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It’s a long process, from staying the night to getting a drawer…to moving in together in his or her place, to eventually deciding to take the leap to buying your first home together.
This is a time, which is as hugely exciting as it is scary, and it can all seem a bit overwhelming when you are not used to the language, processes, legal jargon and documents.
It can be quite a process – finding the dream home, locating a trustworthy lawyer, signing the convenium (preliminary contract), waiting anxiously for your details and references to be checked, and the excitement of the final payment and receiving the keys!
Whilst it can be stressful, it is also a very exciting time for you both.
When you and your loved one first move in together, there are a number of exciting ‘firsts’ to look forward to; first Christmas together, first birthday in the new house, first dinner party, and of course, first Valentine’s Day.
The season of love is now upon us, and whether you are set up in a modern apartment block, a cosy house of character, or a cool sea view pad, there are a number of things you can do to ensure that your Valentine’s in your first house is sweet, romantic and memorable for all the right reasons!
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Decoration!
One of the key advantages to buying a house is the freedom, which comes with it.
No longer are you restricted to your parents or roommates’ tastes or preferences or stifled by your landlord’s rules.
Now you can go all out on decorations if that’s what you desire! Go crazy with candles, bunting, roses and cards, or create a subtler Valentine’s theme with a signature colour.
Often, your first home tends to be a fairly cheap property, helping you to get on the ladder in the first place.
This doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t create a cosy home and a romantic setting for your first Valentine’s.
You and your partner have the freedom to decorate and design however you want, so make sure you enjoy it!
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Entertaining
One of the key things to bear in mind when buying your first property is the thing you enjoy using it for.
Do you enjoy parties and entertaining? If so, look for spacious kitchens or open plan.
Enjoy the great outdoors? Then make sure you prioritise a house with a garden.
Prefer stylish living? Check out apartments with a view or terrace, which will be the envy of your friends.
You don’t need to break the bank with an expensive property on the Sliema or St Julian’s front; there are cheaper locations to look at.
Whatever you decide, make sure your first home is a good value for money property; this will allow you to fully relax and enjoy the space, without worrying about finance.
It also means that you have the opportunity to throw an amazing party for your first Valentine’s together!
If you have picked a home where the space works for you, you can create exactly the kind of environments and events you enjoy, ensuring you and your partner are the talk of the social scene!
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Valentine’s Dinner
It goes without saying that heading out on Valentine’s night can be a bit of a nightmare.
Savvy restaurants take advantage of high footfall to increase prices, hotels put on carefully crafted packages which look perfect, but sell out in seconds, and the world and his wife can be found smiling awkwardly over a candlelit dinner amongst twenty other couples all doing the same thing.
Someone will inevitably propose, there may be a tearful exit, and the pressure is on to appear as loved up as possible simply because it’s Valentine’s Day.
This year, make the most of being together in your own home for the first time and cook a romantic Valentine’s dinner in the comfort of your own kitchen.
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Stay in your budget
It is easy to go a bit mad and lose sight of all perspective when you are a first time buyer.
You will likely decide you absolutely defiantly need three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a pool, a kitchen-diner, all set back in private grounds deep in the Malta countryside… only to find that your fairly modest budget stretches to what is optimistically referred to as a “house of character” by estate agents, and what amounts to essentially a budget property.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and price has no impact on you securing your first romantic home together.
In fact, sticking to your budget ensures you are living within your means and will reduce the amount of stress and headaches you have to face once you are living together.
Instead, you can be comfortable and happy knowing that you have cash in the bank, whilst using your creativity to put a personal stamp on the property.
Use decoration, your personalities, and imagination to create the home you have in your dream, and it won’t be long before stepping across the threshold feels as though it has always been saying: welcome home!
