When you moved into your property alone, what do you wish you'd known?

[Buntty]

Soon moving to a new home (not new build) on my own. Very happy and excited and will have help on the day. Very little needed re decor etc.

If you've been in this situation what do you wish you'd done or known?

There was a thread recently asking if people knew where their stopcock was, so you could make sure you find out where yours is.

I'd love to have known there was virtually no mobile signal so in order to arrange deliveries of furniture etc I had to trek up the town as my landline wasn't connected.

I haven’t moved into a property alone, but regardless I’d advise you to ask around for details of reliable local tradespeople.

Better to have details of a plumber before you need one in an emergency, for example!

Oh, it's also worth knowing that you can book the fire service to come round and do a home safety check for you, e.g. check and update your smoke alarms and advise on your escape plan in an emergency.

How to use a drill properly. Few random holes under my curtains. Try and get internet set up asap. I didn’t have great mobile signal and this helped massively in arranging things.

where the water meter is. Mine was under very long grass.

To have a plan if (when) I locked myself out, eg spares somewhere safe/ neighbour/ keysafe, so I wouldn't have had to ask in local rough -ish pub if anyone had a ladder and then watch helpful man climb up front of house to let himself in through open bedroom window 😊

Stopcock
Water meter
Gas meter (and have you got a key for the box)
Ditto electric meter
Bin day
Boiler instructions
Instructions for any timers (often can be downloaded from website)
Which fuse is which in the fuse box
Council tax band (make sure you get your discount)
Local tradesmen nos for emergencies (or British Gas Homecare or similar, I have boiler, electrics and plumbing/drains cover with them)

I read your post and immediately thought ‘would need to find best Chinese’ but I see the other posters are a lot more sensible than me…

When you go out, take your front and back door keys with you in case the front door/lock malfunctions and you can’t get in. And don’t put the chain on the back door unless you’re in the house!

If you can, also leave spare key/s with someone trusted who lives nearby. Anything to avoid calling out a locksmith, basically. Learned that the expensive way.

-Sign up to nextdoor.com in the new area. Lots of advice on their about local recommendations, trades, warnings etc
-Have replacement lightbulbs in the house- BEFORE you actually it!
-Same with replacement batteries in various sizes
-Local taxi numbers/public transport routes.

-Scissors, sellotape, stapler. Simple things but very handy.

I wish I'd known the number of a local handyman.

Have a fresh notebook and pen. One that fits in your handbag. You are going to want to make note of things for a while.

"When you go out, take your front and back door keys with you in case the front door/lock malfunctions and you can’t get in."

Yes, definitely this. That almost happened to me once but I finally managed to get the lock to work. Since then, I always go out with both keys.

Definitely have a list of reliable tradespeople. Also who supplies gas/electricity. Spare battery/lightbulb/ torch in case of of a power cut

Find out when bin day is

Change all locks immediately. Only way to know you are the only person with them!

That the worst two sets of neighbours in the block will move out soon enough.

I used to get so down about them.

A small step ladder. Handy for changing light bulbs, getting above kitchen cabinets, cleaning off cobwebs etc.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Werner-3-Step-Grey-Step-Stool/p/185919?gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMAX%20Shopping%20-%20Monthly%20Event&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6Zsdsxo3IIbislzQE5FIhyLsk4j_G3E_m8xTIwqp06phPYG5JOaXg78aAm98EALw_wcB

I wish I'd known that living alone would change me in good ways - the light flooding into the big bedroom on weekend mornings when I could make coffee and get straight back into bed - no peace like it. No one coming round, long days of aloneness stretching out if I wanted them.

I wish I'd known how I would lose my tolerance for stupid men dropping round wanting to stay and ruin my evening, and that I would learn really quickly how to stand up, stretch and say 'Weeelll!! It was LOVELY of you to pop round...' and watch them mirror my behaviour, and then I could usher them out. I learn very quickly how to get rid of people if necessary.

I also wish I had known how much I would enjoy living alone, especially when I got a cat who waited for me every night.

I also wish I had known that buying a dehumidifier would help with the black spots of damp in the bedrooms in winter, I will never be without a dehumidifier now.

But I second those saying, hide spare keys. One day off sick, in PJs, let the door close - ninety quid later.....lesson learned.

Congratulations and enjoy xxx

Having just recently done this (again) there are just so many sensible ones here already that I am going to go with - there will always be a box somewhere that you only realise you haven't unpacked when you next move!

Many thanks for all the helpful and positive comments 😀

A key box for the outside of the house. (Change the code regularly if you ever give it to anyone that's not a close friend). Great for when you go for a run or forget your keys.
Change your locks and wd40 door hinges and locks to help them work longer.
Some cash in case you need to get a taxi home and they don't take cards.
A hospital/emergency bag that's easy to find if friends need to bring it to me.
A list of medical conditions and medication in case you need to call an ambulance.
Spare bulbs, fuses, a gas box key, wd40, a screwdriver, a torch, some matches and some candles.
A timer for some of the lights
A ring doorbell
Don't share with too many people you live alone, if you can't lie be vague.
Offer neighbours/friends and family to park on your drive if it's big enough and then it looks like people are coming and going when they aren't.
Most of all have fun. Decorate it how you like, make mess or not, watch what you want, dance to great music.

Congratulations on your new home!

Buy:
Torch and batteries (preferably rechargeable)
A flexible strap wrench (I have a baby boa, but there are others available) -they are good for opening jars and sorting plumbing bits.
Philips and standard screwdrivers
Hammer
Spare lightbulbs
Step ladder
Bucket and a dustpan and brush
Drip tray sort of carton if something starts leaking
Carpet stain remover if you have carpet
Essential:
Get a smoke alarm
Buy a carbon monoxide detector if you have gas

Print out the manuals and keep a schedule of warranties for white goods

Buy some sort of dehumidifier if the property is small and you aren't airing it daily and/or drying washing.

Smile at your neighbours

Find somebody/somewhere to hold spare keys (could you keep them at work?).

ha! I wish I had known how much I lack nesting instincts.
My home does need work & I am struggling to care...

My place is vast for just me. I'm struggling to feel happy in all the wasted space.
I imagine all that is specific to me, though. x

I live alone. I wish I had realised that maintaining a house and garden is bloody hard work when there's only you doing it. There is always something needing done. I'm also having to redecorate everywhere but sounds like that might not be an issue for you.
Some jobs you just need two people for, i.e. when I lived in a flat I could move even heavy furniture around with sliders but that doesn't work when there are stairs involved. So make a list and bribe your family/friends to come over and help. I had to get rid of an old fridge and I couldn't even have got it outside for collection without my dad's help.