First time buyer anxiety – how to handle buying your first home

Buying your first home can be one of the most exciting things you can do – but as a big life event, it can also be quite stressful.

Fortunately, you probably won’t have to move house many times but you’ll want to make it as easy as possible when you do, especially if it’s your first home.

Here are some tips and advice on making moving into your new home if not plain sailing, then at least on calmer waters.

Tackling stress

Even if you have all the practicalities in hand, moving can still cause some anxiety.

Caroline Pett, an anti-anxiety specialist from Carlisle, suggests employing general techniques useful in dealing with any stressful situation, such as taking the time to breathe properly each day and exercising outdoors.

She says: “Only worry about what you can control. Once you’ve taken the action that you need to take you are then leaving it in the hands of somebody else, and you just have to let that be okay.

“Don’t expect to be entirely unworried about it. What I mean is don’t be worried about being worried. You don’t need to add an extra layer of stuff to that. And, also, just to do everything that you can do. So don’t put off the stuff you can do, do that as soon as you can, and then crack on with other stuff.”

Hand over to the movers

Depending on your budget, there may be an opportunity to outsource some of your moving jobs – and if there’s one thing that’s worth considering to help make your move stress-free, it’s approaching a removals firm.

County Removals, based in Durranhill, Carlisle, have more than 35 years’ experience, cover the whole of the north and are members of the British Association of Removers which ensures the highest standards.

They advise planning well in advance, contacting your removal firm a month before the move, even if you don’t know the exact day, confirming costs, and taking into account that some days, such as Bank Holidays, can be busier than others.

If this is your first home and you are moving from rented accommodation or your parents’ house you may not have much furniture or fittings to take with you but most basic points remain the same. Start clearing your current residence of items you no longer need a month before the move and don’t leave your packing too late – especially if you have a large collection of shoes, trainers or clothes to consider!

Making a list is key

There are a lot of life admin tasks associated with buying your first home – whether you’re moving out of your parent’s house or from rented accommodation, there are a lot of things you can start to sort ahead of the big move.

County Removals’ checklist highlights the main things to consider, including:

• Check the right insurance is in place at your new home

• Run down freezer contents

• Contact carpet fitters if needed
• Book mains services for disconnection
• Cancel all rental agreements
• Notify your doctor, dentist, optician and vet.
• Notify banks and credit card companies
• Notify your telephone and broadband company
• Arrange to redirect mail
• Notify TV licence, passport, car licence and registration offices.
• Plan where things will go in your new home
• Separate valuable items and important documents ready for you to hand-carry them on moving day.
• Put together a basic catering pack for the new home. Don’t forget the kettle!

Don’t forget that if you’re moving in with friends or a partner for the first time, they’ll also have to do this for themselves too. Are you looking to make a move? Our mortgage experts could chat through your options with you and answer any queries – feel free to get in touch.