You’re sick of living under a roof that isn’t yours and getting those early morning texts from your landlord to move your car. You’ve decided it’s time to move on, move out, and into your own place. Home buying can be stressful, but we’ve outlined a few things to consider when moving from an apartment to a house.
Take Extra Steps to Pad Your Savings
Whatever you can do to cut costs prior to moving will help you in the long run. You hear new homebuyers mentioning their surprise at how costly the closing costs of their home were all of the time. You tend to have an idea of closing costs beforehand, but things pop up like a few extra hours of your lawyer’s time that you hadn’t initially accounted for. Use savings apps to help make better money-saving decisions.
Or, maybe that awful piggy bank you made in your pottery class isn’t such a bad idea when you need a place to collect your extra change…
Keep Detailed Records Before Moving
Moving into a new home – whether it’s your first or fifth – is not an easy feat. The paperwork alone feels like enough to stock an entire warehouse. Even though we live in the digital age, you’ll find that a lot of the signatures and paperwork will need tangible versions, and likely you’ll need more than one copy of each.
This is why having an organized system such as a binder with different color dividers is a good idea during the transition from apartment to home. You can color code and label everything from contacts and warranties to your upcoming home projects.
Make a Realistic Timeline of Your Upcoming Projects
Speaking of upcoming home projects, it’s good to know what to expect. Ideally, before moving into your new home, you’ll have had it inspected. In the current and highly competitive real estate climate, it’s common to buy a house without getting it inspected prior to closing. Either way, you’ll want to make a project list, including task items both big and small. You can prioritize projects based on a few variables like cost, safety, level of importance, comfort, etc. For instance, for safety reasons, that wobbly stair off the front porch should be prioritized higher than the dream mantle you want above your fireplace.
When Your Stockpiling Becomes Useful
Most often when moving from an apartment into a home, you’ll have more space to fill. That extra bookshelf that you’ve crammed everything onto and you didn’t think you’d want? Keep it! Use it in your spare bedroom or that one alcove off your kitchen that has a funky shape. Only instead of filling it with trinkets and knick-knacks, display some framed photos and some faux greenery to give your space a little extra character.
This is also a great opportunity to go through all those “extras” you keep around. You know the stuff – washcloths, throw pillows, wicker baskets, oven mitts, that extra knife set that is pretty dull. Can you use these items to fill your space or will it be a waste to keep it any longer?
After Moving, There Will Be Vast Differences in the Cost of Living
If you’re moving from an apartment to a house within the same area, you’ll find that the cost of living in a house will likely be much higher than the apartment you’re moving out of. Square footage alone will significantly alter your utility bills. The increase in square footage will directly translate into your monthly gas and electric costs.
Generally, when you’re tied down to a lease, your landlord will cover most, if not all, general maintenance expenses. Well, you can say goodbye to that maintenance coverage luxury in your new home because you are the landlord now.
Preventative maintenance, along with regular maintenance, will be crucial in ensuring your house stays in good shape. These include new responsibilities like cleaning your gutters, switching out your HVAC filters, and ongoing roof inspections. Preventative maintenance will help you save money in the long run.
It may seem overwhelming, but just remember that there are a lot of resources out there to help you with your transition from apartment to home. It’s an exciting time in your life! Be sure to make the best of it.
