It’s no secret that some of the most stressful parts of becoming a homeowner are securing a mortgage, locating your ideal property, placing a competitive offer, and navigating the intricacies of closing paperwork and processes. Of course, you have your agent to take care of you and your interests every step of the way! 

Once you have your keys in hand and the deed in your name, you may experience a whole new wave of thoughts and emotions—hopefully full of pride in your accomplishment and plans for your new home. You may also find yourself wondering: What happens now?

Here are some things to expect when you become a homeowner:

You Will Feel More Security and Freedom

Whether it happens as soon as you have the keys in hand, or a week later

Congratulations on your first home purchase! During this exciting time, you are likely to encounter new responsibilities, not least of which will be tending to your home’s yard. This landscape is all yours. With the proper tools, methods, and approaches, your yard has the potential to add beauty and value to your property. The reverse is also true - if your yard suffers from neglect, your property’s curb appeal will likewise decline. 

Today, we’re sharing our recommendations for the top ten must-have lawn equipment purchases you’ll make as a new homeowner. Our list is suitable for suburban yards and small rural properties, while homes on large rural plots will require additional purchases, including a riding mower in place of a standard mower.

It’s no secret that most New Year’s resolutions are tossed out about a month after the tree is taken down, but this year, dear homeowner, things will be different. In 2021, you have the opportunity to make resolutions on behalf of your home rather than your waistline or still-blank journal pages, and we believe you’ll enjoy the sense of pride and wellbeing that you’ll gain as a result of sticking to them.

As homeowners, we must stay focused on saving money, maintaining and improving our homes, and keeping interior spaces organized and gleaming. Sound daunting? By following Parks' Top New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners, you’ll have a handy guide to keep you on-track from now on.

1.) Budget for Emergencies

The average homeowner would be wise

It’s easy to see why a semi-outside, storage-like area that’s big enough to fit cars in there, DOES in fact, collect things. There are lots of daunting tasks when it comes to homeownership, but cleaning and organizing a garage seems to oftentimes be at the top of that list - and it’s easy to see why. 

Thankfully, as with anything - things get a whole lot easier with a plan. Here are our favorite tips on organizing your garage:

Set Aside a Weekend

To avoid exhaustion by trying to fit everything in within a single day, and to be sure you have time to actually finish the project - set aside a full two days of a weekend to truly dive into organizing your garage - and the right way at that. 

Remove, Sort & Decide

Before you can begin