There’s nothing quite as exciting as moving into your very first home. With so many things that need to be addressed, there are bound to be a few things that fall through the cracks. It’s okay; it’s quite common among first-time homeowners.
We asked Panama City Beach realtors what five bits of advice they’d like to give to new homeowners, and here are their top responses.
1. Don’t Procrastinate When It Comes to Packing
Don’t leave packing until the last minute; doing so will only add unnecessary anxiety and stress to an already tense time. You can (and should) avoid that added tension by packing at least 30 days before you actually have to move. By leaving things to the last minute, you’re bound to make some bad packing missteps, like not organizing your belongings, not properly wrapping breakable items, and so on.
We recommend starting to pack closets and rooms that aren’t used as often. The remaining stuff that’s used all the time (clothing, toiletries, cooking supplies, etc.) should be the last thing you pack up. A moving checklist can be really helpful because it lays out what needs to be done and when.
2. Don’t Pack Everything and Anything
You have the opportunity to increase your cash reserves by sorting through what you have and selling anything that you don’t use frequently enough to justify keeping. When you’re done, take whatever is left to a charity that helps the less fortunate or donate it to the local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or house of worship. Less stuff makes packing easy.
3. Don’t Forget to Change Your Address
Before you move to Panama City Beach, contact the U.S. Postal Service to update your address. The post office will have time to update their records before you actually move, plus it will give you time to notify other government agencies (driver’s license, vehicle registration, and voter registration), banks, credit card companies, etc., of your new address.
4. Don’t Forget to Transfer Utilities to Your New Home
Additionally, if you still receive paper utility bills, arrange for the final one to be mailed to your new address. In some cases, you might be able to switch your utility services to your new home address without having to deal with any lapse in service. However, if you are relocating from out of state, your agent might be able to help you make the necessary arrangements for getting utilities connected at your new home.
5. Don’t Skip the Final Walkthrough
You’ll get a second chance to check out your new home before the deal is finalized. Skipping this part would be a mistake. In this final walkthrough, you should be checking to make sure that everything is in good shape visually and operates as expected. If the deal says that the appliances are included or that certain repairs will be made, you’ll want to make sure that the seller followed through with their promises.