After all those months of house-hunting you’re finally a property owner and your excitement is likely running high at the prospect of moving into your very own home.
But, before you get swept away by it all, it’s important to remember that it’s probably also your largest financial investment and in order to safeguard yourself, it’s essential that you start off on the right foot.
This is according to Dawn Bloch, veteran agent for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, who says: “Owning one’s own home has a multitude of advantages, both in the short and long-term, but there are also a few disadvantages, like not being able to call your landlord when something goes awry and being responsible for all maintenance and the cost thereof.
“But, by taking certain steps at the onset, you can offset many of the potential problems and are likely to save yourself a lot of stress, effort and money down the line.”
Here are useful tips to follow:
1. Do a deep clean of the home prior to moving in
It’s best to start out with a clean slate and very few sellers will have a home professionally cleaned before they move out. So, before you move in belongings and furniture that will render many places hard to reach, make sure every room is scrubbed clean and disinfected.
Where to start?
While there is no particular order for where to start your cleaning plan, a good idea is to tackle the room where you will be spending the most amount of time as a priority. This could be the living room, family room or a den.
READ | Lockdown to-do list | How to deep clean your house one room at a time
2. Change the locks make spare keys
It may seem unnecessary, but there’s no way to know whether there are copies of your old keys floating around, and who might have them. Over time, most people will give out keys to baby sitters, contractors, domestic staff and friends and very often they are not returned, says Bloch.
It's a safety measure worth doing, despite the added cost.
3. Make sure you are properly insured
It’s important that homeowners understand that they need to be adequately insured for the replacement value of the building, not just the market value, plus all the contents and they must specify items that are valuable.
SEE | Check these vital items off your list and get the best out of your home insurance
4. Get to know your house before making big changes
If you bought a property with room for improvement, chances are you will have a good idea of what those changes should be. However, these ideas are very likely to change once you have lived there for a while and have a sense of the flow of the house.
So, if possible, live in your new home for 12 to 18 months before undertaking any major renovations such as additions or knocking down walls which you will have to live with for many years to come.
Every homeowner should check if the building plans are available as soon as possible, and that these correspond in all respects with the building as it now is - and this is compliant with the building regulations.
To be fully compliant, Alexander Swart, Director of Alexander Swart Property, says the seller or the buyer has to be able to show that the building was awarded an Occupation Certificate, confirming that the construction was done in accordance with the approved plans and the regulations pertaining at that time.
To qualify for such certificates, the building will have had to be inspected at specified stages by a licensed building inspector. The same process should have been followed with any subsequent alterations or extensions - before your transfer of sale takes place, adds Swart.
READ | How to save costs when building your own new home
5. Don't overspend to personalise
It’s very tempting to want to put your personal stamp on your new home immediately but you have just spent most, if not all, of your savings on a deposit, committed to a mortgage for the next 20 years and will now also have additional expenses such as rates and maintenance.
"Just as crucial as acquiring your first home is, so is staying in it. Rather start with small things like new curtains or a coat of paint until you have adjusted to your new home ownership expenses and have a better idea of what your new expendable income will be," says Bloch.
READ | Ready for a home refresh? Try these 5 on-trend furnishing styles
6. Don't ignore important maintenance
Whilst you should exercise restraint in purchasing non-essentials immediately, don’t neglect any problems that are likely to worsen over time and which could become very costly to repair.
"Cosmetic repairs can wait but not issues like a leaking roof or blocked plumbing." adds Bloch.
"Create a home maintenance checklist. Include regular home maintenance tasks that you’d want to do on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Doing so will extend the life of almost everything in your home, potentially saving you a lot of money over time. And don't forget to create an emergency fund for unexpected problems too.
It is vital to keep the receipts for all improvements. "When you sell your home you will have to pay capital gains tax which is calculated from the difference between the original price you paid and your selling price. You can offset all improvement costs against this which will reduce your tax bill.
Also, keep all important documents in a safe place. "This includes all appliance manuals, warranties, home insurance and the like. Not only will this make your life easier, but you may have to pass some of the documents on the new homeowners when the time comes for you to sell.
SEE | Why home maintenance is so important and seasonal checks you must do
“Creating a home is a work in progress, and it takes time to get the feel for a new place. Not only can doing too much at once can be overwhelming, it can kill the joy of the experience,” says Bloch.
“So, take your time to get to settle in and to get to know and love your home and who knows, you might just grow to love that vintage wallpaper in the lounge or change your mind about adding another room," says Bloch.
READ: Moving to a new town or city? Professional tips for homebuyers
The Spruce provides a list of some easily overlooked details when you're moving into a new home. However, if you forget the essentials for your first couple nights in a new home, you might regret it—and you'll have to spend money to get must-have items like toilet paper. Put all the items you will need for those first couple days in a particular box and, if possible, transport it to your new home yourself instead of putting it in the moving truck. With that box in hand, all the essential items will be available right when you need them.
Bathroom Essentials
Put all the items you'll need for a bath, shower, and the toilet in the essentials box. This include toilet paper—pack at least one roll per bathroom in the new house—as well as hand soap, hand towels, washcloths, and bath towels. If your new home needs a shower curtain, add that to the box, too.
Kitchen Items
To save room and weight in your essentials box, pour some dish soap into a small container or glass jar. Then you can pack the rest of the bottle into one of the kitchen boxes that can be unpacked later. You can also use dishcloths wrap and pack fragile items before putting them into your essentials box.
Pack a mug, plate, knife, fork, and spoon for each member of the family. Mugs are better than glasses as they can be used for both hot and cold beverages. Wrap glasses and pack plates and utensils well to ensure they arrive at your new home safely.
For cooking, pack one all-purpose pot that can be used to boil water or stir-fry vegetables. Only include this essential if your household goods are going to take longer than a few days to reach your new home.
Cleaning Supplies
Choose a cleaner that will clean most surfaces. If you think you'll need to clean your new home before you move in, you may want to pack a separate cleaning essentials box that would include a broom, mop, bucket and other cleaning supplies. Otherwise, just pack an all-purpose cleaner and a cleaning rag. Don't forget garbage bags.
Medical Kit
A small medical or emergency kit is essential. Small cuts and injuries are a possibility when unpacking, so you'll want to keep a good supply of bandages, gauze and ointments close at hand. Check out moving safety tips for more information on staying safe while you move.
*Article updated 4 March 2024
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