5 Hidden Costs of House Hunting—Sneaky Little Expenses You Didn’t See Coming (But Totally Will)|Beth Helvey

When most people think about buying a home, they focus on the big checks they have to write, like down payments, closing costs, and inspections. But are also some sneaky little expenses that sneak up on you when you’re in the midst of house-hunting chaos!

Don’t worry, they aren’t going to impact your mortgage pre-approval like buying a new car or paying for a vacation on your credit card would. (And they would…so don’t!) They’re just some little extra costs that add up more than you might think they will!

Here are 6 hidden expenses you might want to throw a few bucks at when budgeting for your home search:

1) Coffee

The quest for the perfect home is a marathon, not a sprint. You need fuel—and by “fuel,” we mean lattes, mochas, and the occasional 20-ounce iced coffee just to get you through the endless stream of showings, open houses, and car rides through neighborhoods you wish you could afford.

2) New Socks

It’s easy to live with scuzzy socks and even ignore the occasional toe peeking through. But that changes the moment you’re asked to take your shoes off at a showing. Suddenly, every hole and stretched-out heel becomes glaringly obvious.

3) Fast Food

You might plan on making a healthy dinner… but then the home of your dreams hits the market at 10AM and offers are due by 8PM. (Yeah, houses can sell that fast…) Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to cram some food down without having to cook it.

4) Impulse HomeGoods Purchases

You told yourself you’d wait until you actually owned a home before buying any décor. And yet… here you are, walking out of HomeGoods with a cart full of “neutral but cozy” throw pillows, a trendy vase you swear will go somewhere.

5) Gas

It’s not just the fuel you’ll burn speeding to see a new listing before another buyer beats you to it. It’s the spontaneous detours you take to check out a yard sign you spot on a side street, only to find out it’s a campaign sign for a local politician—not a new listing.

It’s the dozens of drive-bys past a house you’ve made an offer on, and are now emotionally stalking while waiting for the seller to respond. And of course the neighborhood reconnaissance missions, complete with unplanned routes, U-turns, and “just one more loop around the block” moments.