By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team In the movie The Money Pit, the homeowner, played by Tom Hanks, throws much of his life savings into renovating his new home.  Maintaining a home can feel much the same way.  Calculating the cost of home ownership appears easy at first.  After all, if you can afford the mortgage, insurance, and real estate taxes you can afford it, right?  Unfortunately that is not always the case.  Some costs of home ownership can lighten your wallet or break the bank.  Calculating these costs can be difficult as there are the fixed costs such as the mortgage payment and taxes and semi-fixed costs such as utilities, and then there are the variables which include repair and maintenance of the interior and exterior of the home and landscaping and maintenance.  These costs can vary greatly. The extent of repairs needed and their cost will vary with the condition the house is in when you buy it.  Utility bills can vary based on the season and usage. In order to avoid breaking the bank it is a good idea to save up at least 6 months of expenses so that if a major repair is needed you have the funds available. Don’t let your house become the “money pit”. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo.  Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020         480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.

The most important thing you can do when go to a showing is to step back and view the home objectively. Don’t get caught up in the moment. Look at every nook and cranny, open every closet and look at the carpets and floors. Look at the house as if it were empty. Try to picture the house as it would look like without the grandfather clock in the corner or the paisley sofa.  Realize that even though the house may not be decorated the way you would decorate it does not mean it doesn’t have potential. Don’t miss out on a great home because you don’t like the way the walls are painted. When scheduling your first showing, look at your basic needs.  Is it within the right distance to work, family, and friends?  Does it have enough bedrooms and bathrooms?  Is there enough storage space? Is there parking? Is it safe? Is it in the right school district?  If the home meets these basic requirements then see if it has some of the items you would like. For example, is there an extra bedroom or bathroom, is there a garden or a deck, is the garage attached, and what is the overall condition of the house. Keep in mind those things that you cannot live without in a home and those things that aren’t as important.  Look at every house to see how well it fits your needs and look at the house’s potential to not only be a house but a home. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo.  Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at               480.688.2020         480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.