7 Essential Items You Must Have When Owning a House or Condo

Finally, the dream has come true with the ownership of a house and having your own condo! After saving for many years, some may have spent almost half their lives doing so. There’s nothing better than having your own place to live without having to rent anymore.

But wait, the challenges don’t end here. Buying a home involves more than just the monthly payments. Let’s check the list of 7 essential items you should have if you own a house or condo.

7 Essential Items to Have When Owning a House or Condo

Is the Condition of the House or Condo Okay Before Transfer?

In the final stages, condos or housing projects usually allow buyers like us to inspect the condition of the unit or house one last time before the transfer.

Many may see this as a simple check, nothing to worry about. But we must say, if you think that way, it’s time to change your mindset. If you don’t inspect thoroughly and accidentally sign off, if construction issues arise, there’s a high chance the project won’t take responsibility.

Therefore, the best course of action is to inspect every detail carefully, from sewage pipes, leaks in the house, electrical wiring, to ceilings and even door and window frames and hinges.

If you’re unsure about your ability to inspect everything and lack knowledge, don’t worry. Nowadays, there are professionals who specialize in detailed home inspections (and we mean detailed) before the transfer.

Housing is a sensitive matter. Inspecting thoroughly before signing is crucial so you don’t lose benefits and end up having to fix things yourself later!

Have You Changed the Locks, Knobs, and Keys Yet?

Don’t take this lightly. Even if it’s a new house or a brand-new unit, just unwrapped, you must not be careless! In Thailand, there have been cases where condo security guards secretly made copies of keys and entered units in the middle of the night.

And of course, the owners hadn’t changed the knobs or keys, making it very easy for unauthorized entry. Fortunately, in one case, the female owner was unharmed as she noticed in time.

You wouldn’t want this to happen to you. Therefore, for safety, after the transfer is complete, when decorating or moving in furniture, don’t forget to change all the knobs and keys in the house.

At the very least, you’ll have peace of mind knowing there are no thieves disguised as project staff lurking around to copy your keys.

Emergency Funds

Don’t take this lightly. Even if you can buy a house or condo and have planned your payments well, believe it or not, purchasing a house or condo comes with endless miscellaneous expenses.

These include contract fees, transfer fees, common area fees, and other miscellaneous costs like furniture and additional interior decoration. Some may even incur moving costs to the new place. It’s safe to say that the budget can spiral out of control.

If you don’t want to face financial hiccups, we recommend always preparing emergency funds.

What About Security?

When we talk about security, we don’t just mean the guards at the condo or village entrance, but also the surrounding environment and the security systems of the residence.

It’s true that you may have good security, live near a police station, and the area isn’t risky, but you shouldn’t be careless.

Besides regularly checking that your door locks are functioning well and not damaged or pried open, if there are other ways to enhance security, you should do it.

For example, installing CCTV, carrying a whistle or loud horn for emergency signaling (which is better than just calling out), personal safety devices, emergency contact numbers ready to reach relevant authorities at all times, or even contacting the police to help monitor the area if you’ll be away from home or the condo for an extended period.

Surely, you wouldn’t want to come home to find your belongings missing or have someone lurking around your house at night, right?

Is There Parking Available?

Some might say, “Oh, I don’t have a car. I want to help the nation, save energy, and prefer using public transport.” That’s great, but sometimes you should think about the future. One day, you might change your mind and want your own car to transport family members or have friends visit.

Not having any parking space at all seems a bit impractical.

Otherwise, you might find yourself in trouble in the future just because you don’t have parking space. And of course, many wouldn’t want to risk parking on the street, exposing their car to theft or having to pay for parking when their home is nearby!

Lovely Neighbors

Nothing beats having a nice place to live and friendly neighbors. Building friendships with neighbors or those in your building, including the management and security staff, can definitely benefit you.

At the very least, if something happens or you face various issues, asking for help from these lovely neighbors is easy. Making friends is simple; if you live in a house, try visiting and bringing snacks or food to greet them. Importantly, if you want to start making friends, don’t be the neighbor who only smiles awkwardly.

For those wanting to bond with condo neighbors, it might be a bit harder, but try greeting and chatting with the management and security staff occasionally.

However, be cautious: getting to know, greeting, and becoming friendly is good, but don’t let it go too far to the point where they know your exact return times or too much personal information about you.

Because sometimes, a lovely neighbor can turn into a poisonous snake that harms you. There have been many cases where security or neighbors knew when you were coming and going and what valuables you had, leading to theft or break-ins!

Home Insurance

You have life insurance, health insurance, and car insurance, so why do you need home insurance? Many might think that home insurance is just redundant coverage and not necessary in the 7 essential items list.

Let me whisper that it absolutely belongs on this list! It’s just as essential as the others.

Home insurance doesn’t just cover fire, floods, or natural disasters as many people think. This type of insurance often covers theft and also protects various assets in the home, even broken glass!

Of course, this insurance doesn’t just protect the policyholder but also covers others in the household as specified in the policy.

Whether you’re single or not, have children, or have a beloved cat or dog, you’ll be covered too!

If anyone is interested, check out home insurance from an insurance company through the insurance broker Rabbit Finance! Not only can you consult for free, but you’ll also be amazed by the special offers that provide peace of mind and comprehensive coverage.

Owning a house or condo doesn’t mean your responsibilities end there. Don’t forget that unexpected events can happen to you at any time. Don’t take it lightly; you might be sitting watching a series at home when suddenly lightning strikes or a fire breaks out. If it’s extinguished in time, that’s great, but what if it’s not, or if damage occurs?

It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Thank you for the information from rabbitfinance.com