Tips for Moving Into Your First Home

Moving from a rental apartment to a single-family home is a big lifestyle change. While renters often rely on property managers for repairs and maintenance, homeowners must take charge of every leaky faucet and flickering light. 

Making the transition can seem daunting without a solid strategy. What can a new homeowner do to ease the jump from renting to owning?

Getting Started

Success starts with understanding that a house functions differently from your rental unit. Start a maintenance fund immediately, as you will incur unexpected costs to keep the home properly maintained. How much should you save?

Some experts recommend setting aside 1% of the home's total value each year to cover unplanned repairs. Beyond the mortgage, you must also budget for property taxes, homeowners' insurance, and higher utility bills.

SIze Matters

How big is your new home? Large houses require more energy to heat and cool than compact apartments. Before moving in, call local utility providers to ask for the average monthly costs at your new address.

Notify the United States Postal Service about your address change at least one week before you depart. Make sure your utility companies stop service at the old apartment on move-out day and schedule new services to start at the house at least one day before you arrive, if possible. Moving boxes into a dark house without running water creates unnecessary stress.

Change Your Address

Update your address with your bank, employer, and insurance company. State laws may require you to update your driver's license and registration within 30 days of moving. Check with your local motor vehicle department for specific deadlines.

Interior, Exterior

Exterior maintenance is often the biggest adjustment for former apartment dwellers. You are now responsible for the yard, so you will need access to a lawn mower, a rake, and a shovel.

These are good to have early when you are a new homeowner.

Check your gutters and downspouts. Review the ground around the house. Does it slope away from the structure to prevent drainage issues? If your property has trees, look for dead branches that might fall on your roof during a storm.

Safety First

In general, safety should be a priority once you receive the keys to your new property. Change every exterior lock on the house immediately. You have no way of knowing how many people possess copies of the old keys. Check every smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm in the building, and install fresh batteries in all units, even if they appear to function correctly.

Other Areas

Find the main water shutoff valve and the electrical circuit breaker panel, as knowing how to quickly cut off the water supply can save thousands of dollars if a pipe bursts. Label each switch on the electrical panel clearly if the previous owner did not.

Inventory your belongings before you start packing a single box, and make categories for keeping, donating, or discarding. Many apartment-sized pieces look tiny in a large living room. Conversely, some bulky items might not fit through narrow doorways or around tight corners.

Use a floor plan app or simple graph paper to visualize where your current furniture will go and resist the urge to furnish the entire house at once. If you live in the space for a few weeks first, you will learn how the natural light hits each room and how your family uses the house.

Pack a "first night" bag for every family member moving into the new home. This bag should include basic toiletries, a change of clothes, and essential electronics chargers. Create a special folder and storage area for important documents (birth certificates, Social Security cards, and home loan closing papers) in a secure location that stays with you in your personal vehicle. Never put these vital records on the moving truck.