There is a lot to consider when moving into a new home. While most consider packing and unpacking to be the major things standing in the way of moving in, it’s actually the things you do after moving into your new home that make the biggest difference. Below are 10 important things to do before moving into your new home!
1. Do a Walkthrough
The best time to do a complete walkthrough of your home when it is completely empty! Therefore, before setting up your furniture and getting unpacked, take a look around your house. Among other things, you’ll want to double check that:
- All requested and agreed upon repairs have been made by the previous owner
- Everything that was to be included in the sale is present in the house
- Everything is in working order, including outlets, switches, and fixtures
This allows you to discover any issues that may have occurred with the house. If an issue is discovered and it goes against the sales contract, call your realtor immediately to see what your recourse is. If it is outside of your sales contract, then it is your responsibility, however, it helps to know these issues.
2. Child/Pet Proof (If Necessary)
If you are moving into a new home with children or pets, it is important that you make sure that they are kept safe. An immediate step is to do some initial child/pet proofing before fully setting up your home. Some tips include:
- Keeping a separate space for pets or children
- Check all windows to make sure they are securely closed
- Check blinds to make sure there are no hanging cords
- Keep anything dangerous out of reach (box cutters, scissors, cleaning supplies, glassware, etc)
3. Figure out what’s going where
You’ll save yourself a lot of time if you make a small plan of where everything will be set up instead of just winging it. Take inventory of all your furniture and decide where they will be placed. Make a list of other items that are missing and you may need to purchase.
4. Make sure that your utilities are set up
Hopefully you took care of arranging for your utilities to be ready for you before moving into your new home, in which case now is the time to make sure that everything is ready to go and working properly. On moving day, verify that your electric, gas, water, heating and cooling, phone, and internet are set up. Then call your local waste management facility to ensure that your new home is set up for garbage pick up as well.
5. Locate the fuse box and water valve
The fuse box and water valve are two things that you don’t want to end up looking for when you really need them. It’s much better to identify their locations now so that if your power goes out or you need to turn off the water for some reason you’ll be able to make your way there directly. As a rule of thumb, your fuse box will likely be in your basement, garage, or a storage room, whereas you can usually find your home’s water valve located somewhere around the perimeter of your house.
6. Do a deep clean
The last thing you probably want to do after going through the moving process is clean your new home from top to bottom, but right after moving is the best time to do it. If you just don’t have the time or energy to clean, consider calling in professional cleaners instead. Whether you pay in time or expense, starting out life in your new home in a clean state is more than worth it.
7. Prioritize Repairs
Unless you are moving into a new home that didn’t have any previous owners, chances are you’re going to have some repair projects. You should have a general idea already of what these are from your home inspection, but it doesn’t hurt to walk around on your own and get a handle of what needs to be done and what tops the list in terms of priorities. While you don’t necessarily need to get to work on these repairs right away, making a list of what needs to get done and in what order you intend to do it will help you immensely.
8. Change your locks
It is always good practice to change the locks on your new home. Even if you’re not concerned about the previous owner, you never know who might have a key. This is definitely one of those areas where it’s better to be safe than sorry, so schedule a locksmith to come by or, if you feel comfortable doing it, change the locks yourself. Re-key the locks on all doors leading between the interior and exterior of your home, as well as on the windows. It’s a small expense to pay for a lot of peace of mind.
9. Change your address
You may have already set up a change of address with the post office before moving day, but if you haven’t yet then now is the time. Be sure to notify others of your move as well, including friends and family, subscription services, your bank, any loan providers you have, and anyone else who sends you regular correspondence or bills. You can find a complete list of who to notify here. If you’ve moved to a new state then you’re also going to need to contact your department of motor vehicles to arrange for a new driver’s license and an updated vehicle registration.
10. Meet your neighbours
Meeting your neighbors is a lot easier—and less awkward—to do right when you’ve moved in. And in addition to getting yourself off on the right foot in your new neighborhood, meeting your neighbors is helpful for starting to learn about your community and for getting recommendations for local services (like the aforementioned locksmith) if you need them. You don’t need to go door to door, but do make a point of introducing yourself the first time that you run into a new neighbor. A little friendliness will definitely go a long way.
Moving into a new home is inherently a bit overwhelming, but following the ten steps listed above can help make the transition a bit more seamless. It’s a lot to do though, so don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that’s from a friend or family member or from a professional service provider. The sooner that you can take care of the big stuff, the sooner your new house will start to feel like a new home.
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