Homeowner Resource Portal
The responsiblities of homeownership can seem overwhelming - even scary, for first time homebuyers. DeKalb Habitat knows there is one essential ingredient that separates success from failure for families in this new role - KNOWLEDGE.
This site provides homeowners, old and new, with resources they will need to achieve success in many areas - home maintenance, budgeting, consumer protection, job searches, etc.
Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. When you are financially literate, you have the foundation of a relationship with money, and it is a lifelong journey of learning. The earlier you start, the better off you will be, because education is the key to success when it comes to money.
Given the importance of finance in modern society, lacking financial literacy (which is actually quite common) can be very damaging to an individual’s long-term financial success. Being financially illiterate can lead to a number of pitfalls, such as being more likely to accumulate unsustainable debt burdens, either through poor spending decisions or a lack of long-term preparation. This, in turn, can lead to poor credit, bankruptcy, housing foreclosure, and other negative consequences.
Developing financial literacy to improve your personal finances involves learning and practicing a variety of skills related to budgeting, managing, and paying off debts, and understanding credit and investment products. The good news is that, no matter where you are in life and financially, it’s never too late to start practicing good financial habits.
There’s no doubt about it, being a homeowner is a big job.
Unlike an apartment complex where the maintenance crew takes care of the yard work, regularly cleaning the gutters, pressure-washing the buildings, turning outdoor faucets on and off with the season, replacing A/C filters, tuning up the HVAC systems, and more, now you’re stuck with all these jobs because you’re the homeowners.
The reality is ALL houses need occasional repairs and maintenance. And outsourcing every home maintenance task you need to get done can start to add up very quickly. Luckily, basic home maintenance tasks don’t cost much money or time. Staying on top of tasks like these can save money in the long run.
In this guide, you’ll learn home maintenance tips you can’t ignore if you want your home to stay structurally sound, maintain low running costs, and retain its full value.
But first…
When you shouldn't do home repairs
While most little chores are fine to handle on your own, you shouldn’t try and fix everything. If the consequence could result in extra damage, cost exponentially more, or you could severely injure yourself or the house, it’s better to let a professional handle the repair.
You also have to ask yourself if it’s worth your time to learn something new rather than pay for the services of someone who already knows the correct and safe repairs for electrical rewiring, asbestos removal, mold removal, major plumbing, roofing, structural changes or modifications, pest infestation, water damage, etc.