Disclaimer

Educational information only

The Homeowner Guide publishes general, educational information about owning a home in the United States, including property taxes and appeals, homeowners insurance, maintenance and repairs, HOA rules and fees, home warranties and budgeting for upkeep.

Nothing on this site is legal, tax, insurance, financial or engineering advice. Reading our guides, using our checklists or contacting us does not create an attorney-client, adviser-client, agent-client or any other professional relationship.

Talk to the right professional

Your situation depends on details we cannot see: your policy wording, your property, your county’s rules, your finances and your HOA’s governing documents. Before you make a decision, check with the person who can look at your specific case:

• Your county assessor or tax office for assessments, exemptions and appeal deadlines.
• Your insurer or insurance agent for what your policy covers, your deductibles and how to file a claim.
• A tax professional for how a payment, credit or deduction applies to you.
• An attorney for contracts, HOA disputes, liens and other legal questions.
• A licensed contractor, electrician, plumber or inspector for repairs, safety concerns and code requirements.

Rules vary by state and county, and change

Property tax, insurance regulation, HOA law, consumer protections and building codes differ from state to state and often from county to county or city to city. They also change: tax-year figures are updated, programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program revise their rules, and local deadlines move. We call out differences where we know about them, but we cannot cover every jurisdiction.

Figures are as of the date shown

Each article shows when it was published, last updated and last reviewed. Dollar amounts, limits, thresholds, deadlines and other figures are accurate as of those dates, based on the sources we cite. They may have changed since. Always check the linked source, or the official source for your area, for current information.

Examples are hypothetical

Worked examples, including names, dollar amounts and scenarios, are hypothetical and are labelled as such. They show how something works. They are not quotes, averages, estimates or predictions for your home, your bill or your premium.

Do-it-yourself safety

Some of our guides describe maintenance tasks homeowners can do themselves. Home projects can be dangerous. Please take these risks seriously:

• Gas: if you smell gas, leave the home right away and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Gas appliance installation and repair should be done by a qualified professional.
• Electrical: turn off power at the breaker before any electrical task, and hire a licensed electrician for anything beyond simple tasks such as resetting a breaker or replacing a light bulb. Many jurisdictions require permits and licensed work for wiring.
• Roofs: falls from roofs cause serious injuries. Inspect from the ground with binoculars where possible, and hire a professional for roof work.
• Ladders: follow the manufacturer’s instructions, set the ladder on firm, level ground, keep three points of contact and have someone with you.

When in doubt, hire a licensed professional. Check whether your work requires a permit, and remember that some DIY work can affect your insurance coverage or home warranty.

External links

We link to government agencies, standards bodies and other sources so you can check our work. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy or availability of other websites, and a link is not an endorsement.

Independence

The site currently has no advertising and no affiliate links, and nobody pays to be included in our guides. Our advertising disclosure explains how any future commercial links would be handled.

Errors

We work to keep our guides accurate, as described in our editorial policy and methodology, but errors can happen. If you spot one, please tell us through our corrections process or email [email protected].

Limitation of liability

Your use of the site and reliance on its content is at your own risk. Our terms of use explain the limits of our liability in full.