Tips For Moving Out For The First Time

There are many reasons you might be moving into your own place for the first time. It could be that you’re just leaving your parents house for your first home, you might be moving in with a boyfriend, or perhaps you’ve finished university and are looking for somewhere permanent to place your roots. No matter the reason for moving out, it can be daunting getting onto the property ladder and then knowing what to do once you move. That’s why in this article we’ve put together some top tips that should help you if you’re moving out for the first time. Keep on reading to get inspired. 

This is a contributed post.

HAVE A BUDGET IN MIND

The first thing you need when moving out is a budget. There’s no beating around the bush, moving is expensive. Whether you’re renting or buying, you are going to need to put a fair amount of capital towards it in order to get into your new property. When you are budgeting, there are many things to consider, such as paying for legal fees, a deposit and decorating the space. Once you have the property confirmed, you are then going to need to think about things such as your council tax, water and electricity bills and your food shop. It’s a good idea to make a spreadsheet where you note down the estimated costs for all of this so you can ensure you can afford to move out.

FIND THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU

Navigating the property market is no easy feat and when you want to find the perfect place, it can be difficult. Speak to an estate agent who can help you to find the best property for you and ensure you put forward what exactly you’re looking for. It could be that you want a new building with two bedrooms and one bathroom, or maybe you want more of a historical property which you can do up and make your own. Ensure you keep an eye on what is going up for sale and don’t settle for something just because you get impatient. This can be easy to do, particularly if you have been looking for a while, but it is always worth waiting until your perfect place comes along, and it will do, we promise!

DECIDE IF YOU WANT A NEW-BUILD OR FIXER-UPPER

Another big decision you need to make when getting your first property (this applies to renting not so much buying) is if you want a house that you need to do work on or one that you can instantly move into. There are benefits and negatives to both so it’s up to you what you have the time and budget for. A new house is great as it is ready to move into, but can be more expensive and might not be to your exact taste. A doer-upper can mean living somewhere that isn’t very nice, or not your taste for a while, but can be less expensive and also ensure you get exactly what you want in the long run. Do factor in the costs it will need for you to do up the place, whether it needs certain rooms completely ripped out and started again, or if it is purely cosmetic fixes that are required. 

GE ORGANISED AS EARLY AS YOU CAN

No matter when you are moving, there is no time too soon to get organised. Try and start decluttering your things and thinking about what you want to take with you as early as you can. There are so many different factors when it comes to getting organised, from deciding what you want to bring, to sourcing your furniture – if you are moving out for the first time, chances are you won’t have much already. You also need to consider things like if you are going to live alone or have a roommate, what area you are going to want to move to, and what you need to pay for when you’re there. 

FIND PEOPLE TO HELP YOU MOVE

When you move, you have the choice between getting a professional removal company to get you into your new place, or relying on the help of friends and family. Relying on your loved ones can be a lot cheaper,  but they might not do as good of a job as a professional and also it can be hard to get them all free on your moving day. A removal firm on the other hand is extremely experienced so will be able to get the job done efficiently and effectively. The only downside to this is that you will have to pay for this service and it can be quite expensive depending on how much stuff you have and how far you are moving.

HAVE A BACKUP FUND

While you might think you have enough to move out, you will always need more! There are so many elements involved in moving house, such as paying for your moving materials such as boxes, tape and labels, your removal firm and hiring a van, to the actual legal costs that many people seem to forget about. You will also need to factor in, as said above, things like your deposit, bills and more.

These are just a few tips that should help you when it comes to moving out for the first time. Whether you are moving in with someone else, or if you are going solo, the same rules still apply and you need to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. Moving is a big step, even if you think you are prepared as there are always more things you could be doing and there will always be plenty to do both on moving day and once you’re in. What are some top bits of advice you have for moving out for the first time? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.

Olivia x