Moving into a new home, especially if you are a first-time home buyer,
can be daunting. There are a few things to do when you walk through the
door, which will help smooth the way.
“Taking a few steps back,
deciding on a plan and not rushing yourself will put you in a good
position to enjoy your new home,” says Dr Simphiwe Madikizela, head of
special projects at FNB Housing Finance.
1. Take advantage of an empty home
It is unlikely that your home will ever be completely empty again, so
once you have the keys and step into your place for the first time, take
some time to go through all the spaces.
“Use this time to go through each room and clean any dust or dirt in hard to get places.
“It is also a good time to examine the structure carefully for any
issues you may have overlooked when viewing. This includes any problem
areas with the floors, walls and built in cupboards,” says Dr
Madikizela.
2. Be sure to keep a note of any issues
This is also a good time to plan, before any of your
household stuff arrives.
“Decide which room certain boxes and furniture need to go into, and when
everything arrives assign those boxes to those areas, this will make
unpacking far simpler,” says Dr Madikizela.
3. Don’t rush to buy the furniture
“Decide which room certain boxes and furniture need to
go into, and when everything arrives assign those boxes to those areas,
this will make unpacking far simpler,” says Dr Madikizela.
Furniture is a big expense, and the first instinct in the excitement of
buying a new home is to rush out and buy everything in one go.
“This
is a temptation to be avoided at all costs as not only is it a fast
track to indebtedness, but furniture should be built up over a long
period of time. You need to choose pieces that go with your home and fit
your own style - not bought all at one store, on hire purchase,” says
Dr Madikizela
As long as you have the very basics, such as a
place to sleep, even if this is just a mattress and somewhere to sit,
the rest can come with time.
“If you need to, borrow as much
as you can in the beginning and spend some time in your home before
choosing various pieces of furniture,” says Dr Madikizela.
4. Introduce yourself to your neighbours
Introducing yourself to your neighbours is important for a number of
reasons. They are a great way to keep an extra set of eyes on your
place, such as a gate left open or any suspicious activity.
It is
also important to establish a relationship in order to sort out any
problems, such as noise levels, before they become an issue.
“As a homeowner, you will be living in your street and with your neighbours for possibly years,” says Dr Madikizela.
“So make an effort to introduce yourself and exchange numbers for a good start to this relationship.”
5. Sort out your rates
As a homeowner, you are expected to have rates in your own name.
You
can’t inherit a rates account, so one will need to be opened in your
own name.
An account should be automatically opened when the property is
registered at the Deeds Office, but it is your responsibility to open
the water and lights accounts at the required department.
“Opening an account is your own responsibility and should be done sooner
rather than later as it could result in a bill shock if you wait too
long,” says Dr Madikizela.
- Article supplied by Property 24
Harcourts Scottbay
Thursday 13 October 2016
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She truly values her relationship with her clients and believes that You as a client does really come first!
To read more about Azelle, click here!
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