You’ve secured your mortgage, taken advantage of the government’s Help to Buy schemes, and made your offer on your dream home – but what’s next? In this piece, Centrick will be running you through our best tips for moving into your first home: because the steps during the interim between ‘offer accepted’ and ‘exchange of contracts’ are crucial for ensuring your first moving experience is as positive as possible!

Tip One: Keep Flexible

No matter how thoroughly you plan your move, not everything is guaranteed to run according to your timescales. That’s why it’s vital keep your timing as flexible as possible, and plan for the possibility of a delay. This is particularly important when moving belongings into storage, as delays in exchange of contracts may result in you having to rent out storage spaces for longer than anticipated, so ensure you have funds set aside for this. If possible, it is worth taking advantage of delayed delivery offers, especially when buying bulky items such as furniture: some companies will allow you to schedule delivery for a convenient day to ensure that you are comfortably moved into your new home before large items start turning up on your doorstep. This can also help save on storage costs. Similarly, if you are currently renting, it may be beneficial to arrange a rolling contract for your property so you don’t have to worry about having somewhere to live in the event of any completion delays or, alternatively, arrange to stay with family or friends. These ‘worst case scenario’ plans will allow you to feel secure that no matter what the situation is, you have planned ahead accordingly. Centrick General Sales

Tip Two: Take Care Of The Admin

During the whirlwind of stress, contracts and new information when moving into your first home, it can be easy to forget the basics, such as contacting your utility suppliers. It’s important that your suppliers are aware of your move so that your new home is move-in ready with everything you need, and so your old rental property is aware that you have vacated so they cease charging you for your usage. Even better, when you shop around for new utility suppliers, you may encounter some great value ‘new customer’ offers – be sure to take your time to shop around and find these! We also recommend using a mail redirection service such as the one promoted by Royal Mail. This is vastly important for ensuring that you receive all of your correspondence, including letters that could contain sensitive information, and avoid your mail falling into the wrong hands. Here's a quick tick-list of administrative duties you may have forgotten about!
  • Tell your bank of your address change
  • Redirect your mail
  • Inform family, friends and your employer
  • Contact your gas supplier
  • Contact your electricity supplier
  • Contact your water supplier
  • Update your home insurance
  • Contact your local council regarding council tax
  • Prepare standing orders for mortgage repayments and council tax
  • Routinely check in with your conveyancers to ensure everything is progressing smoothly

Tip Three: Have An Adjustment Period

Moving house, especially for the first time, can be an overwhelming process. The stress of moving can be multiplied if you have children or pets that you are moving with, so it’s vital to allow them to experience a healthy adjustment period that allows them to understand that this is a positive change. If you have children, get them involved in the decorating process by allowing them to decorate their own room, or help choose new furnishings and decorative pieces: this will instil a sense of belonging that makes your new house feel like a home. Similarly, if you have a pet, use positive reinforcement techniques to help them settle into their new abode and understand that it is a safe space. Most importantly, try not to express anxiety or stress regarding the move around your children or pets by ensuring that they have their own place to stay on moving day.

Tip Four: Allow Yourself Time

Moving into your first home is a huge accomplishment, and you deserve to enjoy it and feel proud that you’ve completed the process! Many purchasers book time off work to collect their keys and relocate their belongings from their old home to their new one and schedule a few days to relax in their new home after their belongings have been transported. We also recommend choosing a removal company well in advance of your move-in day to eliminate some of the stress of relocating your belongings. When moving into your first home, it’s also recommended that you use this as an opportunity to declutter any of your belongings and only bring the items that are useful, or sentimental, into your new property. Once you’ve determined what your daily-use items are – such as a kettle, mugs, cutlery, etc – pack these in a designated easy-reach box that you can open when you first get the keys to your new home. Chances are you won’t have time to unpack everything on the first day, so it's good to have easy access to the essentials!

Are You Ready To Get Moving?

As your local property experts, Centrick have an abundance of experience helping first-time movers make the transition from ‘tenant’ to ‘homeowner’. Whether you’re simply browsing, trying to figure out what you can afford, or you’re ready to place an offer on your first home, Centrick is here to help you every step of the way. Browse our available properties here, or use the form below to contact one of your local agents – we’d be happy to help!