I bought my first house last month, but I have always lived in an apartment or condo.
Living in an apartment can be really nice, because you rarely have to worry about outdoor landscaping or indoor maintenance.
Someone comes by twice a week and mows the lawn, trims the hedges, and eats the weeds. Someone comes to the house once every month to spray for bugs. I also have someone that is readily available to fix any problem inside the apartment. I’ve had issues with the plumbing system, and the apartment maintenance staff was ready to help in a moment’s notice. When the air conditioner doesn’t work, help is simply a phone call away. Now I’m going to be required to provide my own home maintenance and troubleshooting. I’m particularly stressed out about the HVAC unit. Although the HVAC unit is brand-new, I will still be responsible for all of the maintenance and upkeep going forward. I decided to invest in a reusable air filter, in order to save money each month. I never saw a reusable air filter, until I was shopping at the hardware store. At my previous apartment, they gave me a disposable air filter each month. The reusable air filter was a bit more expensive, but I can clean it and replace it. I’m going to save a lot of money each month, and the reusable air filter has a tight woven mesh to help trap lots of germs, dust, and particles. I don’t know how many years of use I will get from the air filter, but I know it’s going to save me a lot of hassle and aggravation.