A mortgage adviser has revealed the one thing every first-time buyer should do within hours of moving in — and it could save you money
Getting the keys to your first home is one of life’s big milestones(Image: Getty Images)
Getting the keys to your first home is one of life’s biggest milestones, but one mortgage advisor says there’s an important task many buyers forget in the excitement. The popular TikTok creator warns that failing to do so quickly could leave homeowners paying for somebody else’s bill.
Mortgage advisor Aidan, who runs the TikTok account Mortgages With Aidan, has built up more than 14,000 followers and hundreds of thousands of likes sharing advice aimed at first-time buyers. On his social media channels, he regularly posts tips designed to help buyers avoid expensive mistakes during the home-buying process.
In a recent video, Aidan warned that “the first 24 hours in your new home really do matter”. He said the very first thing homeowners should do after collecting their keys is take meter readings immediately.
“Gas, electric and water,” he explained. “Make sure you take photos of your meter readings and send them to the suppliers so you’re not being charged for the previous owner’s bills.”
This advice is important for first-time buyers, especially as energy costs remain a major concern for households across the UK. According to energy regulator Ofgem, the current energy price cap for a typical household remains in the thousands of pounds annually, meaning billing mistakes can quickly become expensive.
Research from consumer group Which? has also previously urged movers to take immediate readings when changing property ownership to avoid disputes with suppliers. Experts say photographic evidence with timestamps can make resolving future billing issues significantly easier.
The homebuying process itself has also become increasingly expensive in recent years. Zoopla says the average UK house price remains above £260,000, while mortgage rates and moving costs continue to put pressure on buyers.
Government figures also show there were more than one million residential property transactions across the UK last year, meaning a growing number of people could benefit from practical advice like Aidan’s.
Alongside taking meter readings, experts also recommend redirecting post, changing locks and checking smoke alarms within the first few days of moving in. Financial advisers say putting these simple checks off can sometimes lead to avoidable costs later down the line.
For many buyers, the excitement of unpacking boxes understandably take priority, it is a stressful process after all. But according to Aidan, spending just a few minutes to sort out meter readings could save homeowners not just money, but major headaches later down the line.