Interiors

How to Set Up Your New Home

Buying a new home is an exciting step to take, but it’s not always straightforward. By the time you’ve got to completion, you’re likely to be exhausted by the toing and froing, and ready to settle into your new place. However, getting to grips with your new abode can be a challenge in itself and prove difficult. You may even experience feelings of homesickness, which may take you by surprise.

cottage-gardenIf you’ve moved into an empty house, you may be wondering how you’ll ever make it habitable, but no matter how desperate you are to make it feel like home, these things take time. A house doesn’t transform into a home almost instantly; you need be proactive and spend the time and money in making it your own paradise. To do so, break your never-ending to-do list into manageable tasks and set yourself a realistic timeframe. Here’s how to set up your new home, bit by bit.

Know Your Contract

Before you even park your car in the driveway, you need to be aware of the technicalities in your contract. If you hired conveyancing solicitors to help with the legal arrangements, you will need to familiarize yourself with the details. For instance, are there specific spots where you can’t park your car? Is there a shared entryway? Does the garden at the front of the house actually belong to next door? You need to know all of this information before you start putting down roots.

Stick to Your Budget

When you arrive in your new home, it’s tempting to buy everything you need right away, but this isn’t always the best option for your budget. Instead, make a list of the absolute necessities that you’re missing, and buy them gradually. For example, you will need a bed to sleep in, a fridge, an oven, and running water, but buying a dining room table can probably wait a few weeks if your budget is tight. Ask friends and family members to donate furniture and appliances, and make sure you don’t spend what you can’t afford. Visit charity shops, and look for used furniture online, on sites such as eBay and Etsy. The last thing you want is to be in a position where you can’t pay your mortgage, so pace yourself and purchase furniture here and there. Also, by taking your time, you’re able to settle on something you truly love. Holding out on an item you want could also ensure you find an alternative you love even more. Sometimes, patience is a virtue.

Access Important Items

It’s important to sort and pack your possessions when you move so that they are easily accessible in your new home. It’s easy to get wrapped up thinking about how your new interiors will look, but there’s so much to think about when you move that it’s best to focus on what you’ll need for those first few days. Cutlery, towels, clothes, bedding, money and work items are the most obvious items to have nearby, but if you have children, you will also need to think about what they will need to help them settle in. If you’re overwhelmed by the task of packing up and moving home, you could hire professional packers and movers to help you or ask a friend to assist you.

To ensure you can unpack as quickly as possible, take the time to pack your belongings sensibly. Rather than shove everything into a box, separate your possessions into rooms, and then make sure the important items are more accessible than those that can wait. Therefore, have your bed, bedding, towels and toiletries handy, and also ensure the kitchen is one of the first rooms to be set-up. Eating food on the floor, surrounded by cardboard boxes seems to be a rite of passage nowadays. Rather than get stressed with the unpacking, relax and have fun with it – you’ll soon realize how exciting this moment is once you sit down and contemplate.

Setting up a new home can take months or even years, but try to see it as an ongoing project rather than trying to make things perfect right away. Make lists, stay organized, and don’t be afraid to enlist help when you need it.

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