It’s June is summer is officially right around the corner. I love the transition between spring and summer because the weather is just perfect. While many people prefer the warm weather over the cold, I am very comfortable with cold or cool days. No burning sun, cool breeze, low humidity and I am comfortable. It also seems to be a busy time for realtors. When my wife and I moved last year, we were glad it was in the spring and not winter.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen a lot of posts on Facebook about home purchases. It is definitely a happy and exciting time for new home buyers.
Millennials are buying homes too, despite the assumptions that they are different than generations that came before when it comes home ownership. In fact, contrary to previous generations, millennials plan to own multiple homes in their lives and the first one is usually just a ‘starter’ home. Whether that is your philosophy or not, if you don’t have your finances in order, it may seem like a pipe dream to you. I want to emphasize that homeowners demands serious financial responsibilities and it can become a burden if you’re not prepared. However, if you stay smart with your money and follow tips and tricks like these – https://www.stcharlesmortgage.biz/prep-your-credit-for-mortgage-approval/, – you will be able to afford and become a homeowner.
For those buying homes this summer and excited to move in, congratulations. You have reached a major milestone in your life and you should be proud. After, signing the paperwork and receiving your new set of keys, it is so tempting to rush and move in.
However, it would be best to ensure you prepare to move and avoid hasty decisions that may adversely impact your moving transition. Moving can be pretty daunting as there are a lot of things to do. Perhaps, packing and unpacking is the most tedious part of this whole process.
It is easy to lose, misplace or break items, and this can be very devastating. With this, you want to ensure you have movers who can get the work done for you. Research and select the best company that offers a wide range of moving services. Such services can come in handy when moving as you don’t have to worry about transporting your belongings.
Once you finish packing everything, they will carry all the boxes to the transportation van, and once you arrive at your new home, they will offload and help you unpack some of the packages. They can also help you install various things, such as your bed or couches.
When you are purchasing a brand new constructed home, you may be able to do so immediately. For those who will be moving into a ‘pre-lived’ home, here are a few simple tips to follow.
Change the locks
No matter how trustworthy the seller of your home was, you cannot guarantee that no one else has the keys to access your new home. They may not be aware of their own family members who may have a set of keys. To make sure that only you and your family are able to unlock the doors, get the locks changed on the first day before moving in. This is an easy project and could be completed in just a few minutes. You are now a homeowner, getting comfortable with DIY projects will be useful.
Changing the old locks will give you a huge sense of security and allow you to feel safe and secure at home.
Clean Up
Most sellers will clean their home to stage it or before moving out to make sure that it is clean for you when you move in; however, some people won’t bother. If the person before you had left the house dirty, it is time to do a deep clean on your new home before you move the furniture in. Borrow a carpet cleaner from a friend or family member to deep clean the carpets (you could also rent one), clean the inside of the kitchen cabinets. Do the same for bathrooms and make sure everything is impeccable when you finally move in. It will make your entire move easier as you will not have to move furniture later to clean around.
Paint
This is a personal choice; many new homeowners do not like the color of the walls in the home they move into. If that’s the case for you, I recommend tackling that project now. Even if you weren’t thinking of decorating yet, painting the walls before you move into your house is a good practice. It saves you from having to shuffle everything around later.
Get organized and buy organizers
When you first move into a house it can be a mad rush on deciding where to store your belongings. From important documents and user manuals, it is important to keep them organized as to not lose it all. It is easy to set aside your mortgage paperwork, your HOA (Home Owners Association) documents (if you have any), your utilities contracts, etc. and plan to put them away later. However, things can get lost. To prevent your home from becoming a mess and to avoid headaches, you must get organized. Buy enough key chains, write notes, set reminders and let other family members know when you move an item. You can buy some shelf organizers, closet organizers, and cutlery organizers to make your life easier when you are unpacking. This will make it much easier for you to keep everything tidy and orderly throughout those first few months.
Protect your home with a security system
In some geographical areas, this step may not be necessary at all. In others, it will make sense. No matter the region and the risks, it is incredibly important to keep yourself and your belongings safe from robbers. Over the past few years, several smart home security systems have come on the market and they incorporate live video recording. Investing in one of those systems could provide you some peace of mind. If you’d like a more advanced system that includes police response for instance, reach out to companies such as https://www.adt.co.uk/home-security/burglar-alarms. This will deter criminals right away and also protect your neighbors.
Other tips
- Remember to submit a request for Paid Time Off to your employer for the day of your move
- Submit a change of address to the post office
- Get your internet and phone service set up
- Submit a change of address to your credit card companies and bank
- If the previous owner is transferring utility contracts to you, make sure there are no unpaid balances.
- Try to meet the neighbors and introduce yourself.
If you think of anything else while you’re in the process of moving, make sure you make note of it. Once that you have done everything on our list, you are ready to move into your new home and enjoy your new life.
Congratulations!
Money-Smart Millennials 