Buying a new sofa is a big deal. Finding the right couch can be a lot like Goldilocks and three bears — not too hard, not too soft, just right.

Keep these tips in mind before making the big purchase.

Establish your style

First and foremost, you should figure out what kind of vibe you’re going for. What’s your esthetic? What existing furniture do you already have? The new addition should complement your existing pieces and style.

Purpose

Do you spend a lot of time in your living area? Do you have kids? These are all questions to consider when selecting a new couch. If your style is more fancy, a more tailored couch may be the route for you, especially if it isn’t a room that you use constantly. If you have kids, you may want to opt for something a little more comfortable. Another important thing to keep in mind is height. If you’re taller, make sure you purchase a deeper sofa.

Color

This one is important, especially if you’re going to look at it every day. Pick a sofa color that you can live with. If your living room is a high traffic area, pick a neutral color. It will show less wear and tear and if you decide to redo your living room in the future, it has a better chance of matching the new design. You can add pops of color with accent pillows.

Logistics

How big is your space? Take measurements numerous times before buying that couch at West Elm. It’s better to double check your measurements than end up with a new couch sitting in your front lawn because it couldn’t fit through the doorway. You also don’t want the couch to overwhelm your living space. Pick something that is proportionate to the space.

Location

Figure out how you will orient your couch. Certain shapes may fit better in certain angles. Spend time figuring out how you want your living space to flow before the new couch arrives.

You just bought a new house. Congrats! Now it’s time to show it off to your friends and family.

Don’t worry, it’s the 21st century. You can throw your own housewarming party. And since it’s the 21st century, don’t feel pressure to send out paper invitations. If you want to, great. If not, stick with something like a Facebook event. It’s super easy. Plus, guests can see who else is going.

Now on to the fun stuff — the party checklist!

Kitchen

• Finger foods are great for house warming parties. They’re easy and don’t require a lot of utensils. Pick foods that are delicious, yet easy to eat.
• Place your food station in an accessible area. Also, try to put it somewhere that accentuates the space. So, if you have a large window with a view, put your food station there so your guests can enjoy it.

Bathrooms

• Stock up on the essentials, especially if you plan on having a big crowd. Make sure there is plenty of toilet paper and hand soap for the influx of people.
• Put fresh hand towels out and keep extra towels readily available.

Living areas

• Depending on the size of your crowd, you may have to get creative with your seating arrangements. While standing is great, no one wants to be the only one standing if everyone else is sitting down.
• It’s probably best not to leave family heirlooms and expensive pieces out during a housewarming party. They could get knocked over and ruined. If something is near and dear to your heart, make sure it’s in a safe place before your guests arrive.

Misc.

• You want your home to smell nice and inviting. Put some candles or wall plugins around your house. Both are good options to make your new home smell great.
• Directions, directions, directions. Make them succinct and easy. Landmarks are always good to include as well. Yes, a lot of people use GPS or the phones, but it’s always nice to have written directions as well.
• Background music can make your party really come together. Choose a playlist that you think your guests will enjoy.
• Pictures are always a fun way to remember events. Switch it up and have a polaroid camera float around throughout the party.
• If you plan on giving tours, give them in waves. If you try to do a grand tour with all of your guests in tow, it can feel cramped. They won’t be able to appreciate your new space if they’re shoulder to shoulder with everyone else.

After the party

• Thank you notes don’t go unnoticed. Write sincere thank you notes to all your guests for coming and for their gifts.
• Relax. You threw a great housewarming party.

If you’re buying your first home, don’t get lost in a long checklist. Here are five things to consider before you sign on the dotted line.

1. Budget — Obviously budget is important. You shouldn’t be looking at houses out of your price range. So sit down and figure out how buying a new home will fit into your budget. You shouldn’t spend more than 30 percent of your income on buying a house.
2. Mortgage planning — You will be at a better place, bargaining wise, if you find a lender and get pre-approved for a mortgage.
3. Credit — This is a big one. Take a close look at your credit report to see if there are any mistakes. You don’t want your credit to be unjustly penalized and, in turn, hurt your home buying experience. A bad credit score or a below-average down payment can make the process harder than it has to be.
4. Organize — You shouldn’t just be organizing all your belongings for a move. Before that you should be organizing all your important documents. So find all your old pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns and bank statements for the past couple of years. This will make it much easier if you already have this stuff together. You should also gather your statements from current loans. If you’ve had a landlord within the past two years, collect their contact info, too. The more prepared you are, the better.
5. Think ahead — Do you have young children or are you thinking about having kids in the future? It’s important to consider the area you want to live in, the school systems and what the potential for growth is. You’re buying a house to turn into a home—a place where you and your family can spend the foreseeable future. Don’t just think short-term.

 

Moving can be stressful, but remember, when you move you’re creating a new atmosphere with new memories. A house is just a house until you move in. Here at Curtis Homes, we’re dedicated to helping you find the perfect place to call home.

Here are some things you can do to make your new house a home:

1. Add your own flare — Your decor doesn’t have to be perfect to the outside eye, just to you. If you like ceramic cats, display them. Quirky is good. If football Sundays are a big thing for you and your family, mount that big T.V. and display your team’s memorabilia.
2. Fill it with light — It’s always great to have window treatments, but make sure they don’t take away from the natural light. Arrange your rooms so that you utilize as much natural light as possible. 
3. Accessorize — Mirrors, lamps, rugs…The possibilities are endless. The little additions will make a huge difference. Without them, your house can feel empty and unfinished.
4. Pictures — It’s your house. It should be filled with your memories. So hang pictures that make you smile.
5. Smell — Remember growing up, you would go visit your friends’ houses and each one had a different smell? Not a bad smell—a good smell that was unique to that house. That’s what made it feel like a home. Soon your house will have its own smell too. Whether that’s from your detergent or your candles or your favorite dish you cook every week. 
6. Place to put your keys — When you come home, designate an area for your keys, purse, etc. When everything has its “place,” you’ll be fully settled in.
7. Live — Last, but not least, relax. Enjoy your new home and fill it with laughter.

Everyone seems to have advice for new home buyers—your parents, your friends, the grocery store cashier—but what about after you arrive? What should you do once you close the front door and plop down on your couch?

Here are some ideas to help you start off on the right foot as you begin settling into your new house.

Get Registered
Once you move, you will have several matters of official business to take care of. First, if you have kids, make sure they are registered for their new school. Establishing a new school routine is critical to helping your children settle in.

Also, if you moved out of state, remember that your vehicles need to be registered for new license plates. Regardless of how far you moved, you will need to register your driver’s license for your new address and register to vote in your new location.

Don’t procrastinate on taking care of these things. It’s better to get them out of the way while you’re still in “moving” mode before you have the chance to forget about them.

Check Things Over
Check all of your furniture for nicks, scrapes and damages. If you used a moving company or service, they may have insurance that covers these things. If you find something is damaged, contact the moving company immediately to see what can be done about it.

Make Connections
Start making connections from the first day you move into the home. Don’t put this on the back burner. Yes, your to-do list is a mile long, but that shouldn’t stop you from running next door to say “Hi” to your new neighbors. Remember, you will be living next to these people for a long time and it’s up to you to take the initiative. You can also meet people by joining Facebook pages, local meet-ups and by checking out the local newspapers.

Don’t delay making professional connections either. You need to choose a doctor, dentist, optometrist, etc., so you know who to call when you have an emergency. Your family physician in your old state can’t help you if they’re five hours away.

You also need to learn where your nearest dry cleaner, post office and other services you use regularly are located. Choose a bank and get your accounts transferred over to the new financial institution. Find the local library and register for your library card. If you attend religious services, find time to choose a congregation. These types of connections will help you feel settled and “at home” in your new community.

Let People Know You Moved
The “change of address” form you file with the post office will only reach so many people. Contact all the companies you have accounts with and get those accounts switched to your new address. Credit cards, insurance companies and other companies that have ongoing bills with you need to know you’re moving.

When you contact the insurance company, be sure to ask them about coverage for your new home. Coverage does not automatically switch just because you’ve moved. You need to make sure that you are properly protected.

Also, send out a “We’ve moved!” email to family and friends who might need your address. When December rolls around and you aren’t getting any holiday cards, it may be because no one knew you moved! Use a change of address checklist to ensure you contacted everyone.

Moving is an exciting and overwhelming time. Having a checklist will make the job a little easier. With these guidelines, you will be well prepared for your next move.