Ask not what you can do for you house ...
- Laura Moore: Housebroken
- September 24, 2024
- 296
Many years ago I fell in love with houses and have continued the love affair to this day. There have been some houses in which I have lived intimately and others that have been just a passing fancy, but every one of them intrigued me.
There are myriad articles, books and countless websites available that offer information on how to buy, sell, decorate, remodel and improve your house. This column will offer sympathy, empathy, insight and encouragement to all of you who have already bought a house or are aspiring to buy one.
Our houses provide us with shelter and comfort and in return can, and often do, cost us a great deal of money, time and energy. This is just a fact of life and is best understood from the first day. For the uninitiated, the American dream of homeownership does not mean you are the homeowner — you are home owned!
Think of it in a parenthood mode. You can create it from scratch or adopt it already built. Either way you have acquired a tax deduction for the next 15 or 30 years, depending on maturity.
However, be forewarned: Homeownership is something you have to experience — renting or leasing a house does not prepare you for owning a place.
Buying a house is a commitment that separates owners and renters. It is proclaiming to the world you have made your choice, for better and for worse. You have spent your hard-earned savings and taken on great debt to join the league of homeowners. Allow yourself time to settle in and to get to know your place. New houses will always want something: new paint, wallpaper, a porch, et cetera. You must be the one to set the priorities.
From the first day, you must establish yourself as the decision-maker. Be firm. Let your new place know who is the boss. Ask your house what it can do for you, not what you can do for it.