Are you buying a house for the first time? Congratulations! I can't even explain how that must feel. Now, there are so many things to do and take note of when it comes to buying your first ever home(as you may know by now) that I thought of creating a checklist for my dear Misbehavin' Librarian followers. The items on the list might sound really basic, but sometimes it's the little thing that count.

1. Check Legal Documents - When I mean check, I mean CHECK. Write notes on a little pad to make sure you have everything sorted out-- down from the house's deed of sale to your real estate agent's contract-- this makes you aware of everything written and signed. DO NOT FORGET to check the fine print-- most of the time people disregard those tiny little things but trust me, that's where the magic doesn't happen at all. Be careful of the fine print!!
2. Settle things with your bank - Financially-speaking, dealing with banks has got to one of the most meticulous tasks when one buys a house for a first time. So to make your life easier, it's always good to settle all those costs that need to be settled and sign things that need to be signed before the buying begins. This will leave you no room to worry about that extra expense that may haunt you after you've bought your home.
3. Make another checklist(like this) about all the things you love and like about your potential house - If you have a growing family and are looking forward to buy an ideal and perfect house to accommodate them, it's always helpful to have a mini-checklist to find out your needs and wants. Does it have that extra room to convert into a study space for your awkward teen? Does it have a yard to keep your toddlers active(and for them to avoid breaking more furniture inside the house)? Is the location of the house near credible educational institutions, banks, and hospitals? It's your house by the way, so make sure all your needs are going to be covered. This goes for the singles, too-- don't worry, I would never forget about you. :)
4. Engage in "detailed" packing - Once you've chosen a house that fits the bill, what's next would be the moving in and moving out process. Remember to mark boxes respectively. What I do is to separate things according to which room they'll be put in so that it's easier for me to pack. I then colour-code these boxes with my ever-loyal Sharpie so that I won't have a hard time sorting out things when I move in at my new place. 

I hope that these tips would do you good in the future. I know how exciting this is for you, so go ahead and celebrate! Til next time!