Knowing the average person moves 12 times in their lifetime might make you feel like moving isn’t such a big deal. Some people become so good at moving that they enjoy the process. This doesn’t negate the fact that moving can be a rather laborious process. Moving from renting an apartment to owning your first house can be one of the most awkward transitions of them all.

From renting to owning, plus relocating from an apartment building or shared house to your own house can be a strange moving process. But, here you are. You’re preparing to move from your apartment into your first house. How should you go about it? Let’s take a peek.

A Whole Different Animal, Plan Accordingly

It might not be a cross-country relocation, but it’s still a major deal and you should be proud of your first home purchase. You do have to note the difference between apartment moving and house moving. What do you want at your house? Will you hire movers to help with the heavy or big-ticket items? What can you afford to get rid of? What do you need to purchase? Do you need to renovate, or is it as simple as stripping paint and putting a fresh coat on? All of these questions (and more) need to be factored prior to and during the transition process. Which brings us to the next point.

Look For Ways To Save, But Don’t Be Cheap

There’s a huge difference between the two, but a surprising number of people are inept at telling the two apart. It’s good to look for ways to save, but not at the cost of inconvenience or damage to your property.

“It is obviously less expensive to pack and move your things in many cases. But moving is a lot different when it’s just you in a studio apartment compared to you and a well-established family moving a large home. You will need to balance cost what you are capable and willing to do yourself,” notes Bill Gasset, author at Max Real Estate Exposure.

These are important decisions to make because we certainly don’t have to tell you that owning a home is considerably more financially involved than renting. Think of ways you can save during your move and make expenses you know will be worth saving you the time, burden, and backache.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

It’d be foolish to try and fit every apartment-to-first-home transition into a template, so we won’t pretend you can. There are lots of aspects that are shared, but, in the end, you know the needs of your own transition best. Seek help from experienced friends and family members who’ve been through the process. Enlist the services of professional residential moving services, they know the process inside and out.

Finally, relax. It might be a little stressful initially, but it should be more joyous. You’re taking a big step. Moving is just part of the process. With the right allies and plans in place, you’ll be comfortably nestled into your first home before you know it.

Fred Craig

Fred C. Craig III is the owner of Craig Van Lines, a Northern Virginia moving company his family has run for more than a century. The business began in 1918 when J.H. Craig hauled cattle, feed, and hay from Virginia’s rural farms to the markets of the DC area. As the region shifted from farmland to residential communities in the 1940s, the family started moving households after hours and on weekends, eventually building the full-service moving company Craig Van Lines is today. Fred carries on that tradition, providing the same quality and care his family has brought to this community for over 100 years.

Transitioning From Renting To Owning Can Be Tough, Here’s How To Manage The Move