Buying a house, condo, or townhome is a long process, and for many people, it’s the largest purchase they’ll ever make. It can also feel intimidating to suddenly have a 15- or 30-year mortgage, especially if you’re used to renting, where you have the option to renew your lease or move every year. And with a competitive housing market, if you’re trying to buy in a popular area, it’s not uncommon to get drawn into a bidding war for a home, which can increase the pressure to spend more or make a decision quickly.

But if you’re feeling homebuyer’s remorse, the good news is you’re far from alone. Many Reddit users have shared their own experience with buyer’s remorse—plus tips for moving past it and enjoying your new home.

1. Know the Costs Associated with Homeownership

One thread that gained popularity in a subreddit dedicated to first-time homebuyers shared a Bankrate survey that found that 45% of homeowners regretted buying their current house. The regrets centered on the costs of maintaining a house (which may average as much as $18,000 per year, according to the survey).

Buying a home is expensive—not only the down payment, but also the closing costs, moving costs, inspection fees, and the price of any repairs you might make before moving in. But even when your home is exactly how you want it, repairs and routine maintenance can quickly add up. Many Redditors shared that they felt the cost of owning a home compared to renting wasn’t worth the pricetag, especially since landlords are typically responsible for maintenance and repair costs.

It can be especially tricky to avoid regrets related to price because it's difficult to calculate exactly how much you might need to set aside for home maintenance each year, especially when costly repairs can happen unexpectedly. A common rule of thumb is to set aside 1% to 4% of your home’s value each year for repairs, but even that may not cover everything. One way to avoid buyer’s remorse is to never waive an inspection before buying a home. Inspectors can flag potential problems for you, especially the more costly repairs like replacing a roof or furnace.

Still, home inspectors can’t predict the future, and may not catch everything, which is why you should have a good grasp of your finances before buying any home. Knowing what you can realistically afford for a mortgage payment (without having to stretch your budget), while factoring in monthly bills like water, gas, and electricity, and still having enough to set aside each month for maintenance, can help you create a realistic home budget and avoid future regrets.

2. Decorate to Fit Your Home

One user took to Reddit to ask for advice about buying a smaller home, specifically a home where the bedrooms might be a little small for their current furniture, and to find out if others had regrets about buying a house that might seem smaller than their needs. It’s not uncommon to hear advice about buying a home that you can grow into (for example, buying a three-bedroom instead of a two-bedroom if you plan to have kids or get more pets in the future). But you might also hear about having “too much house,” or a home that’s too big for what you really need.

Several Redditors offered helpful advice, especially about choosing furniture to fit their home, and not buying a home based on the furniture they already had. This is especially true for first-time buyers without a lot of belongings. Chances are, your house will outlast your furniture, and it’s much easier to replace a bed than it is to buy a whole new house. Finding a house you love and can stay in long-term is more likely to help you avoid regrets than buying a house just to fit in a piece of furniture you already have.

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3. Try Not to Worry About Small Repairs

Another Redditor sought advice after closing on their first home. They shared how they were feeling overwhelmed, and weren’t finding the same sense of happiness in their home that they felt when viewing it. They were also noticing small imperfections, like chipped paint on their home’s stairs, that they didn’t remember seeing during previous walkthroughs.

Lots of Redditors shared that they felt the same, and that the feelings would pass during the moving process as you make the house your own. Another common tip was not to sweat the small repairs right away. You’ll likely live there for several years, and while chipped paint might seem noticeable in an empty house, it’s much less obvious once you add your own furniture. Small repairs can also be taken care of at any time. There’s no rush to fix a door that creaks or a chipped baseboard, and taking some of the pressure off yourself to make your home “perfect” at move-in can help relieve feelings of overwhelm and regret.

4. Tackle Larger Repairs as Needed

Another Reddit user felt regret after feeling like they rushed into buying a house. After moving in, they discovered larger repairs had been missed in the inspection, and they dreaded working on their new house. Common advice from other users was to triage the repairs, especially in cases where multiple things need fixing. In the original poster’s case, they had termite damage and a sink that needed repairs in order to be usable.

Getting hit with multiple big projects at once can feel overwhelming, and make it seem like it’s better to just sell than tackle everything. But while some Redditors did advise the poster to sell if the repairs became too much, others recommended making a list of everything that needed to be done, and the changes they wanted to make, then tackling items one by one as they were able to.

Start with repairs that need to happen to make your home livable (like termite damage or plumbing issues). One Redditor even recommended using the repairs as an opportunity; for example, if a wall needs to be torn down or replastered to get rid of termites, that’s the perfect time to paint it a color you love. Tackling things one at a time and focusing on individual victories can help you start to love a home that you’re feeling regret about buying.

5. Consider What Parts of a House You Can’t Change

A specific regret shared by a Redditor was buying a house on a busy street. They didn’t realize the noise would be a problem, and felt like they needed to do an expensive window replacement to help block some of the sound. Other Redditors noted that new windows could help block the noise, but other budget solutions like a white noise machine or fan could be a temporary fix. One user also suggested that they’d notice the noise less over time as they adjusted to the new house.

Noise can be a frustrating problem in a new house, because it’s not necessarily something you can control. One important tip when buying a house is to consider what you won’t be able to change about it. You can paint the walls, put down new flooring, and even renovate an outdated bathroom, but you’ll never be able to change the location of your home. If you’re looking at houses and are considering something on a noisy, crowded street, try to visit on different days and at different times to get a sense of how busy and loud it can get. If you’re sensitive to noise, it might be best to keep looking to avoid regrets.

It’s not uncommon to feel regret or to feel overwhelmed after buying a new home. It can help to focus on what you originally loved about the house and what drew you to it in the first place to move past regrets and focus on small changes that make it feel more like a home.