What should your first purchases be for your new home?

What should your first purchases be for your new home?

You may have signed the paperwork and secured your mortgage but knowing where to start when buying those first few purchases for your new home can prove to be tricky. Whatever your end goal, whether you plan to settle there or use it as an investment property to sell on, these pointers will help you decide on what to invest in first.

Prep in advance

Lucky enough to have time on your side? You can minimise the number of last-minute shopping trips by picking up a few items in advance. From cutlery to soft furnishings, gathering smaller items will mean you can transfer them straight into your new property to make the place instantly feel more homely.

This is also a more cost-effective option if you want to avoid having to splash out in bigger batches later down the line. By boxing up a few items beforehand, you can save yourself money and time.

Security

No one wants to be at risk of theft while settling into a new home. Simple habits like remembering to lock the doors and keeping valuables hidden will put you in a better position; however, many opt for a quality home security system.

Although this is a heftier investment, it will give you peace of mind. To make this purchase more accessible you could pay through instalments. Alternatively, you could use finance and simultaneously boost your credit score, assuming you’re able to manage the repayments.

White goods

White goods, otherwise known as domestic items like fridges, freezers and washing machines are essentials. It can be a struggle to maintain your usual household routine without them.

By ensuring these items are installed as soon as possible, you’ll be able to get your first food shop done and get your clothes washed straight away – both things that will help you to feel more settled in your new home.

Furnishings

There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for large furnishings, such as a bed or sofa to arrive. Items like these can take months to turn up, so getting an order in sooner rather than later is crucial.

A bed is especially important to maintain a regular and healthy sleep cycle. Moving is stressful enough without having a poor sleeping pattern from an unsatisfactory, temporary bed arrangement.

Décor

Making your house a home is a big project and assembling pieces of décor in the lead up to moving will help you put your stamp on the place sooner rather than later. Deciding on themes for rooms will help you coordinate items that will bring the space to life.

Rugs, artwork and lighting will make a big difference when it comes to creating the right mood in your space. Alongside your personal touches such as photographs and other accessories, you’ll soon feel right at home after adding additional décor details.

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7 things to do when you move in

7 things to do when you move in

It’s exciting to move into a new home, but the whole experience can be quite stressful. You want to make sure that it’s in the best condition possible when you to move in all of your things. You need to ensure that you make all the right choices for your requirements and there are many things that you have to consider before moving day.

From choosing to hire a company such as Eco Bond Carpet Cleaning, to deciding whether to get a professional window cleaner in, you want your home looking in the best possible condition for your arrival day. In this post, we’re going to talk about all of the things to do when you move in.

  • Clean the floors. The carpet cleaning company that we mentioned earlier is another perfect option for cleaning all the carpets in the property. You’ll spend a lot of time on your floor so you want to make sure that they are both comfortable and attractive. Having a company to do the stonework and the wood and treat it in a way that it’s easier to maintain is important. It’s a smart idea to have hard-wearing flooring in the high traffic areas of the home; materials such as stone, tile, laminate or hardwood. Choose soft carpets for the lesser used rooms such as the bedrooms.
  • Freshen up the paint work. If you’re looking to upgrade the new house that you’re moving into, painting is often the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to do things. Depending on your budget, you could do this yourself, but if you don’t have the time you could hire a professional. Experiment with the colours and shades that you’re choosing; and remember that colours won’t appear the same once they’re dry. If you can, apply paint from sample pots to test on the wall before investing in full-sized tins.
  • Consider keyless entry. When it comes to installing home security this is a good starting point. This type of entry system could utilise either keypad or personalised fingerprint technology. No more lost or forgotten keys! Having the right lock and key system will keep your house secure.
  • Install a fitted wardrobe system. There are installation companies that are able to put this in for you, so you can avoid having huge armoires or dressers. Who needs dressers when you have a made-to-measure cupboard design that professionals can install in every bedroom? The best thing about these systems is that they’re not particularly expensive and they can add value to the house if you choose to sell up in the future.
  • Identify what needs modernising. From your plumbing to your electrical system, you may not be satisfied with their current condition. Have a qualified plumber and/or electrician have a look at your systems to ascertain whether they are in good condition or whether they need an upgrade. Doing this can save you a lot of hassle in the future.
  • Add more storage. When you move into your new house, especially if you’ve downsized, you may need to add extra storage. This is your new home, and all of your things need to find somewhere to live. Storage is going to help you here, especially garage storage.

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How to move your plants when you move home

How to move your plants when you move home

Moving home can be one of life’s most stressful activities. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. If you plan ahead effectively, your move will be exciting rather than stressful. Part of this involves ensuring that your most cherished possessions arrive safely. For many people, that includes their plants. Here are some tips to help move your plants to their new location successfully.

Moving boxes and plant in a kitchen

Get packing in good time

Even if you have the budget for professional removers, it can be more useful to use mobile storage solutions like https://www.mobistorage.com.au/moving-house/perth/. The benefit of this is that it allows you to pack your belongings yourself at your own pace. This allows you to declutter as you go rather than leaving it to the last minute.

Taking the pain out of the main household move will give you more time and energy (and money) to organise the removal of your more precious items. As a rule of thumb, pets and any very personal items should generally travel with you. Plants may go in your car (or on public transport). You might, however, want to arrange alternative transport for them.

Taking cuttings from a favourite plant

Moving garden plants

Before you move outdoor garden plants, make sure that you legally can. If you’ve sold a home with a garden then the garden plants may be considered to be a part of that sale unless you clearly specify otherwise. If you’re a tenant, then the plants will probably belong to your landlord unless you planted them yourself. Taking seeds or cuttings is often a better option.

You’ll also need to consider the practicalities of finding a new home for your garden plants. Even if your new garden or allotment is geographically close to your old one, the conditions may be significantly different. For example, the soil may be more acid or alkaline, there may be a different balance of openness and shelter and/or of light and shade.

If, however, you’re confident that you can take at least some of your garden plants with you and give them a happy new home, it’s generally possible to move them. Prune them back as hard as possible ahead of your moving day. Then uproot them as close as possible to your moving day. Try to dig when the soil is warm rather than cold or hot. Leave plenty of room for the roots. All these steps will minimise trauma to the plants.

House plants in a cardboard box on a checkerboard floor

Pack and load your plants for stability

Once you have all your plants gathered together, you need to pack them for stability. For example, tie branches together and add canes for support. Consider adding weights to pots. Try to pack smaller pots in trays with lips so the pots support each other. Keep the weight balanced across the tray.

When you load your plants, keep stability in mind. If you have a lot of plants, using a van can be far easier than using a car. Whatever transport you use, make sure that larger plants (and their pots) are going to stay put and not crush smaller ones.

If you’re going any more than a very short distance, give your plants a good drink before you leave. In fact, if you’re going a long distance in hot weather, you may need to rehydrate them periodically during your trip.

House plants arrived in their new home

Making your plants feel at home

Check your plants thoroughly for transport damage and if you find any deal with it promptly. Replant garden plants as quickly as you can and water them in thoroughly.

Try to give all your plants the same conditions they had in your old home. Container plants will generally adapt easily, garden plants will often need more attention. In particular, they’ll probably need extra water and possibly food until their roots are completely back to normal.

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House to Home: Making a new property feel like your own from day one!

House to Home: Making a new property feel like your own from day one!

Moving into a new home is so exciting. It’s a blank canvas, a chance to start afresh. A new place to make memories, and something to really make your own. Most of all, it’s a chance to live your life the way that you want, in a place that’s suitable for your needs. However, as exhilarating as it is having a new home, it can also take some adjustment. As the saying goes, ‘home is a feeling, not a place’ and so creating that same feeling in your new property can take a little doing. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help you settle in more quickly and start enjoying your new home. Here are some ideas!

Painting and decorating a room

Decorate

Decorating a home can be expensive, and for lots of people it’s an ongoing process which has to be done over time. However, if you’re in the position to have it all done in one go, it can be quicker and easier to do it when the place is empty. Before you move in you could have painters and decorators paint and wallpaper the walls, electricians fit your light fittings, and carpet fitters or cleaners come in and sort the floors out.

You could even have a new bathroom and kitchen fitted if that’s something you plan on doing. That way, you don’t have to mess around moving furniture and everything is new and fresh for when you move in. You don’t feel as though you’re living in someone else’s home with all of their old décor. Again, it’s not within everyone’s budget to do everything all at once, but if you are able to, it can make things easier and it’s more pleasant for you to move into.

Little white pottery beaker with 'home' printed on the side

Think about accessories

Accessories are what make your décor pop, and are what make any property look homely. They’re your own personal touches to a place, so it makes sense that if you want a place to feel like home then accessories are important. It doesn’t mean dragging everything you had at your old house to the new one, chances are you want to update things and buy some new items. And that’s fine, even new things can make your home feel like your own. The point is, you’ve picked them because you like them and they’re your style which can give you a familiar feeling.

Internet TV home screen with remote control to the foreground

Get the TV and internet set up

One of the most inconvenient things about moving house is being stuck without any TV or internet for a week or more while you wait to be connected. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but if you plan ahead you might be able to have it set up the day you move in. In some instances, these can be connected up remotely if you already have the sockets in place.

Oftentimes, an engineer will have to come out but if you let them know early enough you can time it right. With your TV and internet on from the start, you’ll quickly feel settled in and it will make it easier to get back into your routine.

3D interior render graphic

Play around with room planners

Setting out the furniture in the best formation is always tricky when you first move into a new home. Perhaps you have existing furniture that you want to make fit, or you might be buying things from scratch. Before moving in, work out the dimensions of the room and measure the things you own or want to buy. 3D room planners can be effective ways to see how different layouts will look without the hassle of rearranging your furniture in real life. It lets you know if you have everything you need to get your rooms looking complete or what you still need to buy.

Once you know you’re moving and have the measurements it’s worth starting to accumulate these things and having them ready, especially if you’re ordering bespoke furniture as it can take many weeks to make. If things are ready before you move into your new property, you can always store it away using a company like Pink Self Storage until you have the keys.

Scented candle in a brown glass jar

Add fragrance

Smell has such a big impact on us as humans. The new place you move into might not smell bad necessarily (unless you need to get round to replacing or cleaning the carpets and other fixtures) but chances are it will be unfamiliar. Adding scented candles, reed diffusers and plug-in air fresheners in fragrances you enjoy and have chosen yourself can make it feel much more homely.

If you have particular scents that you use regularly in your old home then consider bringing these. If not, just choose ones that you already know you like. It’s better than having an unfamiliar odour which can be a little jarring and definitely gives you the feeling that you’re in someone else’s home. Cooking your favourite meal and washing your clothes with your usual detergent will also bring familiar smells to the new property once you start doing your normal daily tasks.

Blank page in an address book

Get your address changed

Changing your address is one of the biggest hassles when you move. You need to inform your employer, schools, doctors and dentists, your bank, utility companies; you’ll also need to update your driving license, car documents and more. Once you have your moving date, most of these will let you change your address in advance, so it’s something that can be done ahead of time. It gives you less to do once you move in and can make the process run much more smoothly. Also, don’t forget to give your new contact details to friends and family too so they can update them in their address books.

The above tips should help you to settle into your new property much more quickly and start enjoying it from day one. A little planning and organisation goes a long way, so do all you can ahead of the big move to avoid unnecessary stress.

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