Did you know three in four of all Americans consider buying a home a priority? If you’re one of the lucky ones and in the process of buying your first home, you might think the most difficult part is choosing the perfect house in the perfect location.
Buying Your First Home? 4 Tactics for Outfitting Your Home
When the dust settles and the keys are yours, the work isn’t quite done as you attempt to make your house a home. Keep reading to learn four essential tips for outfitting your first home.
1. Bring Two Homes Together with One New Style
If you’re moving in with your spouse or significant other, you’ll be combining two separate lives under one roof. Unless you have a very similar style and few belongings, odds are you’re going to need to do some compromising.
Rather than ditching all of one person’s belongings in favor of keeping the other’s, it’s best to meet in the middle with a new style on which you can both agree. Unless you both have similar tastes, try to stick to something more neutral. Ultimately, it will be far easier to find items you both like if the style isn’t too extreme.
But while creating a new cohesive style is key, it’s also important to not toss away anything meaningful or special to one person, but which doesn’t quite fit that style. Whether someone owns a mismatched couch that’s the wrong color for the living room or a painting that doesn’t match, odds are you can find somewhere to include it in your new home.
2. Agree on the Important Things
It’s not just your style you’ll want to agree on, either; you’ll also need to choose a mattress you’ll both be comfortable sleeping on. While this may seem like a minor detail, when you consider all the effects of not getting a good night’s rest, like a higher risk of getting into a car accident, you’ll realize the importance of buying the right mattress.
Compared to other pieces of furniture, like your couch or kitchen table, your mattress is where you’ll spend the most time — and choosing one isn’t something that should be left up to just one partner.
3. Get the Basics First
When you’re starting from scratch with your new home, it can be tempting to buy everything that catches your eye. But many new homeowners don’t realize just how many small expenses are involved with outfitting a new home. While the perfect painting for your living room or throw pillows for your bed might catch your eye, having the right living room furniture, bedding and towels, and kitchenware are far more important.
Start by buying the basics that you know you’ll need to be comfortable in your new home. Once you have those items, you can then take your time and find the right decor items or accent furniture to match your style. Don’t feel rushed to fill your home; rather, take your time and choose items you truly love.
4. Don’t Forget the Duties of a Homeowner
If all you know is living the life of a renter, then you’ll be taking on some new duties as a homeowner. Mowing the lawn, taking care of landscaping, and keeping appliances running and drains clear are all now your responsibility. Indeed, there’s no landlord to call when something goes wrong.
With that in mind, it’s best to start thinking about your new duties right away. For example, you’ll need to invest in new tools, like a lawnmower and weed eater, as well as learn the skills necessary to unclog your bathroom sink drain.
Outfitting Your New Home
Moving into after buying your first home is an exciting time. But making the effort to blend styles with your spouse or significant other, choosing the right mattress, getting the basics before decorating, and learning the ropes of being a new homeowner from the start will help make the transition easier and help you build a home you’ll love for years to come.
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