Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
A great dad is always there when you need him. He’ll drive you to soccer practice, take you out for ice cream when you’re having a hard day, congratulate you for all of your accomplishments and ensure you always know how to tell a family-friendly, painfully cheesy joke. But we don’t all have access to a wise dad in our own lives, so sometimes, it’s helpful to get advice from the sage fathers of the internet.
Thankfully, there are plenty of papas out there who are happy to help out. 3 weeks ago, Reddit user Jstohler reached out to the Dad For a Minute community asking others to contribute their most valuable tips and tricks that all new homeowners should know, and these men certainly came through.
Below, we’ve gathered all of the advice that might keep you from having to learn some of these lessons the hard way, so be sure to upvote all of the responses that you find most helpful. Keep reading to also find an interview with fellow father and the man behind the Paternal Damnation blog, Robbie Meechan.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve got any more fatherly words of wisdom to share with your fellow pandas, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article that’s useful for new homeowners, you can find that right here!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I used to work for insurance companies, and determined the value of every little thing in your house. I'd go head-to-head with those fire-truck-chasing professional loss adjusters. Our goal was to use the information you provided and give the lowest damn value we could justify for your item. If you don't want to get screwed, be more detailed with the items you're claiming. For instance, if you reported only 'toaster,' we would come up with a cheap $4.88 toaster from Walmart that toasts one side of the bread at a time. And we would do that for everything you have ever owned. If you said 'toaster — $25,' we'd have to be within 20% of that, so we'd find something pretty much dead-on $20.01. Now, if you said 'high-end toaster, stainless steel, blue glowing power button,' you might get $35-$50 instead. We had to match all features that were listed. Also, don't leave out little things like shower curtain rings. It adds up.
For example, if I was writing up the shower in my bathroom, I'd report:
• Designer Shower Curtain - $35 • Matching Shower Curtain Liner for Designer Shower Curtain - $15 • Shower Curtain Rings x20 - $15 • Stainless Steel Soap Dispenser for Shower - $35 • Natural Sponge Loofah - from Whole Foods - $15 • Natural Sponge Loofah for Back - from Whole Foods - $19 • Holder for Loofahs - $20 • Bars of soap - from Lush - $12 each (qty: 4) • Bath bomb - from Lush - $12 • High end shampoo - from salon - $40 • High end conditioner from salon - $40 • Refining pore mask - from salon - $55
I could probably keep thinking, and bring it up to about $400 for the contents of my shower. Nothing there is 'unreasonable,' nothing there is clearly out of place, and nothing seems obviously fake. Most people writing claims for a total loss wouldn't even bother with the shower since it's just some used soap and sponges. And they'd be losing out on $400.
I've absolutely seen insurance payouts for loss claims originally calculated at under $7,000 increase to over $100,000 when people file their claims this way.
GoGoPDX 2 years ago
This is so extremely useful! So many people (myself included) never think about this kind of stuff. I have a tendency to always think people (insurance, sales, police, HR, banks, random people) have my best interest in mind, or that their intentions are not to screw me over. ( I know how this mindset can be harmful, but it is just the kind of person I am for some reason) Having this kind of reminder is extremely helpful. Thank you!
To gain some more fatherly wisdom on this topic, we reached out to dad Robbie Meechan, the man behind the Paternal Damnation blog. First, we asked Robbie if there were any mistakes he made when he first became a homeowner that he'd like to keep others from repeating. "I wish I'd learnt how my radiator valves worked sooner, so I could have enjoyed more savings on my heating," he told Bored Panda. "The 1-5 settings on radiator valves actually correspond to different temperatures, with 1 being 10°C, and going up in increments of 5°C all the way to setting 5, which is 30°C. These valves have a sensor that monitors the temperature of the room, restricting or allowing water into the radiator to keep your room at the temperature you choose. This means that turning those radiators all the way up to 5 is practically burning money!"
RELATED:
#2
Have a designated location for all, and I mean all, owners manuals. You might not need them, but at some time you might need to know the make/model of your weed trimmer, or of your garbage disposal.
#3
If you live somewhere you get lots of snow, make sure you clear paths from at least two exits regularly.
If you need to escape a fire you don't want snow blocking your emergency exit.
Robbie was also kind enough to share the advice that he wished he had been given before he first purchased a home. "Make sure that you're regularly allowing some ventilation into your home, even in the cold weather. Harmless-looking condensation can soon turn into mold that's dangerous for lungs."
And when it comes to the pros and cons of being a homeowner, Robbie says, "The best part is being able to decorate and shape your home however you see fit, without permission from landlords or others. It's also nice to know that your monthly payments are going towards something tangible, rather than lining a landlord's pocket."
"The worst part is finding that you have terrible neighbors," Robbie shared. "Those who rent can simply up sticks and move away from bothersome neighbors, but if you own your home, you're kind of tied in to a long-term situation."
#4
Get a dehumidifier if your basement or garage are damp. Don't let any part of your house be damp. Water is the enemy.
Hill Branda 2 years ago
Water is most certainly the enemy. I live in a very humid place--mold is real, constant threat. If you don' t deal with it immediately, you are in serious trouble.
#5
If you hear running water, you should check on it. Even if you know it’s running cus the washer, or toilet or anything.
I’ve had 3 water incidents in my home, clean supply to a tub loosened, tub overflowed, shower control nob broke. Water is a lot like a gun, when it comes to home ownership. Always treat it like it’s loaded.
Martin Kaine 2 years ago
About 10 years ago, I took the trash out one cold morning, and I heard running water, like a faucet on high. I thought it was weird and looked around. The house next to us (a rental) was empty, and I could see in the kitchen window water shooting from the sink faucet and hitting the ceiling. Clearly the pipe had burst in the cold weather. Luckily we had their number, but given the damage, it had been going for a while.
Finally, Robbie wanted to warn homeowners never to put off maintenance jobs. "Small jobs like a blocked gutter, can soon escalate into an issue with damp creeping into your home. Sort these jobs quickly, so that they don't become a bigger problem later."
If you'd like to hear more wise words from Robbie or keep up with his adventures as a father, be sure to visit his blog Paternal Damnation right here!
#6
You should keep a schedule of things that need to be checked and replaced on a regular basis, such as:
* Change ventilation intake filters every 2-3 months, and when you do make a change, write the date on the new filter so you know how old it is.
* Clean your dryer's lint trap every 2-3 loads.
* Your washing machine has a lint trap too, which I didn't learn for years. Check your washing machine manual for how to do this since it's different for different models, and clean that out at least once a year. Beware: the first time might be disgusting.
#7
If it deals with sparky stuff (electricity), or wet stuff (water systems or water), *deal with that stuff ASAP*. Electrical issues can kill by fire, or by electrocution. No bueno. Water can ruin structures and turn a couple tens or hundreds of dollars of patch work/fixing into thousands of dollars of water damage and plumbing repair or mold remediation. "Ounce of prevention, something, something..."
Elwood Schwartz (it/that) 2 years ago
For the metric users out there " One milliliter of prevention is worth a kilometer of cure."
#8
Take some time to educate yourself on fire extinguishers and get the appropriate one for your home. Keep it somewhere easily accessible. Remember PASS - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze firmly, and Sweep in your motions.
Never walk away when you're cooking - especially oil or grease...not even for a minute.
#9
1) change the batteries in your smoke detectors every 6 mos.
2) clean your gutters. Once a year if only a few trees, twice a year if lots of trees around.
3) regular yard maintenace. Mowing, trimming, etc. Once a week is good for mowing, trimming once every 3-4weeks.
4) if you live in snow country, invest in a good snowblower. Your back will thank you later in life. You will also save money over the long run rather than paying someone.
5) buy homeowners AND contents insurance. Often they are separate.
6) include property tax in your budget. Always goes up every year.
7) have your furnace serviced every year.
8) know the lifespan of your big ticket items (roof, furnace, hot water tank).
9) make aure you know the location of your circut breakers, and that each breaker is properly labelled. Same with main powrr cutoff.
10) know where your main water cutoff in the house is. Useful for a flood or if you go away for a week or two. If you shutnoff the water, turn on a tap or flush your toilet to reduce internal water pressure.
11) sweep out your garage every spring, especially in winter areas. Dirt and salt adds up.
12) fix, or have fixed any leaky taps asap. They dont ever get better on their own.
13) ask questions/watch youtube videos on topics for minor home repairs.
14) if you dont know what you are doing dont f**k around with electricity, hire a professional. Same with plumbing and gas.
15) all your external doors should have deadbolts.
Edited to add:
16) buy a good tool kit. It should have multiple screwdrivers (flathead -, phillips +, and if you are lucky, robertson □), a hammer, and several wrenches (imperial if you live in the US, metric AND imperial if ypu live in Canada).
#10
Step one, hire the best reviewed home inspector in your area. Even if you bought your home with no conditions, they can give you an idea of what expensive fixes are on the horizon and what ones may be far off.
Brad Blackwell 2 years ago
DO NOT USE THE REALTORS INSPECTOR!!! Get your own! Think about it...the realtors inspector is not going to make the potential sale fall thru. Otherwise the realtor won't use or suggest them again. Get your own ..they will only be accountable to you.
#11
One tip for buying any major appliance (Fridge, washer/dryer set, etc.) is check local repair places you like and see who they service. Certain brands you will find a lot of repair shops won't touch. If the brand you are interest in only has one authorized service business serving a huge area all by itself and is an hour drive from your house that is a good sign you want to avoid that brand.
#12
If you have pets, pick up after them regularly. Even three minutes in the back yard will keep you from smelly aromas and dead grass.
ObsidianAce_ 2 years ago
We live backed up to the woods where rabbits and subsequently hunters are. At the end of each week, I go out with cat litter scoops and just throw it in the woods. Good fertilizer and keeps the rabbits/hunters away. Plus, no plastic bags!
#13
Always maintain your roofs and gutters.
Cleaning the gutters is easy enough on a single story — just use a ladder and a hose. As for the roof, set money aside to replace or repair it about every 10 years. They don't last forever, and leaks will destroy a home quicker than you think.
#14
Learn where your waterline cutoff is, and make sure you have a tool to turn it, in the event of a faucet, hose spigot failing you can minimize the damage while you fix it or call a plumber.
Likewise if you're in a place like Texas where the houses aren't built to take cold you can cutoff the water and open the taps to keep the pipes from freezing and splitting
---
In addition to the household tools and yard work tools that are pretty standard, I recomend a powerwasher... even a cheap one can make a world of difference to decks, fences, walkways/sidewalk, even your house itself and (with a few extras) cars. It's one of the higher payoff chores as far as cosmetic improvement and it's actually kinda fun
the Return of Bruno 2 years ago
Freezing pipes happen in the North, too! There's no such thing as a house built to take what for the area is freakishly cold weather. NEVER leave your house in the winter for more than a few hours without cutting off the water.
#15
Pay attention to the interest rate when you get your loan.
Adjustable rate mortgages can mess you up. You'll probably have a 30-year mortgage for most of your working life. Don't get something that might explode in 3 years and be a nightmare for the rest of the time.
Refinancing usually costs several grand. Depending on current interest rates, it could save you money in the long run or not, but be aware that it might not be possible for you in the future. So plan for a home you can afford as it is right now.
Try to save at least six months worth of wages in a long-term savings account. The bank won't care if your job goes away. If you can't pay for your house, they'll take it away from you. Also, things will break down at the least convenient time, and heat pumps or new roofs are NOT cheap.
Speaking of money, it can be worthwhile to shop around for loans. Many smaller local banks or credit unions might be able to offer you better terms than the big chains. If you already have a loan, it could still be worthwhile to refinance to one of these. If you can get 1.5% less interest, it can be worthwhile to add 3-5 grand to the total amount.
Everything will cost more than it should. The older you get, the truer it is.
Keep your stick on the ice. I'm pulling for you.
#16
For cold-weather climates, before the first hard freeze of the season:
* Drain and/or blow out your sprinkler system (if you have a sprinkler system).
* Make sure outside hoses are disconnected from faucets.
Not doing this could result in burst water pipes (due to the expansion of freezing water) and expensive repair bills.
#17
When my dad was around he taught me something I can contribute:
You don’t need to fully saturate the paint roller when painting a wall. Strive for even coats not thick layers. Also, taping is the most important part.
M O'Connell 2 years ago
Paint over your tape using the base color before applying the other color. This seals the tape completely, preventing bleeds.
#18
Invest in a set of tools. Even if you use them occasionally, a good set of tools (power, and hand tools) will enable you to save big in simple to moderate repairs and purchase of things you can make yourself. Black Friday/Cyber Monday offer screaming deals on midrange and better quality five-and-six piece power tool sets for sub-$200, sometimes even less. If you think you'll be regularly working on your home/building things, invest the few extra dollars on the quality brands.
M O'Connell 2 years ago
If the price of "good" hand tools puts you off, start with buying sets of basic tools (wrenches, sockets, taps & dies, screwdrivers, files, etc.) with the understanding that you will wear out or break the components you use the most. Replace those with good quality tools one at a time. "You need ALL of the shapes, but you don't need them all equally."
#19
Experts who can bang out repairs, and make bookcases from scrap lumber found in the gutter make it *look* hard because they've done it a million times, but *you* can fix and build stuff, too. YouTube is a godsend to learn how. Experts *hate it*!
#20
Keep a list of local repair companies handy and keep it updated. You never know when you may need to reach someone last minute.
Make sure you have a well stocked toolkit for minor jobs, and keep it somewhere easily accessible. Hammer, screwdrivers, picture hangers, electrical tape, nails etc.
When you paint, tile, wallpaper, or whatever, make sure you write down information about that product. Brand, name of color, pattern, what room it's in etc, when when and where you bought it from. I do this on the back of the paint chips of the color I use and write down information on other items in a notebook that I keep with my homeowners policy and manuals.
#21
Try to create an emergency of fund of at least $5K. More is obviously better.
Understand and value needs vs wants.
Turn off the electricity at the circuit. Check it before you touch it.
Program your thermostat.
Not exactly house related but you just bought a home, likely with a mortgage and dependent on two incomes, what happens if you or your partner dies? Buy life insurance equal to 10x your salary and have a policy that is outside of your job. Do it when you are young and completely healthy.
M O'Connell 2 years ago
A special US-only warning regarding electrical work. Once upon a time it was fairly common to have wiring for two circuit breakers sharing one neutral wire (since we have center-tapped 240V service in the US, the neutral wire would never carry more than 1 circuit's worth of current). If you are breaking a neutral connection anywhere, even if the circuit is turned off, check if any voltage is present on the neutral, or you could get a zap from the side of the circuit you expect to be disconnected.
#22
- don’t be ashamed to ask someone to fix something for you. Some things (like electrical stuff) are better left to the professionals.
- don’t forget to replace your pillow every 1-2 years. At least that works for me
- make a maintenance schedule. Write in everything you have to check up/change out.
- nothing except liquids should go down the toilet. (Even then, too much oil/fat is also bad) in can save you big bucks in the long run.
#23
Have a good credit card when looking to finance appliance purchases. Low interest purchases, and possible extension of the manufacturer's warrantee on appliances or fixtures can help you in the long run. Keep the receipts for major appliances you purchase-very helpful for returns or manufacturer refunds/warrantee service work.
#24
Use a pillowcase to clean fan blades every month. Set a reminder to clean your dishwasher and washing machine filters monthly. Also, run a monthly sanitizer load in the washing machine and wipe/clean the rubber liner if applicable.
#25
Don't leave things for later; future you will regret it. It'll make those bad days or times when you're sick, so much easier to manage.
Also always have some bicarb soda in the pantry. It's great for cleaning!
And if you live by yourself, take 4 slices of bread and keep them in the fridge in a small plastic bag, and put the rest of the load in the freezer. This way it'll last longer and won't go bad before you're finished with it.
David 2 years ago
Related to leaving things - When I purchased my house in 2003 a friend advised, "Anything you plan to do, do it now. If you wait a year you will get used to it and ignore it." At the time I thought - okay, whatever. 20 years later I laugh at myself over a few things around my house that I was "going to get to" but then I got used to it. lol @ me.
#26
With many people out there getting ready for cold weather I would say cover your outdoor faucets with covers (not rags) rags soak in the moisture and then freeze there are cheap Styrofoam covers you can get. Plastic kits over the windows can really help keep the heat in as well. On another note car batteries have more trouble in the cold so a lot of people go out on a cold morning and their car won't start. The battery was old and dieing and the cold was the final straw.
#27
Mow your lawn regularly, it is the best way of controlling weeds... Regularity depends on location.
SealOfDisapproval 2 years ago
Counterpoint: only mow the areas you actually use, let the rest turn into a meadow for pollinators. Mow paths if needed.
What do you think ?
Carol Emory 2 years ago
One piece of advice my Dad also had was to have a credit card that is completely devoted to medical expenses. That way, when it comes tax time, you have all of your medical costs in one location...your credit card statements.
Ryon Cupidore 2 years ago
The best way to learn a new skill is by helping someone who already knows that skill and is willing to teach you. Still the basis of learning to this day. Yes you can brute force a solution, yes you can face a challenge on your own, but at the end of the day there is rarely any better knowledge gained than that from helping out and learning from someone. See it. Do it. Teach it.
Carol Emory 2 years ago
One piece of advice my Dad also had was to have a credit card that is completely devoted to medical expenses. That way, when it comes tax time, you have all of your medical costs in one location...your credit card statements.
Ryon Cupidore 2 years ago
The best way to learn a new skill is by helping someone who already knows that skill and is willing to teach you. Still the basis of learning to this day. Yes you can brute force a solution, yes you can face a challenge on your own, but at the end of the day there is rarely any better knowledge gained than that from helping out and learning from someone. See it. Do it. Teach it.
Related on Bored Panda
