There are costs associated with owning a home

You don't think about future maintenance costs when buying a home, but you should. Whether buying an older home or a newly constructed home, equipment can be faulty and costly to repair.

Usually a home's purchase price can be used to project maintenance costs. The recommendations for annual maintenance costs range from 1.5 to 4 percent of the home's original cost. While this is not always true, especially when the purchase price of a home is three-quarters of a million dollars, it is a good rule of thumb for the average home buyer.

A home inspection is a good idea when buying a home. The inspector will give you an excellent summary of expected repairs in the short term and ongoing maintenance over the length of time you own the home. Be sure to include the right to have a home inspection done with any offer your agent writes.

Since most home buyers are focusing on making the down payment and not saving for future repairs, a home warranty provides a good back-up plan.

Most home warranties cost between $300-$400 and will cover many major home systems and built-in appliances for one full year after close. A home warranty will either pay to repair or replace a covered item and the homeowner pays a minimal deductible rather than the full cost of repairs. It's an easy way to manage your home's finances and plan for those unexpected repairs.

To learn more about managing home maintenance costs with the Coldwell Banker® Home Protection Plan.

call 1-800-747-5152.

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