At Lennar, we know buying a home for the first time is a huge milestone and represents new beginnings, memories and endless possibilities. We also know it can be tough to navigate for first-time homebuyers.
At Lennar, we strive to make your homebuying process simple, so we’ve put together a list of six homebuying tips to make the process easier and more convenient.
1. Schedule In-person Home Tours
Your home is your sanctuary, so you need to absolutely love it before making an offer. Online images are meant to look amazing and give you a vision of your life in that home. However, seeing a picture is entirely different from the feeling of walking through a home, so schedule in-person tours to make sure the home exceeds your expectations.
During your tour, consider if the home seamlessly meshes with your lifestyle. Does the kitchen meet your cooking needs? Do you typically host guests, and if so, is there enough entertainment space? It’s okay to take your time because the small details can make all the difference.
2. Create a Separate Email Account for Your New Home
Think about all the emails you receive daily, whether they’re work-related, promotional, event invitations or spam, and imagine the increase in emails that will come with homebuying. You’ll be communicating with mortgage, title, contractors, insurance companies and eventually receive utility bills.
Having a separate email just for your home means you won’t have to sift through countless messages to find specific documentation and contacts. It’s a great way to keep all your home-buying communications organized and in a designated area.
3. Set up a Password Manager
You probably already have numerous usernames and passwords for bank accounts, online services, social media profiles and emails. When buying a home, you’ll likely add even more password-protected accounts to your list.
This is a great time to set up a password manager to safely store and track new accounts you might create for mortgage portals, credit monitoring services, utility companies and more. You’re keeping your personal information safe and looking out for your future self.
4. Make a Budget for Moving Expenses
Moving expenses can be costly and add up quickly, so you’ll want to make sure you’re setting yourself up for success. Set some time aside to list out any potential expenses you may come across and make a plan to start saving towards that budget.
Here are some costs to consider, according to Forbes Home:
- Professional movers
- Rental moving trucks
- Cleaning services
- Moving insurance
- Tips for professional services
- Moving supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
5. Label Your Moving Boxes
Before you know it, it’s moving day! One simple trick to streamline moving day is to label your boxes with their contents and room assignments. That way, when you or movers bring boxes into your new home, you’ll know exactly where to place each box. Plus, labeling the contents within each box makes it much easier to unpack, so you’re not digging around for specific items.
6. Create a List of Seasonal Tasks That Need to Get Done
Taking care of a home is more than just moving in, picking out new furniture and decorating. Homes need continuous maintenance, but it doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. Plan ahead and make a list of seasonal tasks to check off year-round. For example, in the fall, you need to clean leaves out of the gutters and seal cracks in windows to keep the cold out during the winter. In the spring, be sure to change air conditioning filters.
Finding the perfect home is an exciting time and, at Lennar, we would love to help you. If you’re ready to buy your new home, need more information about the process or want to start scheduling in-person tours, visit us online.
