Anyone have any tips on moving into their first home?

Catty89

Hello, My boyfriend and I are away to move into our first home at the end of July.
We have been renting for 6 months but realise there is alot more involved when you actually own your own home.

Does anyone have any tips on what not to do haha.

We have around 1000 to spend on everything once we move in (already have TV, beds, wardrobe, sofa kitchen appliances and a few bits of decor)
Initially i wanted to buy everything but now i have became grippy with my money and im really worried to spend anything incase we need it later on.

I think we have everything organised but keep panicking i have forgotten something important.

Anyone have any tips on moving into their first home?

Person_one

Keep that £1000!

When you own the place you need an emergency fund in case something goes tits up and you need a new boiler or washing machine suddenly, or have to call a plumber or an electrician on a Sunday night.

Alleycat

As long as you've got lightbulbs (check the light fitting so you don't get the wrong ones), a kitchen bin and toilet roll you'll be fine! Once you've settled in, you'll start to get a feel of what you really need and what style and colour you want. Then you can go shopping! On an MSE budget of course.

I think one of the most exciting things about moving into a new place is living in it for a while and slowly but surely getting the bits and bobs you want when you see them. Like walking past a charity shop and spotting the perfect lampshade.

pawsies

House insurance is several hundred. You'll need it

If you have most of the accessories I would focus on settling in and keep as much spare as possible for emergencies. I know I've struggled when I found out the showers didn't work and I had to fork out for plumbers, boiler men and other maintenance that I had to find the money for =]

Elsewhere

Catty89 wrote: »

Anyone have any tips on moving into their first home?

Read the meters right away and inform the utilities of the readings - you don't want to have to pay the previous owners' bills. Find out where the stopcock is and check to see if it works!

Nicki

A slush fund for emergencies is a sensible idea. It's always a good idea to live in a place for a few weeks before decorating or buying new furniture as you have a better idea of what is needed and what will work. And after a few months, hopefully you can start to buy bits and pieces out of your day to day income rather than having to dip into savings.

But first night in your own home is very special. Treat yourself to a nice bottle of wine and a takeaway if you are drinkers or some other nice great to celebrate the event.

terakris

My fiance and i just did this a month ago. We had been renting for years, so like you had a lot of the stuff we needed like TV, fridge etc.

We moved ourselves the first couple of times but this time we decided to pay someone to do it... and while prob not very "money saving" it was the best money we spent... we were moved in an hour, including loading up, driving and unpacking all boxes to the new house. Perhaps a bit of a luxary but i would recommend it as it just takes the stress out of that part so you can get into your new house and worry about everything else.

Also, i would try (if possible) to not move on the day you get the keys... we collected our keys the day before the move, so we could go round, check the house was as it should be, sort out utilities, make sure the water/heating/lights worked ok and knew where everything we would need was. Then its less stress of waiting around on the day for the solicitors to agree you own the house.

One last thing... no matter how nice your house is, take out shares in home improvement companies (B&Q/Next @ Home etc etc)... because the amount of money we have spent in there over the last few weeks will keep them in business for years to come! (j/k). Still... making a house a home... great feeling

Enjoy!

19lottie82

Check Gumtree everyday for furniture and other items, you can pick up some gret bargains for a fraction of the cost of buying it new.

barbarawright

Don't forget people are likely to give you loads of stuff they're clearing out. It won't match but if you're on a budget, who cares about matching kitchen chairs or plates... And you'll probably get some vouchers or new things too.

My top tip is - get a sink plunger and minimum toolkit - hammer, set of screwdrivers and pliers (more if you're handy). And candles/matches/torch. Because you'll need all of them sooner or later and it might be sooner!

lostinrates

We bpught a fixer upper two years ago. We knew somethings had to be got done for our future enjoyment (removeing leylandi, so that the groung can recover and in the future we can ant what we really want there) asap, but other things we would change our minds about.

Live in it a year before deiding to change anything, save the 1000 for unforeseen expences or making changes after you have really settled in.

BugglyB

When I moved I put the feelers out at work and with friends 'hey, we just got our first place, so if you have any old furniture or anything you don't need and want the space back, let me know', we were given 2 sofas, dining table, 3 mirrors (?!) desk, bedside tables, and loads of curtains. In every case the people offering were so pleased to be rid of whatever it was and that we came round and took it from them! We sent thank you cards too.