Just Moving In? 5 Things to Consider

When we moved into our new home in the Rancho Mercado Community in August 2020, we had no idea what we were getting into. Moving from out of state, the logistics of timing, transportation and aligning everything was challenging to say the least. There are so many moving parts in a move, especially from out of state, all of which that have high levels of variability.

We had planned on furniture purchases and several other things that are always needed but there are a few things that I wish we had known and I would like to share those with you.

1. Window Coverings

The bright desert sun shines bright in our beautiful North Surprise area and when you first settle in, it rises early and sets late. With two little ones in transit, I wish I had known more about the options in window coverings before we made a choice.

Below are some options to consider:

Blinds

Plantation Style Shutters

Curtains

Roll Down Covers

Each and every one of these options have positives and negatives, have you considered which would be best for you?

2. Sun Screens (Exterior Window Coverings)

Moving from a cooler climate, I had never heard of sunscreens before living in Arizona. What are they? What do they do?

Sunscreens remove the builder installed window screen and cover the entirety of the window, instead of just a small portion. Additionally, they provide a massive heat reduction to the inside of the house. In addition to keeping your home MUCH cooler, they also reduce the glare and sun beams cast on to your landscaping, plants and turf. If you invest in a backyard, you’ll understand why you’d want to keep the glare off of your expensive turf.

3. A Place to Stay Cool! A Pool!

When we settled into our place, we knew, without a doubt, that we wanted a pool. What kind of pool? What features? What design? How big? I had no idea of any of that but I knew I wanted one!

During the time of COVID, things were different. Concrete shortages, PVC shortages, supply shortages and even employee shortages made things take a lot longer. I suggest, heavily, into shopping around for exactly what you want and for the price you can afford as many of the quotes we received varied by nearly $10,000 in some cases.

Think about the location, sun and shade. We positioned our pool in the south east corner of our westerly facing backyard so that in the summer, our pool is covered with shade from the house. BEST DECISION EVER. During the hottest of days, we can enjoy our warm water of the pool by staying cool and out of the sun. It’s a great way to end the day and enjoy the summer, without being too hot the whole time!

4. Landscaping

Whether you do a pool or not, you’ll want to get rid of that dirt backyard. But what do you do? How do you get started? How do you know what to do?

Many landscaping companies can help you with all of that and provide you options such as outdoor kitchen, putt putt golf, turf or grass, pavers or concrete and so much more. Designing your space should be fun and is an opportunity to make a place, outside of your home, that makes you happy! Spend the time and think what your needs are now, and also far into the future and what would work best for you and your family!

5. Furniture and Decor

There are several large stores such as American Furniture Warehouse, Ashley’s Furniture and Living Spaces that should be able to help you with finding the right pieces you need for you r home but my advice, shop around and find what you love!

During the COVID pandemic, we moved with no couch, no dining table and no decor. We began with a trip to Living Spaces, which had only 1 single couch available, which we bought. It was not the couch we wanted but we were in a bind and needed something. Looking back, I would have waited, shopped more and spent the monty on something we truly liked.

There are so many things to consider when you are settling in and I hope that this is a good start. I’ll continue to dive in, share our learnings and try to help you all with more helpful items!

Sincerest Regards,

The Rancho Mercado News Team