Home Maintenance Checklist for the First Year of Home Ownership and Beyond

“Items in a house should feel collected over time rather than feeling purchased in one go,” says Chelcie Eastman, cohost of the Magnolia Network series “Anything but Gray.” Rooms filled with matching furniture sets or overly coordinated décor tend to feel staged rather than lived-in. Houses that show more personality can connect emotionally with buyers. That’s especially true as so many listings begin to look alike and home buyers want more for their money. A home on the market should stand out.

“You will pay the price if you don’t take the time to know fully who you’re working with.” Whatever your budget, there’s a home remodeling project that’s affordable for you, meets your needs, and can add value when it’s time to sell. Nearly half — 46% — of home buyers surveyed in the NAR report say they’re less willing to compromise on a home’s condition when purchasing. Investing in smart remodeling projects can not only make you happy but also help your home appeal to buyers. Many homeowners are prioritizing large-scale house projects — often taking on two to three at a time. You can also request an end to paying PMI premiums once your loan balance has dropped to 80% of your home’s value.

Find a Match in Real Estate Agent Communication Skills

Before you hire a contractor, schedule three to five in-person interviews, gather bids, and thoroughly check the background of any you’re considering. Referrals — from neighbors, friends, or others —are a common source when looking for a remodeling contractor. Now, as the creator of the “Contractors from Hell” website, Costello fields messages from desperate homeowners who’ve had similar experiences.

• Consider smaller scale updates, which can sometimes be completed for $200 to $5,000.
• From time to time, NAR may ask you to partner on issues or legislation that may impact you as a homeowner.
• “If the company has a bad BBB rating, this means they likely have failed to satisfy real customers who had real experiences.”
• Referrals — from neighbors, friends, or others —are a common source when looking for a remodeling contractor.
• Market changes call for buyers to brush up on how to negotiate home price and other expenses and conditions related to the sale.
• Even simple projects — like swapping out a front door — can offer strong returns at resale.

for Fair Housing

• When they do, the repair cost is a median amount of $26 more than the warranty, according to CR.
• Further, a new garage door can help homeowners feel better about their homes, the 2025 report finds.
• “Spend $1,000 on a new, energy-efficient stove, and it could take 10 years of energy savings to offset the cost of the new stove,” he says.
• That said, buyers who put down less than 20% will likely need to pay an additional monthly fee for private mortgage insurance.
• All historical reports and data can be found in the REALTOR® Store.
• You can also request an end to paying PMI premiums once your loan balance has dropped to 80% of your home’s value.

I can't stand junk mail, spam, and dinnertime phone calls.We're with you. From time to time, NAR may ask you to partner on issues or legislation that may impact you as a homeowner. NAR has been a champion of homeownership rights and opportunities for more than a century. HouseLogic is a free source of information and tools—from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®—that can help you make smart and timely decisions about your home.

Consider smaller scale updates, which can sometimes be completed for $200 houselogic.com to $5,000. But bathroom remodels can be expensive, too, costing on average $15,000, and easily increasing depending on the extent of changes. Homeowners also rate bathroom renovations highly for bringing them joy, according to the NAR report.

Impact

A score in the mid-700s or higher usually qualifies for the best rates, but buyers with lower credit scores still have options. It’s true that higher credit scores can unlock larger loan amounts, smaller down payments, lower fees, and lower interest rates, but perfect credit isn’t required. Typical homeowners today have about $430,000 in net worth compared to renters, whose net worth is less than $10,000. But Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, says those comparisons don’t tell the whole story.

Experts say it’s important to choose a style that complements your home’s architecture. Further, a new garage door can help homeowners feel better about their homes, the 2025 report finds. Choose projects that don’t involve moving plumbing or taking out walls, Hicks says. “You want to keep up with the Joneses, but you don’t want to beat the Joneses” when remodeling your home, says Angie Hicks, cofounder of Angi. Americans spent an estimated $603 billion on remodeling their homes last year, according to the NAR report. Melissa Dittmann Tracey is an award-winning journalist covering the housing market.

Myth #7: Student Loan Debt Nixes Qualifying for a Mortgage

“In thinking of remodeling projects for your house, a real estate agent is going to be a great person to talk to,” Hicks says. More homeowners are tackling remodeling projects, but are they choosing the projects that could increase a home’s resale value on top of adding enjoyment? Helping consumers become more informed, responsible homeowners is important to the stability and value of the housing market – and your overall enjoyment of your home. Then, if you’re feeling really savvy, keep paying that amount every month — but apply it to your mortgage principal instead. That 2% difference could cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars, depending on your home’s mortgage balance. On a $300,000 mortgage loan, you’d pay between $1,500 and $3,000 each year, depending on the premium you’re required to pay for PMI.