Under normal circumstances, the first year of homeownership is a challenging one, with maintenance and repair bills arriving at a time when your bank account is freshly depleted. Since houses, much like babies, don’t come with user manuals, you have to figure out how to tend to what is likely your biggest investment.
But those moving now and in the coming weeks face an additional set of challenges: they must set up their homes in the midst of an evolving coronavirus epidemic, at a time when the rest of the world is hunkering down. But it is possible, with a little foresight and planning, to navigate these uncharted waters, even when the shelves at the store are bare.
Map Out Your Move
Moving day may be more complicated than normal, particularly if you are moving into or out of an apartment in the city, where you will have to follow building protocols, which may be evolving with the coronavirus. Call the managing agent of your current building and your new one ahead of time to find out their policies. Prepare for those policies to change.
“Right now it’s business as usual,” said Michael J. Wolfe, president of Midboro Management, which manages 140 condos, co-ops and rentals in the city. The company, however, is currently screening workers, like professional movers, for recent travel history and contact with anyone who may have COVID-19.
But conditions could rapidly change by the time your moving date arrives. “Somebody could get quarantined before the move out occurs,” delaying the move, Mr. Wolfe said. “What if the city is closed? What if it gets so bad that building staff is not available to operate the elevator?”
Speak with your moving company about what contingencies they have in place to deal with an evolving situation, and check in as moving day approaches to make sure they are still adequately staffed.
Set Up Your Home
You may be spending a lot more time in your new home than normal. So, if you have time before the move-in date, use it to make your new space as welcoming as possible. Hire a professional cleaning service, if you can, to give the space a deep clean.
“The good news for homeowners is that all the ordinary steps you’d take as you set up your new household, specifically a move-in cleaning, are nearly identical to the prevention and mitigation steps that you take to mitigate the spread of coronavirus,” said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, the chief executive of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, a nonprofit organization in Florida. “A ‘move-in’ cleaning is more thorough by design.”
Change the locks on the doors (you have no idea who may have a key), install a home security system and change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure you know where to find your emergency supplies — items like flashlights, a battery-operated radio, and a first aid kit. Stock your pantry with two weeks worth of food, toiletries and water. Make sure you have all your prescription and over-the-counter medicines handy. Make copies of important documents, keeping them easily accessible.
Give the space a fresh coat of paint to make it your own. “Every time I move into an apartment, I paint no matter what,” said Kevin Dumais, a New York based interior designer. Now is not necessarily the time to figure out the perfect hue to complement your furniture and lighting. So, if you don’t have the time or energy to sort through paint swatches, choose a clean white, knowing you may paint rooms again later. Mr. Dumais suggests a hue like Benjamin Moore White Dove. “Something that feels fresh and clean until you can figure out what you want.”
Build the Unknown Into Your Budget
By the time you’re done shelling out mind-boggling sums for your down payment, closing costs and the moving van, your savings account may be drained. But try to build a cushion into your budget so that you have a little extra left in the quiver, should you need extra cash.
Appliances may break, the sellers may have neglected regular upkeep in the months while the house was on the market, leaving you with gutters full of leaves and a furnace in need of a tune up. Added to that, a first homeowner accustomed to calling the super when things go awry may be unaware of all the tasks required in ordinary upkeep. More than half the respondents to a 2018 HomeAdvisor survey of new homeowners reported spending more time and money on projects than they expected they would during the first year.
“There is a pretty steep learning curve for a lot of people about what goes into the proper maintenance,” said Dan DiClerico, a HomeAdvisor home expert. Every house has its quirks. Until you know yours, you may miss a few things.
For former renters, the first year as a homeowner can come as a shock. Lawns need to be mowed, air filters changed, windows caulked and appliances repaired. Ilyce R. Glink, the author of “100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask,” recommends setting aside 2 percent to 5 percent of the home’s selling price for upkeep. So, if a home costs $500,000, budget $10,000 to $25,000 a year for repairs, improvements and maintenance, depending on the size of the home and land. (The estimate includes the costs of big ticket items, like a new roof or boiler, which would only be needed once every 20 years or so, but still need to be factored in with annual costs.) Expect your first year to be among your more expensive ones.
“You hire movers, you need carpet, you need to paint,” Ms. Glink said. “There is a push to nest and build out after you move in.”
Prioritize Your Projects
Your list of dream projects may be long. So prioritize. A boiler might be boring, but you need it more than a set of Roman shades. “We’re entering a very uncertain period here. It’s all the more important to do what you can, as a homeowner, to avoid unexpected emergency repairs,” said Mr. DiClerico, of HomeAdvisor. “Focus on the nuts and bolts. You can certainly wait on a new chandelier.”
If you had a home inspection, pull out the report and read it. See what’s aging and what has more life in it. Check on the condition of your mechanicals and make sure your windows and doors are properly caulked. The first time it rains after you move in, walk around the perimeter of your home and look for any pools of water and see how the gutters handled the rain.
When it comes to decorating, temper your urge to do everything at once. Mr. Dumais suggests buying just the basics initially, and then decorating thoughtfully over time. Start with a sofa, a good mattress, dining chairs and, if needed, roller privacy shades. “Wait on accessories. Wait on the artwork. You could even wait on doing wallpaper or treatments like that,” he said. “You want to live in that space and understand what you love about it as a blank slate.”
Once you understand your space, you can make it your own.
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