Living in a spacious house with a garden where everyone has their corner and the opportunity to be close to nature is a dream come true for many. If house relocation is among the fulfilled items on your bucket list, then this article is just for you. In the following lines, we will dive deep into the topic of what you need to know about moving from an apartment to a house.
What you need to consider before moving from an apartment to a house
A clear plan and preparation would make it easier to move from an apartment to a house. And here's what to focus on in the preparation process:
Assess your savings
The funds you have will play a key role not only in the purchase (or rent) of a house but also when it comes to its further maintenance. Make sure you have enough in your savings to cover:
- House refreshments
- Moving your belongings (including packing and unpacking or storage space rental services)
- Furnishing
- Looking after the yard and garden (including buying gardening supplies, lawnmowers and sprinklers)
- Home Insurance
- The installation of an alarm system
- Cleaning the home (if you rely on cleaning companies)
- Household bills
Make sure you have the time and ability to maintain the house
As we've already hinted, living in a house requires a certain amount of dedication. If you've just become a parent and are working full-time or juggling two jobs, your weekends will hardly be enough when it comes to taking care of your home. Aside from regular cleaning of indoor spaces, living in a house also involves taking care of the yard, which requires quite a bit of time. But if you also have a pet, the task becomes even more difficult.
Do not underestimate the size of the space.
Although a dream for many, a spacious home (which most houses are, usually spanning several floors) requires extra time, attention and money when it comes to furnishing it. Keep in mind that when moving from an apartment to a house, you should consider purchasing additional furniture and belongings to add the finishing touch to the home. Don't part with your old furniture lightly (if you have any), as even worn out, it can serve you well when sprucing up your garden or porch, for example.
Invest in a home inspection
This is an often overlooked aspect in terms of things to know when moving from an apartment to a house. Make sure you don't rush into buying (or renting) a house, and hire a professional to assess the condition of the property. This way, you guarantee that you won't have unforeseen repairs costing you a fortune. A home inspection helps keep you informed of problems such as:
- Presence of moisture
- Leaks
- Faulty plumbing or electrical wiring
- Poor quality plaster
- Presence of pests
- Outdated joinery
- Faulty electrical appliances
Plan all preparatory activities
What you need to know when moving from an apartment to a house is that you need to allow extra time for renovations. From changing the wallpaper to refreshing the bathroom, plan all preparatory activities carefully before you set the date of your move. It is important in this case to make sure that you will have access to the house for the purpose of pre-inspection, making arrangements and planning the arrangement and decoration of the home.
Bear in mind that the relocation may drag on
The process of moving from an apartment to a house may take longer than originally planned. This has to do with the wider space already mentioned. It requires extra time for refreshments (repainting, mould removal, additional home insulation, etc.) and cleaning of the home before moving in and extra days for tidying and decorating the house (including buying additional appliances, furniture, cleaning supplies, etc.).
What to keep in mind during the move
Relocation itself is not only about transporting the belongings but also about preparing them and vacating the apartment in good condition. In this regard, among the things to know when moving from an apartment to a house are:
Pack your belongings securely
Choose the right packing materials and pack your belongings according to their type - for example, books, toys, clothes, electronics, cosmetics, important documents, etc. Packing your belongings by type will ensure that you are better oriented when it comes to arranging them in your new home. Among the most common packing mistakes are:
- Lack of a clear plan (including early prepared materials and a list of contacts where to get them)
- Panic and disorientation when packing: Start packing according to the size of items, rooms, or type of items.
- Lack of labels: Labeling boxes and preparing a list of all boxes will help you quickly bring order to your new home.
- Overflowing boxes: A challenge for both the movers and the integrity of your belongings.
- Improper securing of belongings: Use paper or bubble wrap to secure the integrity of your belongings.
To prepare a list of belongings
Moving from an apartment to a house often causes turmoil and confusion, and in all the hustle and bustle, it's hard to keep track of whether all the boxes you originally prepared are present. In this regard, make lists of the contents of each box, and number or colour-code the boxes according to which family member they belong to.
Notify service providers
When you move into a new home, you should change your address registration and notify the various service providers of the change of address. In addition, you should change the address for receiving subscriptions.
Coordinate the process according to the original plan.
Do you already have a plan for the function of each room? The options are many - from a hobby room to a man's den or a nursery. Act according to your plan and coordinate your helpers so that furnishing the respective spaces is done with ease.
Steps after moving from an apartment to a house
Take care of home insurance
Home insurance is highly recommended, especially if we are talking about a house that you have purchased and not just rented. Adding the furnishing and maintenance activities, quality insurance will definitely save you a lot of stress in case of unforeseen household accidents or thefts. Among the damages usually covered by insurance are:
- Damage due to fires
- Damage caused by explosion
- Damage from automobile accidents affecting the home
- Damage caused by hail, freezing, storms, flooding or landslides
- Lightning strike
Focus on the security of the house
Safety measures to implement in your new home include:
- Use a smart doorbell: there is a camera installed that allows you to protect yourself from suspicious visitors
- Change your home locks: you never know who actually has a key to your home.
- Add a chain to your front door: a step that will ensure peace of mind, especially if you have young children.
- Install door sensors: alert when glass doors are broken, for example.
- Reinforce the lighting of the yard: you will be more relaxed, ensuring better visibility.
- Install security cameras: this will help you keep an eye out for suspicious people near your home.
- Get a guard dog: an excellent reason to have a pet to keep your home safe,
Bet on smart furnishings
In case you have bought the house, you have the chance to furnish it entirely according to your taste and follow the latest trends in interior design. When moving from an apartment to a house, you should know that you can bet on smart furnishings like:
- Smart display. It works with voice commands or a touchscreen, and in addition to setting up your appliances, you can also use it as a decorative element when not in use - in the form of a digital photo frame. Smaller screens are also available - a perfect solution for rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom.
- Smart light bulbs: Controlled via the screens already mentioned or using voice commands, they are an excellent solution when it comes to saving energy at home. Just imagine falling asleep in front of the TV but having to get up to turn off the lights manually. Well, with smart light bulbs, that problem is now solved.
- Smart thermostat: This allows you to control the temperature at home, and you can create a heating or cooling schedule in advance and reduce your electricity costs with energy-saving features.
- Pet Camera: Allows you to interact with your pet when you're on the go.
These are just some of the examples of smart equipment to make life in your new home more comfortable and practical. Although more expensive, these appliances guarantee you a number of conveniences, including more free time, better control over what's happening at home and the ability to carry out several activities at once.
Plan a sample budget
Living in a house comes with higher costs. In this regard, we advise you to plan different variations of a monthly budget, not forgetting the costs associated with the urgent maintenance of the home and garden. To reduce bills, you can bet on appliances to save electricity. Plan for the costs of looking after pets and children. Among the advantages of living in a house is that the space allows you to practice various hobbies such as sports, gardening or different types of art. In this regard, consider the costs associated with them - fitness equipment, sports equipment, art supplies, etc.
Adapt the available space to your needs
You can change the purpose of your home. Create a corner for your pet or make a playroom for the kids to have fun. Investing in a home library or a terrace designed for relaxing over a cup of coffee are also excellent ways to adapt your home to your own needs and interests - something that would be difficult to achieve in a rented apartment of limited size.
Moving from an apartment to a house is often a challenge. But don't worry! The Movega Removals team will advise you in the best way, offering a variety of services available throughout Europe. Get in touch with us right now through the available online contact form and chatbot feature.
