Getting ready to move? Here are our top moving tips for first-time buyers. Buying your first home is an exciting milestone you will forever cherish. However, it involves a significant amount of preparation, which first-time homeowners are likely unfamiliar with. Purchasing the house is only the first hurdle. There are many other critical activities during the moving phase. Getting them right is important for a hassle-free moving experience and to avoid costly repercussions.

In this guide, we share our best moving tips for first-time homeowners. We also discuss how you can protect your valuables with safe packing techniques.

Moving Tips – Prepare a Budget

Purchasing a home involves a few sizeable expenses. The down payment alone, according to Nuwber, is around 6% for first-time buyers. Closing costs, insurance, and mortgage fees will add to it.

It doesn’t stop there, either. You will incur additional expenses when it comes to moving, too. To prepare an accurate budget, you must consider the costs attached to packing, moving services, utility, repairs, and a range of activities essential for comfortably settling into your new place.

Find a Moving Company

Contact a few movers and request quotations to compare prices and select a moving service. Don’t forget to discuss payment terms, restricted or prohibited items, and availability on the day you have scheduled to move.

Pack Your Belongings

Packing takes up considerable time, even for experienced homeowners. So, starting early is always recommended. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Organize things by each room and create a list of what you are taking.
• Consider where each item will go in your new residence. Take measurements, especially for furniture, and determine whether you can fit in your old items or need to purchase new ones.
• Identify what you don’t require, and sell, donate, or give them away.
• Return anything you have borrowed from others.
• Hire storage space for items you don’t intend to take with you.
• Pack in separate bags what you will need during the first one or two days of moving. This can include a few clothes, toiletries, snacks, water, and medicine.
• File all your personal and important documents. Keep them with you instead of packing them with what you are sending with the movers.

Hire a Cleaning Service

Your new home will need a deep cleanse before you move in. Your old house will require one, too, after you move out.

Consider Home Security

Changing locks is essential when you purchase a home. You might also want to set up cameras and security systems to ensure your family’s safety. In addition, check the smoke detectors and get them replaced if they are old.

Attend to Repairs and Upgrades

The house you purchased may require some work to make it ready to settle into. Identify what needs attention and attend to them well ahead of the moving day.

Moving Tips – Update Your Address

The list of people and entities to inform about a change of address will vary from person to person. In general, you must notify USPS to ensure all your mail is forwarded to your new home. Informing the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, utility companies, subscription services, banks, creditors, credit card issuers, medical service providers, insurance companies, and employers is essential, too. In addition, contact the DMV to change your address on the driver’s license and update your car registration if you are moving states. There could be other service providers to notify based on your specific circumstances. The best thing to do is to prepare a list so you don’t miss out on critical organizations.

Transfer Utilities

Once you set a date to move into your new residence, inform your utility service providers to disconnect the supply to your old property. This includes electricity, gas, water, sewer, cable, and internet. Depending on where you are relocating, you may be able to transfer your old connection to the new house. If this option is not available, contact relevant utility providers in the new area to discuss fees and charges and set up connections before you move.

Safe Packing Tips to Protect Your Belongings

There is nothing like unpacking broken items to leave a damper on the first day in your very own home. With the following packing tips, you can avoid such issues and easily safeguard your belongings in a few simple steps.

• Purchase all the packing essentials in advance. These include tape, shrink wrap, foam sheets, blankets, heavy-duty cardboard boxes, Styrofoam peanuts, and sturdy dividers.
• Group together similar items to minimize damage. For instance, pack cleaning consumables in an airtight box and keep them away from food, medicine, clothes, and personal care products.
• Wrap glassware and other breakables individually with shrink wrap and store them in a solid box using thick dividers. Fill empty spaces with Styrofoam peanuts, rags, or newspapers.
• Pack glassware upright and plates vertically to reduce breakage.
• Place liquids in plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes to prevent leakage.
• Disassemble large furniture to minimize damage during moving. Always empty drawers and tape doors and moving parts.
• Dismantle items wherever possible and wrap each element separately for extra safety. For example, remove the bulbs, lampshades, and cords of desktop lamps and pack them carefully.
• Store electronic equipment in their original packaging if available, or put them in appropriately sized boxes with Styrofoam and shrink wrap.
• Label each box to make it clear what is stored inside. You can also use a color coding system to help identify breakables quickly.

Moving Tips in Conclusion

Moving into your very own home is undoubtedly exciting. But if you don’t plan it carefully, the first day in your new residence could easily turn into a nightmare. For a seamless moving experience, use the tips we have discussed in this article for first-time home buyers. They will help you get organized in no time and ensure a smooth transition with peace of mind.