Becoming a homeowner is not only one of the biggest, most exciting things to happen in our lifetimes, but it can also be one of the most stressful, too. There is a lot to consider in the run-up to picking up your keys and beyond to make sure that your new house becomes the home you’ve always dreamt of.
To make sure you have everything sorted before you settle in, I’ve put together a list of some of the things new homeowners need to do and keep in mind when they make the big move.
Create a spending plan
After buying your new home, chances are you’re going to be looking to save as much money as you can in the coming months. Creating a spending plan is a great way to get ready for being a new homeowner. To begin the process, check back over your outgoings for the previous few months to see where you could make some changes to begin to save money.
Start with those Friday night takeaways, for example – the potential savings when cutting out those quick meals are around £80 a month. Also, spending some time going through your subscriptions and seeing what you no longer use but still pay for is another way to cut down on spending. You may be surprised to find what you’re still paying for without even realising!
Secure Your New Home
Even before you move into your new home, it’s important to make sure that it is secure. It’s a good idea to change all the locks when you move into a new home and check that all the windows and doors (including the garage) are secure. If there is already a home security system installed, check that is it fully working and up to date If there isn’t already a security system in place, now is the time to invest in one. Look around and make sure you get a reliable and trusted alarm, read more here. Install security lights too and consider adding security cameras.
Learn about your new home
Learning the history of your new home is a great way to know what work needs to be done first and where you need to start. If you find that you’ve moved into a newly built property, you should be given information such as what type of boiler is in the property, and how old it is.
However, if you have moved into an older property you should be able to find out the history of the home via the previous owners, or the estate agents you purchased the property through. This is a great way to determine how old the house is and importantly how old your heating system is. If you have an older heating system, it will be worth investing in a new heating system as a newer heating system is much more efficient and can save you up to £200 a year on your gas bill.
Finding a new boiler
If you find that you do have to buy a new boiler for your home, it can be an expensive but worthwhile investment. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a new boiler for your home.
When choosing your new boiler you’ll find yourself coming across a few popular brand names such as Ideal Boilers, Worcester Bosch, Glow Worm and Viessmann just to name a few. Each of these brands can often offer a different selling point from the other so it’s best to do your research before buying.
The next thing to keep in mind is the three main different types of boiler.
● System Boilers – System boilers heat your central heating by producing water for a storage cylinder and uses water straight from the mains.
● Combi Boilers – Combi boilers are one of the most popular boiler types in modern homes and stand out as they are compact and highly efficient. They heat both water and your central heating in one.
● Conventional Boilers – Conventional boilers are usually found in older homes as they take up a lot of space with their water cylinders and feeder tanks. They are still great for larger homes that require more energy.
The size of the property can also dictate which boiler will be best for your new home. If you have multiple bathrooms, combi boilers would not be suitable for you as they can struggle to heat more than one source of water at a time. However, if it’s a smaller property with limited space and only one bathroom a combi boiler would be perfect for your heating needs. As with the boiler brand, it’s best to do your own research in a lot more depth to find out which boiler type would be best for your brand-new home.
Sensible tips. I am still getting on top of different boilers and hot water systems.