Buying a new home is, to say the very least, a major undertaking. For many, it’s a near-unattainable undertaking, thanks to the steep rises in property values against wages in recent decades – which is what makes completion day all the sweeter for those eventual first-time homeowners.
If you’re one of those first-time homeowners, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect of being responsible for a home so completely. What do you even do when you move in?! Here, we’ll break down some of the essential considerations from move-in day and beyond – and from security to that first sense of true homeliness.
Essential Set-Up
Before you complete, you’ll want to start the process of setting up new accounts for your various utilities. This includes shopping around for better broadband and phone deals that reflect your needs, as well as picking the most cost-effective energy provider.
On completion day, and once you’ve moved every last box into your new home, your first step – after that well-deserved cup of tea or glass of wine, naturally – should be to take meter readings of your gas and electricity. These are essential for starting up your new utility account without paying more than you’ve used. This is also an opportunity to change the batteries in your boiler room’s carbon monoxide metre; not knowing the full health of your boiler, this is crucial to keep you safe in the event of a leak.
Safety & Security
Speaking of safety, your next step should be to book in to get your locks changed. This isn’t an assumption of the previous owners’ character, but more a safeguard against any forgotten ‘spare keys’ that may exist in the world somewhere. If your front and back doors are a little older and worse for wear, this could be a good excuse to invest in some newer security doors for more safety.
Maintenance, Long-Term Planning & Risk Awareness
Once you’re a little more settled, you can turn your mind to longer-term considerations, such as scheduling servicing for your central heating. The survey you ordered before purchasing the home will have flagged up some points of concern, too, which you can now start saving towards rectifying – roof replacement being common amongst them. Finally, you can start making plans for the future of the home, which can include changes that improve its future resale value!
Personal Touches To Make It Feel Like Home
Last but not least, it’s time to truly make your house feel like a home. You’ll already be settled with a kettle, cutlery, crockery and a bed at the very least – and major furnishings are an obvious early consideration. However, it’s the little things that make you feel comfortable in your home. Hanging up a few personal effects on the wall (even just temporarily) can be enough to make you feel a bit more at ease about putting your own stamp on this new blank canvas.
