There’s no better feeling of accomplishment than owning your new home, especially if it’s your first. The excitement of living in a new place, new neighbourhood, etc. is unforgettable. There are plenty of tedious tasks, such as unpacking, that you might want to do before you can completely enjoy your new home. Today on The A-Team blog, we’ll talk about some things that you should do or need to be aware of before moving into your new home.
Even before you bring in your belongings, there are steps you can take to start the settling process. In the following excerpt from Trulia, Lindsey Grossman details some novel ideas for preparing a new home:
9 Necessary Things To Do Before Moving Into A New House
3. Add a UV film on your windows
Before you drill any holes or plan where you’ll hang your art, find out where the sun is strongest in your new home. “Sunlight can damage works on canvas and paper over time and fade colors,” advises artist Steven Seinberg. He recommends adding a UV film on your windows. You won’t notice it’s there, but it will offer some protection for your precious artwork and furniture.
4. Plan a party
Scheduling a housewarming party two to four weeks after you move in gives you an incentive — and a deadline — to get all those boxes unpacked. Once the invites are out there, you’re committed. It’s the homeowner’s equivalent of telling a friend you’ll meet her for a Pilates class. In many aspects of life, accountability is key. And if the result is a party in your newly organized house? All the better. read more at trulia.com
Admittedly, these aren't necessities, but making use of them will undoubtedly improve your home settling experience.
Before unpacking, you should ensure the house is spotless.
Once past the preparation stage, the first thing any new homeowner will do is unpack. It may seem pretty straightforward at first, but there are wrong ways to do it, namely by starting too soon. A recent article from Zillow explains what to do before unpacking, and what your priorities should be before starting:
What to Unpack First in Your New Home
First things first
- Clean and prepare your new home. It’s easier to wipe down shelves, clean windows, and mop floors before your belongings have been put in place. Make sure your home-to-be is spotless when your items arrive. If you can’t get to your new place early enough to do a thorough cleaning, consider hiring professional cleaners to do the job for you.
- Inspect and organize your belongings. Check all the delivered boxes and household items against your inventory sheet to make sure nothing is damaged or missing. Then have each of your possessions taken to the room where it belongs. If everything was properly marked and labeled, sorting out your items will be a piece of cake..Read full article here...
By cleaning and inspecting before doing all the work, you can save a lot of time and future stress over lost belongings and dirty shelves.
After unpacking, it's common to have a little trouble adjusting to the new location. It may be a while before you're fully comfortable. Luckily, there are steps you can take to alleviate this, as described by Sumiko Wilson of The Toronto Star:
Steps I took to fall in love with my new home
To be honest, I spent the month following my move devising an escape plan. Will the family that moved into my old house mind if I slept on their couch for a while? Would it be feasible to stay in an Airbnb for the next year?
My scheming came to a halt when I took the time to explore my neighbourhood. While my area isn’t the most central, it’s much easier to get downtown from my new home than my old house in the suburbs. Furthermore, I’m steps away from the 501 Queen route, which takes me on a scenic tour around the city, through Roncesvalles, Parkdale, Queen West, and into the downtown core.
Once I took the time to get acquainted with my new stomping grounds, I discovered how much easier I could get to all of the places that I love and that convenience helped me fall in love with my neighbourhood.
If you thrive under deadlines, try hosting a housewarming party.... read more at blog.newinhomes.com
Getting to know your new community is going to be central to feeling at home in it. While it can be hard to meet new people, doing so will make your house, apartment, mobile or townhouse
truly "home."
These tips will hopefully go some way to making you feel at home. If you're still looking for that perfect place, the A-Team can help you out by finding it and securing it for the best possible price.