We know from our own time at university, moving into a new student house can be a lot of work and it’s very easy to cut corners when all you want to do is start enjoying student life.
As with everything Glide, we like to try and make things simple.
Here are five things that are definitely worth considering when you move into your swanky new pad.
Budgeting for extra costs
Planning your finances for the big move can be pretty boring, but it’s definitely worth doing if you don’t want to end up broke by the end of your first term.
- Deposit – 99% of properties will require a deposit and the amount will vary from one house to the next.
- Administration fees – Letting agents and landlords do a lot of work to ensure your move into your new home is a seamless transition and all in accordance with government legislation. Some agents will include the cost for their time within your rent, but most prefer to charge a fixed one-off fee.
- Management fees – This only really applies to large blocks of flats or gated communities where a person or team is employed to care for your property. Again, this fee may be inclusive of rent but it’s worth looking into to see how it might effect your budget.
- Inventory fees – Most landlords and letting agents will complete an inventory before and after you move in so it’s worth checking your contract to see how much you should budget in advance.
- Moving costs – Moving house can be expensive. Especially for returning students who’ve acquired a lot of possessions which won’t fit in the boot of your car. When looking at potential properties always try to consider how feasible it will be to move all of your possessions into the new building and whether you’ll need to budget for professional help.
Utility supplier
Almost any property you move into will already have a utility supplier provided basic energy (gas and water). It’s important to find out who your utility suppliers are as soon as possible. It takes about 30 days to change utilities supplier and in today’s energy market it’s worth shopping around to see which is the most affordable and suitable for your requirements – before you end up paying more than you should be.
Reporting an emergency
Traditionally, household emergencies do not leave a lot of time for panic Googling (especially if your computer is on fire) so it’s worth checking, sooner rather than later, what procedures have been put in place for contacting your landlord or letting agent in the case of catastrophe.
Home DIY
It might be difficult to believe but not everyone loves John Mayer as much as you do, so it might be worth holding off painting that mural on your bedroom wall. Landlords will take what they need from your deposit to repair anything you’ve altered during your tenancy, so it’s worth checking what you are and aren’t allowed to do when spicing up your new abode.
Security
We know this one seems obvious but always make sure your new home is safe and secure. If you have any concerns about the security of your home you should voice your concerns to your landlord or letting agent. On top of which, it might also be worth looking into personal item insurance. It really doesn’t cost as much as you might think and it’s a lifesaver when one of your prized possessions breaks or goes missing.
And that’s about it. Obviously, there are a lot more things to consider and budget for when moving into a new property but we hope the above provides a useful introduction or reminder of the most important things to think about when moving into a new pad.
Happy house hunting!