As a homeowner, you already know the amazing benefits of owning a home. However, you also know that there’s a lot of anxiety involved in being a homeowner as well. From worrying that you can’t afford home repairs and renovations that need to be done to dealing with the movers that lost some of your belongings between your old house and your new home, purchasing a home can be a nightmare.
It’s not just the process of purchasing a home that fills homeowners with anxiety, though. Taking care of that home can be an anxiety-inducing nightmare as well if you’re not careful. While many homeowners realize that owning a home can get expensive, some don’t realize just how often things break and need to be renovated, or how much it will cost them to do so.
According to a recent study, over 65% of homeowners are stressed by owning a home, with 75% of those homeowners revealing that their anxiety stems from home repairs. If the idea of taking care of the repairs and renovations in your home is causing you to lose sleep, then you need to follow the tips below to help get your anxiety under control and those repairs taken care of.
Have an emergency fund you can depend on.
Most homeowners know that you’re supposed to have money on hand at all times for emergencies, such as the roof leaking or a water heater that’s on the fritz. However, most Americans don’t have a home repair emergency fund at all. For example, if you live in Maryland, you might have thought that hiring a mover in Maryland to move you from the old house across town was the least stressful thing you would have to handle after purchasing your home. So, since all your money was tied up in purchasing the house and paying the movers with the most years of experience to move your belongings, you weren’t prepared for the refrigerator and other appliances to break within a month of moving in.
You don’t have the $1,000 or more the appliance technician says you’ll need to replace those appliances, so you’re filled with anxiety. One way to relieve that anxiety is to contact and join America’s 1st Choice Home Club at afchomeclub.com. Go to the site, create a username and new password using your email address, and shop around for the right plan for you. AFC is dedicated to giving homeowners a home warranty that will reduce their anxiety and help them keep their home appliances in good repair or replace them if needed. Contact AFC for more information, and start that rainy-day emergency fund to reduce your anxiety as well.
Stay on top of maintenance issues.
It’s important to note as a homeowner that, as homes age, things are going to break. Whether it’s a storm blowing the shingles off the roof, a broken pipe that’s leaking in the bathroom, or an appliance that is getting harder and harder to operate, you’ve got to stay on top of maintenance issues, or they can easily weigh you down. For example, you might need to spend $100 to have your HVAC system inspected before the summer begins, then spend another $100 because the HVAC technician found a minor repair. However, if you didn’t have the HVAC system inspected, the problem could have gotten worse, and you would end up spending over $1000 on major repairs or end up having to have the entire HVAC system replaced.
If staying on top of your maintenance issues, building your emergency fund, and having a home warranty through AFC and their AFC Home Club is still not enough to help calm your anxiety or your anxiety is getting worse, it might be time to get help. For example, if you purchased your home in Northern VA, you could make an appointment with a psychiatrist in Northern, VA to help manage your anxiety symptoms and get to the root of the problem. A psychiatrist or one of the center’s therapists can help you get to the root of your anxiety. If anyone else in your home is having anxiety, contact the center and see if they can also get an appointment.
Learn to do home maintenance yourself.
While some repairs, such as fixing or replacing your roof, are better left to the professionals, there are some repairs you can learn to do yourself. Repairs such as fixing a simple drain clog can easily be fixed, so instead of calling in a plumber to fix it, try doing it yourself. There are plenty of YouTube videos and articles online that will help you fix the small things before they get worse and a professional is needed.
These are just a few of the ways that you can relieve anxiety when you own a home, and the repairs and renovations are getting you down. Remember, being prepared is key so that the rest will fall into place on its own.