Anybody else every freak out after buying a home?

[waferdog]

I recently purchased my first home. I had looked at 30+ homes prior to choosing this one, and this appeared to be the best of the bunch. I made the offer and it was accepted. I had a home inspection and the inspector said that the home looked good for the most part.

I moved into the home a couple of weeks ago and now have gone into a depressed state about the decision. Perhaps my expectations were too optimistic, but I now have found that the home is all-consuming of my mind and time. It seems everyday I find something new that needs to be fixed, some of things not cheaply. First couple of days in the house, I find that the neutral wire in the electrical box is loose, and thus everything is flickering in the house. This required a visit from an electrician. Then I found that the basement leaked during a storm (the previous owners stated that they were not aware of any seepage issues). These are but a couple of examples.

My question is, how can I overcome my regret in purchasing this house and get back to a normal way of thinking? To be quite honest, I have never felt this hopeless and really do no like how it feels.

Any advice is appreciated.

Waferdog

[kenyg]

hmm, yep, I remember the first electric bill during the heating season - I about jumped out of my skin,

then the siding blew off

then roots clogged the pipes (that happened twice)

the main water shutoff valve - broke off (that was a joy)

- just go rent the movie, 'The Money Pit' - things could get worse, a lot worse.

[Brainchild]

I had to replace the kitchen and bathroom floors,all the plumbing,and replace part of the sewer pipe.And my basement still leaks

Welcome to home ownership

[Terminal23]

I'm the same way. I get anal about every little thing thats wrong.
You know the saying buyer beware?But fact is, everyone that sells a house lies about whats wrong.You always have to expect something out of the norm.It's just part of being a home owner.Believe me the goods out weighs the bad.

[Theophylact]

Home ownership is an educational experience.

waferdog,

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Remember you don't have to fix everything right now, you can do it later.

You have a place to live that's your own.
All the repairs that you do make in the future are investments in your future.

You are not burning money anymore paying rent.

If you are not handy around the house, get a book on home repair (the kind they have at Lowe's or Depot) and start learning how some of this stuff works.

It will not only be cheaper, but after a weekend of fixing a small project around the house you will feel proud of your accomplishment.

So spend your time reading about home repair instead of squeezing about the real and imagined wrongs with the house and decision to buy it!

good luck!
And remember this is a great place for home fix it advice! (the guys here taught me how to hang a door! )

[Tomteriffic]

Years ago, my mom gave me a book entitled "How To Fix Damn Near Anything", and because of that, in 11 years I've only had three tradesmen in the house, and two of them were to replace the air conditioning compressor. Find it. Great stuff even for a home improvement moron like me.

What you've got is a case of "buyers remorse" and, in time, once you get the immediate stuff out of the way, you'll settle in and enjoy it. The good part really hits the first time you do your taxes.

[osprey4]

Originally posted by Theophylact
Home ownership is an educational experience.

We have a winner in the "Understatement of the Year" contest!!!

What do they call this, buyer's remorse? Good news, though, come tax time next year, you'll feel much better.

[caddmannq]

Waferdog, part of the secret is to buy a house in a climate that doesn't tear it to pieces.

I remember some of the horrible houses we lived in in stormy old Duluth and Baudette, and you couldn't get me to buy one back there for anything.

California ain't so bad in that respect.

[draboo]

did you purchase it thru a realtor??

if so ,did you run across anything called a disclosure contract?

the sellers (in michigan,anyway) must fill one out to let you know of any problems that may not be apparant(like leaking basements,roof,drain field messes up while doing laundry,well not putting out enough water...ad infinitum)

if they lived there for any length of time,they sure should have known about a leaking basement!