By the time buyers contact you for help in making a real estate purchase, they’ve likely considered their budget and determined how much they can afford to spend on a new home. They’ve probably considered a down payment, mortgage payments, closing costs, taxes, and insurance. Your buyers even may have obtained pre-approval from a lender. Even when they’ve been very thorough, buyers may overlook or underestimate some of these common homeownership expenses:
Lawn care
Caring for turf, gardens, shrubbery, and trees can add up, even for do-it-yourself homeowners and for those with smaller yards. Buyers will likely have expenses for gardening equipment, fertilizer, weed killer, mulch, plants, lawn and garden products, plus any professional care. If there are trees on the property, buyers will need to budget for regular trimming, fertilization, and removal of hanging tree limbs that can fall and damage roofs, windows, and other trees, shrubbery, and plants.
Snow removal
In some climates, homeowners will need to contract for snow removal from driveways, walkways, and the roof or budget for snow removal equipment to do the job themselves.
Chimney cleaning
If the home has a wood-burning fireplace, regular chimney maintenance is necessary for fire safety. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 211 says, "Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary." The Chimney Safety Institute of America also recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8" of sooty buildup and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system.
General maintenance
Depending on the size and condition of the property, there can be a variety of seasonal and annual expenses associated with filter changes, roof repair, caulking, sealing, and other upkeep.
