So you’ve finally purchased your first house — the first home you can truly call your own. Between the tedious process of finding a property that fits your budget and lining up for financing, you must be excited to move in and just enjoy your new life in your new home.
Unfortunately, it’s not yet the time for you to relax. As a first-time homeowner, you’ve got your work cut out for you to make sure that your move will be as comfortable and seamless as possible.
You’ve got some tough decisions to make right now that will forever affect your new life, including but not limited to the following:
- What Household Items to Bring In
The layout and flow of your entire house will depend largely on what household items you bring in. Luckily, moving into a new home, especially a bare one, gives you an amazing opportunity to fully decide what you want to do with the space.
First, you have to understand that you can’t exactly bring every single piece of item you own and have at your parents’ house now that you’re moving into your own place. Second, impulse buying furniture and other household items will inevitably leave you with a lot of stuff you don’t actually need.
To avoid this, plan carefully before bringing in or buying new things for your new home. Make sure every single thing in your own home has a purpose, and not simply to accumulate dust.
- Finding Contractors to Trust
If you grew up in the same city or neighborhood where your new house stands, you shouldn’t have any problems finding contractors for whatever help you may need around the house — may it be plumbing, cabinets, roofing, or HVAC maintenance.
The real challenge lies when you’re moving to a completely new city. You would have to scour the internet or ask anyone you know who once lived in the same area, if they have any recommendations for good and reliable contractors. Otherwise, you’d be coming in blindsided as to whether or not these ‘professionals’ you’re entrusting your money and property with will actually do a good job.
- Which Utility Service Provider to Tap
In case you didn’t know, the mass deregulation of power markets back in the day means you have the freedom to choose your own power provider. Now, the onus is on you to compare the rates and services offered by the different providers in your area to find out which one best suits your needs and preferences.
If you’re looking to use renewable energy sources for your household, you also have the freedom to find community solar in NJ. Subscribing to a shared solar farm will help you bring down your overall power bills by reducing your guilt and dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity.
- What Security System to Install
Let’s face it — no residential complex can be guaranteed to be safe enough for you not to put security systems in place for your own house. It doesn’t have to be as grand as having multiple CCTVs capturing every nook and corner of the house nonstop. Sometimes, a simple alarm system and an eyehole that will allow you to check who’s there before you actually open the door may already be good enough.
One important decision you have to make is the complexity of the security system you need. A word of advice, though — anyone who has ever encountered problems like thief break-ins wish they’d been more careful. No one ever feels slighted that they are too protective of each other.
- Landing a Good Home Insurance Policy
Being a homeowner means you’ll be solely responsible for whatever happens inside the walls of your home. This is why it’s very important to get a home insurance policy that fits your lifestyle and keeps your investments protected against unforeseen events that might happen during your stay in your new home.
- What to Do with Extra Rooms
Another simple yet important decision you have to make as a new homeowner is what to do with any spare rooms your new home might have. You can turn these unutilized spaces into offices, lounges, guest rooms, and art studios. Otherwise, you can also open some of the rooms for paying tenants. It’s all a matter of fixing your priorities and making sure every inch of the property is utilized to its best potential.
Final Thoughts
Now that you are your own landlord, you will soon realize that it’s not easy to be the one calling the shots. However, as soon as you sort out every important challenge and decision you have to make prior to moving day, you can go back to feeling that living in a house you can proudly call your own is one of the most fulfilling endeavors of all time.
