Moving into a new home comes with mixed emotions: the excitement of a new chapter, the stress of packing and settling into a new home, and maybe a bit of sadness as you say goodbye to what you once called home and where you created many memories.
I moved into a new apartment not long ago, and after paying the deposit and the moving company, I thought that was the end of the moving costs. But, oh, was I wrong!
Even if a property is advertised as move-in ready, there will usually be little projects you will have to do to make it comfortable for you to live in.
While I loved my new apartment, it needed a bit of work (as all properties do) before I could move in. I also wanted to spruce it up just a little to make it a beautiful home I enjoyed returning to after a long day at work.
How I Financed my Projects
I didn't think these projects would cost much, and I had a little saved up, so my only option was to take a loan. Before applying for a loan, I determined how much it would cost to get my apartment move-in ready. Since these projects would be financed using a loan, I kept the costs as low as possible.
Drawing up a budget beforehand helped me prepare mentally and know how much I could afford to spend on each project. I knew without a budget, spending more than I bargained for could be easy, and then I would be left with nothing for the other projects.
Before applying for a loan, I did a bit of research and compared several online personal loans to get an idea of each lender's terms. I'm glad I did this instead of applying for the first loan I found, as there are many different types of loans, and they each have different terms and interest rates.
Things I did Before Moving
Since my budget was limited, I had to prioritize what was most important to do before moving in. When moving in, you can redo the entire apartment with an unlimited budget and hire professionals to do everything.
Here are some projects you can focus on before moving into your new home.
Deep Clean
Even if the apartment looks spotless, I suggest doing a thorough, deep clean to eliminate dirt and moulds. It's also easier to clean before you move your things in because you won't have to move your furniture only to realize some areas are blocked or hard to reach.
You can hire professional cleaners, but it's easy to do it yourself. However, you will likely need a lot of detergents, so buy this in bulk! Cleaning can be a huge undertaking, but this is how I tackled it:
Floors
My apartment has hardwood floors in the living area and kitchen, tile in the bathroom, and carpet in the bedrooms. Each type of flooring had to be cleaned differently. I added a little bit of detergent to a bucket of water and used this to mop the tile and hardwood floors and then moped again with just water.
Carpets need an intense cleaning as they attract more dust and dirt. You can shampoo or steam clean the carpets. Both methods are effective, but your type of carpet should determine the one you choose to use in your home. If you opt for steam cleaning, you need to add the cost of hiring a steam cleaner to your budget if you don't own one.
Cabinets
Use soapy water and a cloth to wipe down the cabinets' inside before packing your things. I also lined the inside of the cabinets with shelf paper.
Kitchen Appliances
Clean inside the fridge and wipe the shelves with a solution of vinegar and water. I used one part vinegar to three parts water. Also, Scrub the inside of the oven with oven cleaner and wipe down the stove top with a disinfectant.
Clean the inside of the microwave with disinfectant. A trick I used was adding a few slices of lemon to a cup of water and heating it in the microwave for about ten minutes. Lemon is a wonderful cleaner that removes any old smells from the microwave.
Paint the Interior Walls
Painting walls is an easy way to refresh your home. All you need is a roller brush, paintbrush, paint tray, paint, and sandpaper. I chose neutral colors, but you can be creative. You should check with your landlord to see if your paint color is approved if it's a rental.
Change the Locks
Safety is a priority to me, so I included changing the locks in my budget. You can never be sure that the previous owners or tenants handed in all the keys, and you never know whose hands the keys can fall into, so changing the locks can give you peace of mind that no one has access to your home.
Conclusion
There are a few things you should do before moving into a new home, and it's important to have a budget for this. Before moving in, it's a good idea to deep clean the apartment or house, change the locks and give the interior walls a new coat of paint to create a comfortable, safe space for you to call home.
