Making the decision to purchase a home is a very large step. However, the move from an apartment-style way of life to purchasing a home can leave you with a lot of questions. Start with the immediate things that you can tackle, such as finances and setting moving dates, before taking on more detailed tasks, like packing.
Getting ready for a move can be stressful and time consuming. Making yourself a checklist for moving out of your apartment will allow for you to keep your head on straight and accomplish all of your intended goals. When packing up boxes, do yourself a favor and label which room they will be going to when they are moved to the new house. It will make the job much more mindless on whoever is unpacking them.
One interesting thing to note is to check the different rooms of your new house for lighting fixtures. Older houses typically do not have center-of-the-room lighting for areas such as the living and dining room. If you plan on unpacking after the sun has gone down, it may be wise to pick up some free standing lamps to help to light your way.
It is very likely that the amount of furniture and furnishings that you had in your apartment will not fill the newly acquired square footage of a house. Take a look at your budget after the moving costs and assess how much that you have available for furnishing costs. To save a little bit of money after a costly move, consider buying second-hand furniture to fill the new basement or guest room that you didn’t have before. One area you should not cut corners is choosing a new mattress. There are some things you just shouldn’t buy second-hand.
If you are fortunate enough to be the crafty type, consider purchasing vintage items you can restore to create a personal connection with the furnishings in your new home. Another great way to cut corners and protect the pocketbook is to learn to fix things yourself. Invest in a decent tool kit if you do not own one already and start picking up repair manuals when you see them for sale at garage sales and thrift stores. It could save you thousands in contractor bills down the line of your home ownership years.
Living in a smaller sized apartment makes it easy to recognize when chores are not being done. When expanding into a house there is much more likelihood that certain areas can go unattended to for longer than intended, such as basements and attics that are simply used for storage. Additionally, houses typically come with yards that require being mowed on a regular basis. Before you move into your home, or before everyone gets too comfortable, assign responsibilities to all participating family members. All areas of the house will stay more tidy and organized if everyone is held accountable for their sections of the home.
Becoming a homeowner has many benefits, one of those being that you are also investing in a community as well as your home. Most first time homebuyers do not purchase a home with the intention of relocating in the immediate future. Staying in place allows for you to get to know your neighbors and take the time to give back to others in acts of service. If your neighborhood does not already have a crime watch team or a routine neighborhood cleanup, this is your opportunity to start one. When you have a tight knit community, it gives you the chance to lean on others in time of need and to give to others when they might need a lending hand.
Moving your family from an apartment to a home may feel like a large task in the beginning, but attempt to break it down into small pieces to accomplish one at a time. Before you know it, you and your family will be settled in nicely and apartment life will be a thing of the past.
Author Bio:
Avery T. Phillips is a freelance human being with too much to say. She loves nature and examining human interactions with the world. Comment or tweet her @a_taylorian with any questions or suggestions.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If purchases are made through these links, we may make a small commission to help fund this blog. You can read my full disclosure statement here.