If you walk by a cute little home in a picture-perfect neighborhood, it is hard not to convince yourself that this is exactly what you need. It may be exactly what you need, but before you run in and make a bid on the next house you walk by, there are some things you need to check in your budget first.

Sometimes people forget about a few necessary things in their budget, especially if you are buying a house for the very first time. There are some essential things that you need to tick off your budget checklist, otherwise you will end up paying for it — literally and figuratively speaking.

Home Services

In the back of your mind, you may tell yourself that you have this all under control. You’ve included important things like a plumber and electrician in your budget.

But did you remember to think about the other services that you will need in a house? If you are moving from an apartment to a house, for example, you might have forgotten services like pest control. Companies like Joshua’s Pest Control will take care of your yard so you don’t have to worry about that, but remember to put it in your budget.

It’s a good idea to investigate the neighborhood you are moving to and figure out what kind of things you should put in your budget.

Insurance

You may know all about insurance. It is not something you just forget about, but there is a lot more to think about than just putting the word ‘insurance’ down on your checklist.

A good home insurance can help you stay financially safe if a disaster hits you, but remember to check for different things as well in the insurance.

For starters, if you have a specific kind of dog, it might have an effect on your insurance. There are certain dog breeds that can make it hard to even buy insurance for your home. Some dog breeds are blacklisted, so before you decide to become a homeowner overnight, you should make it your mission to look into everything thoroughly.

Immediate Repairs

Sometimes a house looks like it is “move-in-ready”, but you may quickly come to realize that some areas need a little fix up.

It is always a good idea to put away some money for this in your budget just in case. Unless you buy a completely new house, then there is often a thing or two that will need some much-needed repairs.

Other times, you will find a home but will be quickly aware of the repairs that need to happen immediately. This also means that the prized house in your head initially ends up being completely different in real life.

If you are unsure about the cost, then check in with a professional that can help you figure out the price more correctly. If you have a friend or family in the business, then maybe see if you can ask them about it over dinner.