Tips for New Homeowners

Buying your first home can be one of the most exciting events in any person’s life. Those who have had the opportunity know that there is nothing like walking into that house that’s all yours for the first time. However, after the initial excitement that comes with a new home, reality often sets in and you realize there’s still a ton of things that need to be taken care of. That’s why tips for new homeowners can be like gold in those first weeks of chaos and can help remove frustration from the transition.

Even if your house is move-in ready and you didn’t buy a fixer-upper, tailoring your new house to your preferences and personality can be a draining and time-consuming process. What’s more, there are things you can do to lessen the financial burden you now face. Here are tips for new homeowners looking to make the process easier:

Hire a Professional Mover

You’ve finally found the perfect home for yourself.  Now you probably want to keep it that way.  Getting your friends together to help you move can be great, but it often can leave your new home with lasting property damage or damage to your furniture from accidental moving mishaps.  Professional movers can save you time, but more importantly they will get all your belongings safely into your new home.

Make Where You Sleep Feel Like Home

You start and end every day there, so it makes sense to devote a little bit extra focus to your bedroom. Comfort is king when it comes to where you sleep, so spending a little extra on something like a quality bed or a wall-mounted HDTV can provide a couple of indulgences that prove to be worthwhile in the long run.

Don’t Get Too Eager

Often, the first thing someone wants to do to a new home is change, change, change. But making a series of snap decisions in a small amount of time can leave you with several large projects on your hands and a dwindling bank account.

Wait a few weeks—or months—before committing to any large-scale renovation projects. Who knows, the room that you wanted to completely repaint or remodel might grow on you after you get used to it.

Choose Energy Efficiency

Besides the obvious environmentalist components, creating an energy-efficient home will take a burden off of your checkbook, too.  Simple steps such as making sure your home is properly insulated can quickly take up to 30% off of your energy bill, especially if you live in an area that gets especially hot or cold during the winter or summer months. Another simple, but worthwhile, fix is to equip your house with fluorescent light bulbs, which use 75% less electricity than their traditional incandescent counterparts.

Use Your Space, or Let Someone Else

Because first-time homebuyers often plan on starting a family at some point, there may be additional, unoccupied rooms in their house that are available at first.  Rather than let the room go unused, consider renting it out to another young professional or co-worker. Better yet, if you have any friends in the area looking for a place to stay for a limited time, lease it out to them.  Leasing a room out can boost both your bank account and your social life.

Whether you’re buying a home yourself or with a significant other, saving money can be made easier with just a few good decisions. By choosing where to save—and where to indulge—wisely, and heed some sage classic tips for new homeowners, your first home can have an “all yours” feeling in no time.

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