18 Things To Consider Before Moving Into Your First Home

Many of us have fantasized about having our own space to enjoy the sense of independence, fulfillment and security. Let’s not forget the excitement of getting to decorate our space however we like – a blank canvas to customize as we choose – swoon!

As with most good things that come with adulting, there’s quite a chunk of planning that one has to consider before moving into their first home. From financial aspects to just getting the logistics together, if you’re planning on moving house soon and are interested in some tips we’ve collected based on our personal experiences, keep reading.

 

 

Buy or rent? And how much rent can you afford based on your earnings?

A few people can count themselves lucky enough to buy their first homes *cough* Kylie Jenner at 17 *cough*. Even though the billionaire makeup mogul bought her first home at 17, she only moved out of her parent’s house when she turned 18, and spent that one year between decorating the house to perfection before her move date.

For most of us however, you will most probably rent out your first home with the ultimate goal of owning your own place later, so it’s important to make a fair judgement on how much you can actually afford from your earnings for rent.

Check out this calculator that will help you gauge how much your maximum rental amount should be, based on your annual income.

 

Have your deposit on standby

Depending on where you’re moving to, the deposit needed can either be one, two or three times your monthly rent. And whereas many people will remember the rent aspect, the deposit will often be overlooked and yet this cost may ultimately determine whether the time to move is now or in another couple of months.

 

Take time off work

Moving can be a highly stressful affair. Taking time off work allows you to settle into your new home and have some resting time. If you’re hiring movers, this might make your work slightly easy but even if you didn’t lift a single box, you’ll end up finding that the shift itself is a mentally exhausting affair. And if movers weren’t in your budget, well, you definitely will need a few days off!

 

 

Know your neighbourhood

Familiarize yourself with your surroundings to get to know where to do your day-to-day grocery shopping, find a gym, coffee shops, establish driving or bus routes to your work place and proximity to schools, clinics, banks and other facilities.

 

Have the new place thoroughly cleaned out

It goes without saying that a thorough cleaning of your soon-to-be-home is necessary before you move in with all your possessions. We’re talking about scrubbing the floors (and in some cases replacing your flooring), have the toilets and sinks cleaned up, get a fresh coat of paint (if it hasn’t been done already by your landlord), and have a pest fumigator come through. Nobody wants to be smashing roaches on their first night in a new apartment!

 

Inspect your new place for water leaks and faulty wiring

Get your trusty fundi and have them inspect your plumbing and electrical wiring for your peace of mind. In this economy and times, every drop of water saved goes a long way, so have someone check for any leaks from your taps.

 

Have measurements of your new home

The month prior to moving into your new place should be spent preparing for the move. When going to view your home for the first time, get dimensions of your space, from the windows and doors to have curtains made or to buy sized blinds. If you choose to have custom made furniture, say from Ngong Road roadside vendors, having an idea of how big your space is will also help you start planning your home arrangement.

 

 

Sort through your items and de-clutter

There are high chances that you have some items you haven’t worn or used in a long time. Now is the time to organize and sort through your relics which you can choose to recycle or donate to charity. Move with only the things you actually need.

 

Write (or download) a checklist of things you’ll need

Start by listing all the spaces in your new home and list item by item for each space that you will require. To save time, there are some free checklists you can download online that have broken down, room by room, all your requirements. Here’s one we’ve used before!

 

Label your boxes

So you’ve moved your stuff into your new place and you’re trying to figure out what you packed where… It would be SO much more convenient if you simply labelled your boxes or bags based on where they’d go. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen – easy peasy hack that will save you time and stress. If you don’t have a label machine worry not, you can simply use masking tape and write over it with markers.

 

Pack a ‘First Day’ bag/ box

Moving into a new place can ordinarily take longer than just one day so list down exactly what you think you’ll need on your first few days and have them packed separately. From clothes to sanitary items, you will need this because you definitely don’t want to be digging through all the other boxes trying to find your toothbrush or some toilet paper on your first night! If you’re a parent, you may want to pack your children’s school clothes separately as well.

 

 

Start small

Some of our favourite romcoms and TV series have shown us that it’s totally normal for your first pieces of furniture to be just plain and simple boxes. You probably won’t be able to furnish your first home fully at first so don’t be hard on yourself – start small and keep building up. Keep your eye out for sales, second hand furniture, custom made pieces from roadside vendors (Ngong Road is a budget friendly favourite) and crafty DIY ideas you can have fun with in your home.

 

 

Clean out your old place before you leave, and finalize with your former landlord

Once you’re done packing and ready to leave, do one last sweep through your former place and wrap things up with your landlord.

 

Time to show off your décor skills

A new home is like a blank canvas you get to decorate all on your own. Here at ThisIsEssential, we love Pinterest for all the creative ideas and inspiration we can pick – from baby showers and weddings, to style and interior design!

Now is the time for you to turn your wishes into reality. Be it contemporary minimal or bohemian chic, pick a theme of your liking and go with it. This will help you make conscious spending decisions with minimal regrets.

 

 

Update your address

Family members, friends and service providers (internet and cable TV) ought to be informed of your new address.

 

WiFi

This point could have easily been first on the list! In this day and age, we absolutely cannot live without wifi for work or entertainment. Most of us have personal laptops which will probably be your biggest source of company before investing in a TV. In most instances the installation can take between one to two weeks so you’d like to have this in the works prior to moving.

 

Get an extra set of keys

This one is a no-brainer. An extra set of keys is so important to have, even is it’s just for your closest family members to be able to have access to your home when you’re away, or in case of theft or loss.

 

Introduce yourself to your neighbours

It doesn’t hurt to get to know your neighbours. If anything, there’s lots to gain. You don’t have to be best friends or anything, saying hello to your next-door neighbour or exchanging some kind words can go a long way. The person living next door to you will probably be the first to assist you in case of an emergency, or even be a source of psychological comfort by simply knowing who lives next to you.