially on diapers and formula) can save you a lot of money. Even better are the on-line printable ones on RFD and what not, just keep printing them off.

COSTCO - buy in bulk and stockpile stuff like Toilet paper, Paper towels, Dish soap, etc.

[rajin929]

Agreed with the posts above. I think for most, the one thing first time home ownership teaches you is the importance of money management.

You realize the high costs of home ownership relative to your net income, and many choose to make a few changes in your daily expenses and use that money for something else. Things considered "normal" when you're living at home with the parents, now become more of a "luxury".

This sometimes tends to come out of necessity, if you live in an older house that is at the age where it requires some maintenance like new roof, windows, furance etc. You find now that instead of spending $1,500 on new rims, you've just dropped $20,000 on house work lol

Any bit you can save elsewhere, helps with running the house.

[mazdaspeedemon3]

Great blog dude! its really helping me, my offer just got accepted on my first house tonight! really stoked/nervous/shocked right now lol well done and i appreciate your write up

cheers

[sudz]

thats awesome man! :-) Glad to hear it helps!

I've been slacking lately, I keep meaning to post my "kitchen shuffle" but It didn't go as planned - The dangers of pre-writing blog posts!

[Mangtoos]

This kind of reminds me of what I did to my garage, except I went far less fancy with the work bench:

Frame: http://www.custodela.com/inet/wb1/IMG_3229.jpg
Finished: http://www.custodela.com/inet/wb1/IMG_3237.jpg

I added shelves later to help organize my stuff. I don't have a good picture but I have this posted where you can see one of them: http://www.custodela.com/p/vs/full.jpg

The whole table was probably like $35. That way if I accidently burn or put a hole in it I won't care.

[Mangtoos]

I also rewired the whole thing with outlets all over the place, and added the pot lights. Like you I only started with one outlet, and a light switch at the back of the garage (which means I had to walk through the dark to turn the light on).

[09ms3]

Good Blog, Just read it all today, (read pieces of it before)

I just bought my first condo a few weeks ago, move in is in about a month from now. good stuff in there

appreciated

[rajin929]

pot lights in garage? pimp.

[sudz]

Still Updating this semi regularly - Just hit 5000 unique hits!
http://newbhomeowner.blogspot.ca/2013/05/air-conditioner-maintenance.html