Owning a home is not as easy as you dreamed it would be while growing up. Homeowners are constantly searching for ways to make their lives easier – especially when it comes to maintenance. The well-coined phrase, “It’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know,” is often the truth when it comes to making a homeowner’s life simpler. Below I have a list of “WHO’s” that every homeowner should have easily accessible in their contact list in their phones
1. Home Warranty Company
Whether you have just purchased a home or are in the process of building a home; purchasing and maintaining a home warranty can save you thousands of dollars. Typically, these companies only cost about $60 per month, but one claim typically covers a year or more worth of expenses.
2. Homeowner’s Insurance Company
In the past, I have written about the value of having a good relationship with a trustworthy homeowner’s insurance agent. Flood, fire, storm damage, theft, or personal injury can be devastating to your home, family, and bank account. Having an agent you can call and have answers at any time of day is an invaluable to your peace of mind when you lay your head down on the pillow at night.
3. Police and Fire
Obviously, if there is an emergency, 911 is your first resource, but for non-emergency issues, you should always have these numbers on hand.
4. Home Security Company
If you have a security system in your home, you need to keep this number handy – if for nothing else than to have when your dog accidentally sets it off while you are away. In a real emergency, these companies can help to notify authorities of issues if you are not in the home or if you are unable to make a call yourself.
5. Plumber / Electrician / HVAC
There is nothing worse than water, electrical, or heating and air conditioning problems. Don’t just go to Google to search out these resources. My suggestion is to call and interview a few people to assure yourself that you like the work they do and that in a time of need, they can be there to assist.
6. A General Handyman
This skill is really becoming a lost art. If you know a talented man or woman who knows how to do a little of everything – from painting, replacing tile, fixing windows, etc, then keep this close at hand and take good care of them.
7. Pest Control
Spiders, roaches, and mice, oh my! Just keep them all outside of your home. There are many options to keep pests out of your home – research and select the company that aligns with your ideals and keep them on task to clear your home of nuisances.
8. Trusted Friend, Family Member, or Neighbor
Discuss the safety of your home with a friend, family member, or neighbor. Let them know where the main water valve in your home is as well as anything they may need to know to secure your home when you are away. It could be something as simple as checking to see if the oven was left on while you went on vacation, but having this trusted person to help you out, is invaluable.
9. Children’s Schools
This is a no-brainer. Whatever the reason may be, you don’t want to have to search for this phone number when taking care of a sick child or when you need to let the school know anything about your kid.
10. HOA Representative
Love them or hate them, you should still participate in your neighborhood’s HOA decisions.
11. Home Inspector
Many people think that a home inspector is only used when you go to buy or sell your home. This being said, I recommend that you have your home inspected every 2-3 years as part of your home’s regular maintenance. If you can identify potential issues before they become issues, you can save yourself from stress and potentially thousands of dollars in expenses.
12. Poison Control
This local hotline can be a life saver for a child or pet.
13. Your Realtor
Anytime you want to know what your house is worth, the state of the real estate market, and of course if you are looking to buy or sell a home, your Realtor is your trusted partner to turn to. Ultimately, if you don’t know “Who” to call, they probably do.
Here are a few other resources that you should keep handy:
Utilities
Gas
Electric
Cable/Phone
Water/Sewer
Trash
Cell Phone Provider
Emergency
Animal Control
Hospital
Doctors
Veterinarians
Dentists
Miscellaneous
Family Members
Neighbors
Work Numbers
Bank
Credit Card Companies
As always, if you have any real estate questions or are looking to buy or sell your home in Heber City, Midway, Utah or Salt Lake Counties, please reach out to me with any questions. Please reach out to me at (801) 885-2558 or by email at brandonrwood19@gmail.com.