Getting a new home is without a doubt an exciting thing, but in addition to its pros, there are cons as well. If you have ever moved before, you know that this process can get really complicated really fast. Even if you don’t have any experience in moving, you’ve probably heard how moving is one of the more stressful processes that almost all of us experience. It’s not all doom and gloom though – with the right tips, you will be able to ensure that getting to a new home is way simpler.
Now, depending on where you are in the process of moving to a new home, different tips may apply. In any case, in this article, you will find the most helpful tips for various stages of getting a new home. Let’s start from the beginning!
Budgeting – how to do it right
When it comes to getting a new home, few things are more or even as important as budgeting is. This goes both for the first steps of the process (looking for a new home), and for the actual step of moving to your new home. When looking for a new home, it is vital that you’re realistic with how much you can spend in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road. That being said, the first step when looking to purchase a new home is to figure out your financial situation.
It’s better for you to be as detailed during this process as you possibly can be. Try to think in advance as well, and include all relevant expected spendings in addition to income. Once you get a clear overview of how much you can spend on a new house, it’s time to look for a way to further boost your pool of options. Most people can’t purchase a new home out of their own pocket, hence opting for a loan. You can click here to get an estimate of how much you can expect to be able to borrow based on your financial situation. After all of this, you will have a more realistic overview of what to look for when searching for your new home.
Always remember to revise and update
One of the most common mistakes that people make in the process of getting a new home is to abandon keeping track of everything as time goes by. This is especially true for the later stages when they’re nearing a move. If this does happen, you are both losing efficiency and time. Why you might ask? Well, as soon as you lose track of one thing, you are risking a domino effect of bad organization. So, make sure to revise and update both your financial plan and everything else regarding plans for the process of moving.
Utilize Excel for more efficiency
Excel is incredibly helpful when it comes to regulating finances and keeping track of how much you’re spending during this process. You can easily create various sheets in which you can write down everything of importance. You can always come back to your excel document whenever you want to analyze your finances and plan your further steps. Another great advantage of using Excel instead of pen and paper lies in the fact that you can upload your document on the drive. So, the risk of losing a document with valuable data becomes negligible.
Planning done right
A solid plan is imperative when it comes to getting a new home. There are plenty of variables that play important roles in moving to a new home. The best way to avoid getting overwhelmed by the amount of information, decisions, and general events that take place is to create a plan to help you out.
Now, many of these plans will change as time goes by, so, it’s important for you to be aware of this. View your plan as more of a guideline than a step-by-step manual of the entire process. So, instead of setting specific dates months in advance – set a time frame. The same goes for budgeting and any other important decisions – leave your plan some space to breathe and change.
Checklists are imperative
While keeping your general plan vague to an extent is desirable, there are certain instances where being precise is necessary. This is where checklists come into place, so, let’s see in which instances should you make a checklist. Whenever a certain event gets near enough, you should start making a checklist.
Scheduled a tour around a certain house? Create a checklist of everything that you want to check and ask about. Do you want to go and see a loaner to discuss your loan? Create a checklist on every important thing that you need to ask them about. The move is nearing and you need to pack? Opt for decluttering first, and create a checklist to help you stay on track! Checklists are a great way of making sure that you don’t forget anything of importance, so, grab a pen and go!
Utilities – making sure everything is as it should be
Many people tend to primarily focus on the aesthetics of a home when they are viewing it for the first time. While this is indeed important – you are supposed to live there, after all, you should also ensure that all the utilities are in working order. Ask your real estate agent about the details regarding the utilities, especially about efficiency and the bills. Some houses have inefficient utilities, which can ultimately result in incredibly high bills, and you surely don’t want that. Similarly, some houses require a lot of TLC to get everything in order when it comes to utilities, and that can cost a lot as well. Be careful about this!
In the end, the most important thing when both looking for a new home and when moving is to focus on planning. A solid, structured, and detailed plan is a stepping stone to good execution. Now, there will always be some unexpected situations that you’ll have to tackle as they come. Even if that does happen, instead of panicking, you have a good plan to reflect on. So, recollect all the facts and the new, unexpected factors, and you will surely be able to resolve them in no time.
Even though moving is stressful, it will all be worth it once you’re there, in your new, beautiful home – ready to settle down and relax. Plan well, be vigilant, and start early – if you do so, the entire process will surely be way less stressful. Good luck!