"I Regret That I Took It For Granted": 17 Mistakes New Homeowners Made Because They Didn't Know Better At The Time
Recently, a redditor asked recent homeowners of the Reddit community to share their biggest home regret, and as a non-homeowner, I'm taking notes. From furniture and pools to inspectors and driveways, here are some of the most honest answers:
1."Buying a house with a pool. It was a great buying point at the time, and we used it a lot at first, but I used it maybe three or four times a year. It's a ton of upkeep, maintenance, and repairs. One day, I dove down into the freezing cold water because I had a leak somewhere and lost 250 gallons of water. I suspected the pipe connecting the main drain at the bottom of the deep end had cracked, so I plugged it up. Know someone with a pool; don't own one."
2."Hiring the wrong home inspector. They missed so much; I really have to wonder if all those highly rated reviews were bought and paid for."
3."We did not pull out cars from the driveway or attempt to park them, so we didn't realize that my car could only enter the driveway from one direction. Every time I need to park, I have to turn around half a block up. Also, we are BARELY able to fit two cars in the driveway. So, I regret that I took for granted that the driveway met our needs."
4."I bought a house a few years ago, and so many things have gone sideways. One thing I regret is not being educated about permits. Contracts, handymen, and practically anyone who works on your house never mention that a permit may be needed. I learned it's up to me and me alone to do the research and phone calls. Currently, I have a job on hold because they need a permit. The company blamed me, and now I'm unsure if they're even going to do the work."
5."Buying and then getting divorced four months later."
6."I should have bought a smaller house with money left to renovate instead of a larger one with nothing left over. There are so many weird quirks with my current place that I'd love to change, but I'll probably have to wait 10 years. I'm making all the changes that I can make myself, but there are just so many to do, and some are way outside my knowledge base."
7."I bought a house three years ago, and my biggest regret is rushing to buy furniture. I wish I had taken my time and bought pieces when I could afford something nice. Now, I have shitty couches that I despise."
8."The inspector told us the main drain in the basement was clogged. We thought it was clogged with something normal, but it was 'clogged' with cement from when our basement floor was redone. So now, our basement regularly gets standing water on one side."
9."Not learning more about home maintenance before buying and moving in. Thankfully, nothing major has happened, but after a few years, I've realized how little I actually know about taking care of a house, and it's affecting my utilities and comfort. I don't regret buying the house, but if I could go back and do it all again, I'd take care of some things sooner and differently, and would probably have better results."
10."Not knowing enough about the area/town. I hate where we live, and I'm hoping we can move by the time my oldest starts kindergarten."
11."I bought a lemon of a house. It turned out that it needed new wiring, plumbing, and structural support. The inspector (who I later found out was a friend of the real estate agent) didn't have any concerns about the house. I ended up short-selling it for $15k."
12."Not checking out the neighborhood at night. There is a business with a very tall, very bright parking lot with lights that seem to be all aimed at my windows."
13."I regret buying my parents' house. Everything needs to be replaced now. We replaced every expensive custom window and found that the frames were all rotted, so we had to redo a ton of stucco. That was just the tip of the iceberg. Initially, buying the house was a no-brainer for the price and equity, but now, we're stuck with how shitty the market is and all the things we need to fix in order to sell."
14."Not buying sooner before the interest rates jumped up so fast. We started looking in March 2022, and the rates were around 3.2–3.5%. By the time we locked our rate in with all the paperwork in June of the same year, it was up to 5.125%. We closed with three days to spare on the rate lock because the owners were being annoying with the closing date."
15."Buying in an area where my house was the most expensive one. Everyone else's prices are driving mine down, making it harder to sell for what it's worth."
16."Not doing enough research on the schools and school zones. We are a seven-minute drive from one of the best schools in the state and a seven-minute drive from one in the bottom 50%. Guess which zone we're in."
17.Last but not least: "Not buying a house four years ago."
Testing out the driveway literally never crossed my mind before, so now, I'll be sure to do that (if I ever buy a home). If you're a recent homeowner, what is your biggest regret? Let me know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit using this form!
