Congratulations, you’ve signed a contract. But now what? There are a lot of ways you can get the most from your time as you wait for your settlement day. You may not have the keys to your new home yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning, designing and decorating. Here are our top tips on how to spend your time well while you wait.
There’s plenty to do where you are right now
Before you move into a new home, you’ll probably be leaving an old one. This is your opportunity to get organised for the move. It’s not uncommon for people to underestimate the time it will take them to pack up their house – somehow there is always more to do and more to pack than you thought. Everything can be going fine until you remember about all the things you’ve got stored in the attic. But the good news is you have an opportunity now to make the most of it.
Before you go wading through forgotten Christmas decorations the night before your move, take the time now to declutter and get organised. Moving house is a great opportunity to reduce your belongings and to get rid of things you forgot you had. Make a jump start on your current house and your future self will thank you. Don’t forget, you can donate lots of items to a nearby charity shop and do some good for others in the process. For more ideas on getting ready to move, you can read our moving house guide.
Get Ready to Renovate
For many people, buying a new house comes with plans to renovate and improve it. It’s possible you’ve found your dream home down to the smallest details, but for others they will have ideas about changing the bathroom tiles, upgrading the kitchen, or changing the carpet for floorboards. Your settlement period is a good time to start planning for these details and upgrades. You could use this time to figure out which shops can provide you with the materials you’re after, get quotes from tradies and get organised to hit the ground running. Once you have the keys to your new home you can get straight to work, transforming it into your dream home.
Dimensions Daydreaming
We know that packing and sorting isn’t the most exciting work, and your mind is no doubt wandering to your new home. But you don’t have to wait until you move to start planning where your furniture will go. Grab a copy of your floorplan and start designing. You can even measure your furniture and cut scale version out of paper. Planning all your room layouts will make moving day much easier, and it’s a way of settling into your new home even while you wait.
Find your style
If moving house is an opportunity to get rid of old items, we know that it can also be a time to buy new ones. If you’re planning to get a new dining room table, new bookshelf, or new bed – then now is a great time to start hunting. You’ve got time now to create mood boards, discuss your aesthetic preferences and start bookmarking a shortlist of items. You can even use your floorplan to start arranging where your new pieces will go.
Settling into a new home takes time, and the unpacking process is a big one, so why not make sure you know where you’re going to source your dream sofa from before you move? To get a hand with your move into your new home and getting everything set up, simply visit Property Helper today. Choose from a range of service providers, with free, no-obligation quotes to make the process easier for you.
Enjoy the moment
The final thing you can do while you wait for settlement is slow down and don’t do anything for a little while. If all your admin is sorted and you’re prepared to move, the lead up to your settlement day is a nice opportunity to relax. There’s plenty of work behind you and there’s lots more ahead, but in this moment why not take the time to enjoy the space in between. Soon you’ll be moving into a new home and creating all new memories, so just enjoy the time now as you wait and look forward to that.
While the choice of furniture is up to you, we’re here if you have any questions about conveyancing and the settlement process. We love to help buyers through the conveyancing process safely and with minimal stress. If you don’t need our help, we’ll let you get back to deciding what colour to paint the walls. Enjoy!
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Its content is current at the date of publication. It is not legal advice and is not tailored to meet your individual needs. You should obtain specialist advice based on your specific circumstances before taking any action concerning the matters discussed in this article.
