1. Electricity

When you're still looking at a house, you might only think:

"How much is the monthly installment?"

After living there, it starts to hit you:

The AC is on.

The fridge is on.

The washing machine is used.

The water heater is used.

The lights are on every day.

The more devices you use, the bigger the electricity consumption.

Especially if the house uses several ACs and high-power electronic devices.

So before buying a house, don't just calculate the installment.

Try to also imagine the daily electricity usage pattern.

2. Water and Internet

These two things often look small.

But they will almost certainly become routine expenses.

Water is used for:

• showering
• washing
• cooking
• cleaning the house
• watering the plants

Same with internet.

Nowadays, a house without internet feels quite difficult, especially if you work from home, stream, or need a connection for daily activities.

So after owning a house, your monthly expenses aren't just:

installment + electricity.

They can grow to become:

installment + electricity + water + internet.

3. Home Maintenance Costs

This is one of the most frequently forgotten.

A house isn't something you buy and then you're done.

The longer it's lived in, the more parts will need maintenance.

For example:

• a leaking faucet
• a broken light
• paint starting to fade
• a clogged drain
• the AC needs servicing
• the roof has a leak
• a door or hinge needs repairing
• the garden needs tending

The problem is, these costs usually don't come every month.

Sometimes there's no spending for several months.

Suddenly:

The AC breaks.

The roof leaks.

The water pump has a problem.

And you have to pay it all at once.

Because of that, it's best to still set aside a maintenance fund for the house.

4. IPL and Environmental Fees

If you live in a cluster or an area with environmental management, there may be routine fees such as:

IPL or the environmental management fee.

This fee can be used for various needs of the area, such as:

• security
• cleanliness
• facility management
• maintenance of shared areas
• the cluster environment

The amount certainly varies depending on the area.

So before buying a house, don't forget to ask:

"How much is the IPL per month?"

Because that figure will be part of your routine expenses for as long as you live there.

5. Renovation and Home Adjustments

Well, this is what often makes the budget balloon.

A new house doesn't mean it's immediately 100% suited to your needs.

After living there, desires usually start to appear:

"I think I need to install a canopy."

"The kitchen needs more cabinets."

"This room needs a built-in wardrobe."

"The terrace would be nice if it were partially enclosed."

"The fence needs replacing."

At first it's just one.

Then it grows to several.

In the end you spend more money to make the house feel more suited to your daily needs.

Because of that, don't spend your entire budget just on buying the house.

Set aside funds to adjust the house after you move in.

Bonus: Taxes and Annual Fees

Besides monthly costs, there are also expenses that come periodically.

One of them is PBB (Pajak Bumi dan Bangunan – Land and Building Tax).

Because it's annual, costs like this often go unnoticed when we calculate monthly expenses.

Even though it still has to be prepared for.

So it's safer if you make a note of:

monthly costs

• annual costs
• emergency/maintenance funds.

That way, you have a more realistic picture of the cost of owning a house.

Try Calculating Your Expenses After Owning a House

For example, your home installment is:

Rp4 million/month

Then:

Electricity: Rp700 thousand

Water: Rp150 thousand

Internet: Rp350 thousand

IPL: Rp300 thousand

Then your routine monthly expenses have already become around:

Rp5.5 million/month.

Not yet including:

maintenance, taxes, renovation, and other household needs.

So if you only calculate:

"I can afford a Rp4 million installment."

That doesn't necessarily mean you're truly ready to own a house with its total monthly expenses.

This doesn't mean these costs should make you afraid to buy a house

Quite the opposite.

Understanding the costs after buying a house lets you make decisions more realistically.

Because what needs to be calculated isn't just:

"Can I afford to buy this house?"

But:

"Can I afford to live in and maintain this house comfortably?"

These are two different questions.

A house with an installment that looks cheap can feel heavy if the other costs aren't taken into account.

On the other hand, a house with a slightly higher installment may still make sense if all the expenses still fit your financial capability.

Before Buying a House, Try Calculating the "Cost of Living In It"

Don't stop at the house price.

Try making a simple simulation:

Installment

How much must be paid every month?

Utilities

What's the estimated electricity, water, and internet?

Environment

Is there an IPL or routine fee?

Maintenance

How much can be set aside every month for upkeep?

Taxes

What annual obligations need to be prepared for?

Renovation

Are there parts of the house you want to adjust after moving in?

From here you can get a far more realistic picture.

So, being ready to buy a house isn't just about being ready to pay the down payment

For those of you starting to try to own a house, don't just focus on:

The down payment.

The installment.

The house price.

Because once the house keys are in your hand, life inside it is just beginning.

There will be electricity.

There will be water.

There will be internet.

There will be maintenance.

There will be taxes.

And there may be small renovations you never originally planned.

What makes it heavy sometimes isn't buying the house, but maintaining it.

So before saying:

"I can afford to buy this house."

Try also asking:

"Can I afford to live in this house comfortably every month?"

Because a good house isn't just a house you can buy.

But a house you can still enjoy without keeping your finances constantly under pressure.

Looking for a House in Semarang?

If you're starting to look for a house, don't just compare price and installment.

Also consider location, environmental fees, house condition, access, renovation needs, and expenses after moving in.

If you're looking for a house in Semarang and want to compare options based on budget and needs, you can discuss with Mirailand.

Tell Mirailand the criteria for the house you're looking for.

We'll help you consider suitable property options, so you don't only find a house you can afford to buy, but also a house you can afford to live in.

Mirailand — helping you find the right place to come home to.