Tag: first time buyers

4 tips for new home-owners

4 tips for new home-owners

Congratulations, new home-owners! You’ve finally got your dream home, and now all that’s left to do is to move in. This is a very exciting time in your life, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful as well. So many tasks will be vying for your attention, it can be easy to let things slip through the cracks. But don’t worry! Below, we’ve compiled a few things that you might not have thought were on your to-do list: we’ve thought about it, so you don’t have to.

Speak to your insurance company

Make sure your insurance policy is up to date on the day that you move in! Finding a trustworthy insurance company can make all the difference when purchasing a new house. In the flurry of all the other things you had to take care of during the move, dealing with insurance paperwork is likely not your priority.

It may be a little bit stressful, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and that’s what home insurance is for. Accidents always happen when you least expect them, and you don’t want to get caught off guard. Speak to your insurance company before your move in date.

Invest in good furniture

This is the freshest start you will ever get with this house, and you should start this stage of home-ownership on the right foot. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to buy furniture. Good furniture is an investment, one that’s more likely to pay off in the long run than the immediate future. Quality pieces like bedroom furniture are well worth the money, as they can last a lifetime if taken care of properly.

Check all the appliances

Before you officially move in, you should take stock of what appliances your new home will come with, and which ones you’ll need to install on your own. By making an inventory list ahead of time, you can really get on top of things so as to ease your moving experience.

You’ll want to start with the big ticket items like the fridge-freezer, stove or washer-dryer.

Don’t forget to take measurements to ensure that any appliances you buy will fit into the space that you have. Once everything is installed, check that they’re all functioning properly. You should inspect and service your appliances every once in a while to maintain their good working order.

As a new home-owner, it can be tempting to go all out with renovations in your new home, but be careful not to bite off more than you can chew!

Deep clean your home

Before you bring all your moving boxes into your new home, you should take advantage of the sparseness of the house to do a deep clean of the entire property. Not only is it hygienic, it can also be a great way to get to know every nook and cranny of the house. Whether you clean the house yourself or you decide to hire a cleaning service, it is good to spiritually cleanse the house of its previous owners and prepare the space to be inhabited by you. Vacuum, mop and polish the floors, scrub the kitchen areas, disinfect the shower, bath and toilet and deep clean the carpets and rugs (professionally, if necessary). If handing over the work to a third party is your preferable option, click here for more info. There’s nothing like the feel of moving into a sparkling new home, so roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Happy moving day!

Buying your first home is a big deal, and you should treat it like one. Now that you’re a home-owner, you’ll be in charge of handling household maintenance and all the other things that, previously, were the responsibility of your landlords. These tips are only a few of the many things that will be on your to-do list for the big day, so it’s a good idea to keep a physical checklist of things to accomplish so that you can stay organised. Remember to enjoy this experience, and don’t let the stress of the move make you forget what an exciting time this is!

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How to be a successful first-time home buyer

How to be a successful first-time home buyer

Ready to buy a house? Being a first-time home buyer means you could be intimidated by the process. But don’t worry. If you follow these steps, you’ll have a much easier time and be more likely to find success as a first-time home buyer.

Illustration depicting saving

Start saving early

Saving early is a great way to accumulate the funds needed for your down payment. There are many ways you can do this, such as opening a savings account and setting up an automatic transfer from your checking each month or putting money away in other investments so that it will grow over time.

The following are tips for saving money for a deposit:

First, open a savings account and set up automatic monthly transfers from your checking account. Or, if you have investments that pay interest on a quarterly or annual basis, use those proceeds instead of putting them in the bank, where they will earn a little-to-no return.

Set reasonable and attainable goals. It would be unrealistic to expect to save enough for 20% of the purchase price of a house within two years without making sacrifices such as forgoing vacations or dining out less frequently. In this case, it may make more sense to shoot for less than 15%, so you have more breathing room in your budget.

Create a ‘rainy day’ fund that will cover at least three months of the mortgage, property tax and insurance payments if you lose your job or experience some other unexpected financial hardship.

Bar graph illustration

Research on market trends

Market trends can be a valuable resource for first-time home buyers. By researching market trends, you can understand what neighbourhoods are growing in value and might be a good investment. You can also find out how long homes are staying on the market, giving you an idea of whether or not now is a good time to buy. Market trends can be a great predictor of growth and help you decide where to invest your money.

It is important to view property market update reports every six months to ensure you are staying on top of any changes in the market.

A real estate agent can also help with prices and trends by providing information about what other homes have sold for recently and pointing out areas that might be growing quickly.

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Decide how much home you can afford

Your budget is one of the most important factors when buying a home. It would help if you decided how much you can afford to spend on a mortgage each month and other associated costs such as home owner’s insurance and property taxes. It’s essential to be realistic about what you can afford and not overextend yourself financially. You don’t want to be house-poor and unable to enjoy your new home because you’re struggling to make your monthly payments.

Use an online calculator or speak with a lender to figure out exactly how much you can afford. They will help you determine how much money you can borrow based on your income and debts. Be sure to factor in all of the associated costs of home ownership, including closing costs and moving expenses.

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Check and strengthen your credit

Your credit is essential in determining your interest rate and whether you qualify for a loan.

Check with the major credit bureaus such as Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax to get copies of your reports. Make sure all information is correct before applying for a loan. If there are any errors, contact them immediately to be corrected quickly. It’s also recommended that you have someone else look over them to double-check every detail. The more accurate these reports are, the better because it shows lenders that you pay your bills on time, positively reflecting upon potential buyers who want low rates but don’t have good credit histories due to past financial problems or other issues related to their personal lives.

Also, take advantage of free annual credit report offers from the government by visiting annualcreditreport.com

Mortgage options illustration

Explore mortgage options

It is essential to look at your different mortgage options when buying a home. You should compare the interest rates, fees, and terms of other mortgages to find the best one for you. Be sure to ask your mortgage lender about all the options available to you.

If you are looking for a low-interest mortgage, you may want to consider a fixed-rate mortgage. With this type of mortgage, your interest rate will stay the same for the entire term of your loan. This can be helpful if you plan on staying in your home for a long time.

Whatever type of mortgage you choose, make sure to compare the different rates and fees from different lenders. This can help you save money on your home purchase.

First time buyer illustration

Conclusion

Being a first-time home buyer can be daunting. Many people are worried about making the wrong decision and regretting it years down the line. However, if you follow these tips, your chances of buying a home that will meet both your needs and wants are significantly increased.

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3 great tips on interior style for new home-owners

3 great tips on interior style for new home-owners

Decorating your first home? Here are a few useful suggestions for getting your interior style just right.

Illustration of a checklist, pen and coffee

Make lists

Now that you have an understanding of what your home décor style is, the next thing you need to do is make a list of everything that you’re going to require for your home. Write down all of the items you currently own and then write down all of the items that you are going to need to purchase. This will not only help you to get more organised, but it’s important in terms of interior design because everything needs to have a place. Therefore, by determining what you need to purchase, you’ll then be able to plan where everything is going to go and you can organise what storage items you’re going to need to purchase for your home. This is something that a lot of people overlook, and then they end up with lots of clutter.

Illustration of a neutral colour palette

Start with a neutral colour palette

While it can be very tempting to include a variety of colours, it’s always better to start with a neutral colour palette. This doesn’t mean that you need to opt for boring colours. However, a neutral colour palette gives you the perfect base on which to build. You can then add accessories and furnishings without being restricted to the bold or striking colours you’ve chosen for the walls.

If you don’t want to go for white or cream, for example, you don’t have to. There are plenty of other neutral shades that look beautiful while still giving you something of a blank canvas. For example, muted shades of grey are very popular at the moment. You can also choose stunning pastel colours, be it a dusty pink or soft green. Payweeklycarpets.co.uk is a good resource for carpets in these shades.

Illustration of a person lying in bed

Invest in a quality bed and bedding

When buying new furniture for your first home, you need to prioritise where to spend money and where to be frugal. Items that you certainly shouldn’t cut back on are your bed, mattress and bedding. After all, if you can’t get a good night’s sleep, then you’re not going to enjoy being in your new home. Everyone needs a restful night’s sleep so that they can be refreshed and ready for the following day ahead. If you’re considering economising and buying a cheap bed or mattress because you want to get lots of accessories and decorations for your home, don’t. You can simply buy added accessories and adornments at a later date.

The best thing to do is buy the basics now and investing good quality, and then you can add on to this after you have lived in your house for a number of months. You’ll find that there are always new things you want to add to your home. You’ll never be able to decorate your property and have a complete version of what you envision within a matter of months, so don’t put any pressure on yourself.

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Creative ways to put your stamp on your first home

Creative ways to put your stamp on your first home

Buying your first home is a thrilling time. If you’ve spent years in the neutral shades of rental properties, getting your first home means you can finally let your creativity flow with interior design and decoration..

House floor plan

Decide on a layout

This is the first thing you should do when moving into your new home. Decide where you want things to go and experiment with different layouts until you find the perfect combination of cosy and functional. You will want a good flow to your home, so if you’re bringing items from a previous house, you should ensure that they’ll fit well and if not consider investing in some new furniture.

Illustration of bedroom with bed on a circular rug

Flooring

Flooring can make or break the look of a home so you should make sure you consider what you choose carefully. While carpeting is a popular choice, having polished wood flooring with a statement rug could be the perfect way to inject your style into the home.

If you do opt for carpeting, you should always choose the very best quality. Carpets, particularly in areas where there is a lot of footfall, will need to be hard-wearing to last for years to come.

Illustration of hous with a huge front door key

Consider buying a new build

New houses are perfect for making a home entirely yours. They’ll never have been lived in, so provide the perfect blank canvas for anyone who’s been itching for the chance to show their interior decorating skills. You should find a home with a quality housing developer like Castle Green Homes that combines functionality with style and empowers you to get the most out of your new home.

Illustration of a wallpapered wall

Create a statement wall

There’s some gorgeous patterned wallpaper out there to choose from, but papering an entire room with statement wallpaper could be overkill. Instead, you could have a single wall with a bold and bright pattern and paint the remaining walls in more neutral, complementary shades.

You can then tie in the rest of the room to your statement wall with accessories and furniture in colours and styles that suit it.

Illustration of a modern fire

Get creative with heating options

If your new home has a fireplace, consider buying a new fixture to heat the room in winter. There are countless gorgeous options available, from electric wood-burner style heaters to faux fireplaces.

A fireplace is a great way to give a room a focal point and to make larger rooms cosier and more intimate places in which to spend time.

Illustration of packets of seeds and watering can

Don’t forget the garden

No matter the size of your garden, you’ll be able to find the perfect way to put your stamp on the exterior of your home. You could consider hanging baskets if your garden space is limited and outdoor furniture to help you make the most of the warmer months.

Nurturing a green oasis is a great way to make your home your own. This can be low effort if you don’t have much time to tend a garden, by planting easy-to-grow, low maintenance flowers like native wildflowers and evergreens.

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