Common Mistakes New Homebuyers Make

Most people don't consider packing up and moving to a new house to be fun. The process of moving from one place to another can be quite taxing on your time, energy, and bank account, not to mention your sanity in general. If you want your next step to be less stressful and more logical, consider these common problems people have when moving and understand how to avoid them.

 

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

 

Not Checking The Overall Condition 

Before you commit to buying a house, it's important to do a thorough inspection of it. Take into account first and foremost the fact that if it requires a lot of maintenance, it will cost you more money and time to get it in perfect condition. 

 

This doesn’t have to mean you don’t move forward and make an offer, but it should at least help you know how much you’re willing to pay for the house. If there is work to be done, you can make a lower offer to account for the additional money you’ll have to spend, for example. If you’re not prepared to do the work, you can walk away. 

 

Not Planning The Move Properly 

You know that moving takes a lot of planning, but you think that once you start, things will come together quickly. How long would it take you, all things considered, to put your stuff in some boxes and tape them up? It can’t be more than a few hours, surely? 

 

This kind of thinking is a big mistake. The fact is, moving house takes a lot longer than most people realize, and you need to get started on your packing much earlier than you might think. Rather than hours or even days, you need to set aside weeks (doing a little bit each evening after work, perhaps). You also need to make sure you book any specialists you need well in advance; long distance moving, in particular, needs removalists booked as soon as you know the date of the move, otherwise, you might find yourself in difficulty. Make a list to make sure you don't forget anything in the chaos and excitement. 

 

Not Making An Inventory 

You have put all your things in boxes, making sure to bubble wrap fragile items and not make any one box too heavy. You think you're good to go until you realize you have no idea what's in any of the boxes. 

 

Create a list of the contents of each box as you pack. Number the boxes and label the contents with the appropriate room in your new home. This way, you'll know where your things are. An inventory can help you save time when unpacking and ensure that you didn't leave anything behind.

 

Forgetting To Measure

This is so simplistic that it may be very simple to overlook. Make sure the door is wide enough for your furniture and that everything will fit where you want it to. If you make the effort to measure things out in advance, you can avoid stress and extra costs later on.