Why every first-time home buyer needs a good HVAC and plumbing company on speed dial

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a home owning 101 that all first-time buyers could take? Since there’s not, you  just have to learn as you go and get advice from your friends and family who have already been there. No matter who you ask, they’ll tell you the best way to prevent any major home-owning headaches is to be plan ahead. Sometimes planning ahead means having important numbers—like one for a reliable plumbing and HVAC company—on speed dial.

Here’s why.

Now that you’re a homeowner, there’s no landlord to call

When you were a renter it might have seemed frustrating to wait for your landlord to get things repaired. But on the plus side, you never had to deal with calling companies and getting quotes. Now that you’re a home owner, it’s much easier to have the number of a company you trust—or that just comes highly recommended. That way you don’t have to scramble to do research when something major does happen.

And something major will happen…

It’s going to be 102 degrees this weekend and you already planned to host your best friend’s birthday party at your house. If there’s one time all summer your A/C is going to go out, it’s today. That’s because your HVAC system always breaks at the worst possible moment. Having a reliable company on speed dial is key in these situations. During the busy season, you might still have to wait for a service appointment, but the sooner you’re able to make the call the higher up you’ll be on the list.

You can’t procrastinate when it comes to plumbing problems

A small leak can turn into a big problem if you wait too long. That small leak coming from your hot water heater might not seem like a big deal now, but if you wait too long it can be a big problem. It’s usually much easier and cheaper to fix these issues when you first notice them rather than wait until something breaks completely.  Not to mention all that wasted water can end up costing you big money over time.

Plumbing is not always a DIY project

If you need to do something simple, like turn off the water before you install your new dishwasher, it’s not likely that you’ll need to call a plumber. But if you have a pipe leak, you’re going to want to call a professional. As tempting as it is to DIY everything, you’ll actually save money on this one by having it repaired properly by a professional instead of risking another mishap.

Maintenance is important

You don’t have to wait until something goes wrong to talk to your plumbing and HVAC company. You can avoid a lot of headaches (and sleepless nights) by scheduling maintenance in advance. You usually want to get things like your air conditioner serviced at least once a year. If you use the same company regularly, they’ll have notes about what they did last time they serviced your HVAC, what issues they saw, and how that might impact future service calls. There are also some service items, like refilling your Freon, that only a specially certified technician can do.

Buying a home is a big investment and you’re going to want to keep it maintained and running smoothly—not to mention comfortable enough to enjoy. Forming relationships with service companies is just one of the many ways you can be proactive.

Kylee Della Volpe is a writer and editor for mortgages.com, a site for home buyers and owners.