For first-time buyers, getting the keys to your new home is an exhilarating and unforgettable experience.
It’s also daunting and fraught with challenges. There are a lot of things to learn and new costs to consider, which can make you feel stressed.
Experts believe that the property market won’t get any easier for first-time buyers in 2022, with challenges such as high competition and long waits for conveyancing support leaving many individuals struggling throughout the long and arduous process.
Once you’ve got your keys, you have even more to consider. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with everything you need to do, there are ways to make the process easier and less stressful.
Keep reading, and we’ll explore the vital tasks that you need to undertake immediately and how you can plan for future developments in your new home.
Ensure The Property Is Secure
If your new home isn’t secure and doesn’t have adequate locks, then your first step needs to be to sort this out before you start moving in. Local locksmiths such as Adlocks locksmiths can help you to ensure that your property is safe and that you, your family and your possessions are secure. Remember to check more than just the front door: you also need to make sure that any exterior doors and windows to ensure that there are no obvious points of entry for potential criminals.
Take Metre Readings
As soon as you complete your house purchase, you are now legally responsible for your new home, and that includes paying for any utilities. Make sure that you inform energy suppliers, including water, gas and electricity companies, that you are taking over the property. Give them your completion date and take your own metre readings. Even if you have a smart metre or the company takes their own reading, you should also take one yourself to ensure that you only pay for the energy you use.
Make The Property Liveable
If your new home is not liveable by general standards, then it’s vital that you immediately work to fix any issues and get it ready for you to move into. After all, you’ll have to pay extra money to rent another space to live in while you get the property ready to live, so you’ll save some cash by being prompt and getting things fixed promptly. Also, you’ll be able to get into your new home and start your new life in it quickly. Work with professional tradespeople, as well as friends and family members with experience in home improvements to help you get the property ready for you to live in.
Put Together A List Of Future Tasks
When your property is liveable, and you’re able to start moving in, you can make a list of other future tasks that you need to undertake. Your list might include decorating, moving fixtures and more. Ticking off these tasks will be enjoyable, and seeing the list in written form will make everything seem less daunting and overwhelming. It’s easy to think that there is a lot to do in a new home, but by splitting tasks up and working through your list over time, you can make the process of adapting your first home more enjoyable. List tasks in order of priority so that you can slowly transform your first property into your ideal home where you can make amazing memories.
Buying Your First Home is a feature post