It has been perhaps the 3 busiest months of my life between bidding on homes, closing, and moving. Despite my best efforts and planning, there was a lot more work and logistics than I had anticipated. While we are mostly settled now, there is a lot I wish I knew upfront that would make it go smoother.
- You are going to need contractors upfront to add, fix, or improve sections of the property. Get as many quotes as possible, do the due diligence on reviews and check their history. Sometimes you have to hire in a snap and need to make the best decision that you can on the spot (the more you know about contractors and the type of work the better you will be at spotting the good from the bad).
- It takes a lot of work to make maintaining a pool look effortless. But everyone will love it.
- Learn home repair. There is no way around this. In many cases it is pretty straightforward, although I still refuse to deal with anything electrical. In the long run you will start saving hundreds, maybe thousands, in contractor fees.
- With home inspections, try to get a second and or even third opinion. Sometimes things are missed or glossed over. Don't take any chances.
- Things are going to break when you least expect it. Again, learn home repair ahead of time.
- Got a pocket door? Learn how to get it back on the tracks if the roller wheel pops off with a wire coat hanger and a lot of patience. Otherwise, prepare to remove all the trim and moulding to get direct access to the tracks. You won't want to do the latter unless there is no other option at all.
- Don't be a stranger to Home Depot or Lowes, I've found specialists there are generally willing to help and explain what you need to do.
- Got trees? Invest in a good leaf blower and mulcher. Raking will get old quick.
- Irrigation is nice to have, but don't overdo it. Learn to read what your lawn and soil are telling you.
- You can't do everything at once. Plan, prioritize, and budget your needs and projects up to 3 years out. It will be okay.
- Bonus - buy the best tools you can afford. A good multitool, drill and impact driver will go a very long way.