What Should I Do Before Moving Into My New Home
Are you finally ready to move into the new house you bought? Home is where the heart is, and relocating to a new home is many people’s dream. To buy a house takes incredible preparation, from saving for a down payment to applying for a mortgage to finding your dream home to renting a moving truck and to finally moving in.
To have a pleasant experience in your new environment, you could embrace a few measures to prepare. This includes ensuring everything works or checking for pests and potential damage.
Definitely, there’s a long list of things you need to do before you relocate to your new home. Here is a checklist of things you must do before you move in.
Have Your Home Treated For Pests
One of the smartest things you can do when moving into a new home is to have it treated for pests. The treatment should include everything from bugs to rodents. Doing so will give you the confidence you won’t be dealing with problems down the road.
For ongoing maintenance when the pest company is not doing their treatments, you could use an excellent device called the ultrasonic pest repeller to ensure your home is pest-free.
Do a Walkthrough
The best time to do a walkthrough to inspect your new home essentials is when it’s still empty. Before you set up the furniture and unpack things, do a walkthrough and keep an eye on a few things, including that:
- Everything is in working condition, including fixtures, switches, and outlets.
- Everything highlighted in the sale is present.
- The previous owner made all requested repairs.
- Look at the list of things not to overlook when moving into your first house.
You immediately spot an issue that does not match your contract agreement, call your Realtor to solve it before you occupy the home. Any issues not mentioned in the contract will become your responsibility, helping to know what to expect.
Clean the House
It does not matter how the home furnishings look. You should always clean the house before you move in. Don’t assume the previous owner cleaned the home for you. Dirt includes many things such as dust, animal hair, and allergens hidden in many spots.
It’s recommended to deep clean the house focusing on key spots, including floors, walls and basements, cabinets, stove, toilet seats, light fixtures, ceiling fans, refrigerator, washing machine, and walls and baseboards.
If you’re moving across the country, you could do with the help of a cleaning service because they have the equipment to handle different types of surfaces. Clean the house a few days before you make your trip to move in.
Change the Locks
Another essential thing before moving into a new home is changing the locks. Before you call your new house home sweet home, you should also prioritize security. There’s no guarantee the previous owner gave out all the keys. Update existing locks to protect any valuable items.
If your locks are password enabled, update all passwords and security codes. This includes locks for your garage doors and any other place in your home. Changing locks ensures only you and your family can access the house. Also, ensure all door hinges and windows are in perfect working condition.
Locate the Main Water Valve and Fuse Box
Settling in your new home choice means knowing about everything that should keep your home secure and functional. Ensure you locate the circuit breaker box and the water valve.
These are important in emergencies or when you need to fix a power or water issue. Learn which fuse controls what in the house, especially if they are not labeled. You can simplify your work by adding labeling accordingly.
Similarly, familiarize yourself with the main water valve’s working and inspect if it functions properly by checking for leaks when you turn the valve off. If the valve is damaged, replace it before you move in.
Childproof Your Home
If you have kids a task when moving into a new house should be making it sound for the kids. Moving into a new home with a toddler or baby presents a unique challenge. Besides ensuring home living is secure and pleasant for everyone, you need to pay special attention to your toddlers.
Baby-proofing is a process that involves identifying household hazards that could place your child in the way of danger. Begin the childproofing process with the spaces your baby will spend most of their time.
Secure the changing table to prevent tip-overs and mount window guards and blinds on the windows. Do a walkthrough around the house and check for areas you need to work on to improve your child’s safety.
Transfer the Utilities
Several weeks before moving, talk to your utility service providers to inform them of your move. You can schedule a disconnect date for electricity and gas. Also, contact your internet and cable service providers and your security system provider to schedule installation after moving in.
It’s important to handle this on both your new property and your previous home. Before moving in, you want everything working, so get your utility checklist addressed before occupying the house.
Check Smoke Detectors
Beyond home decor, you want to ensure all safety and security features are working well. Smoke detectors help you avoid damage by fire as you can detect fires early. Sometimes the smoke detectors can be faulty or have old batteries, which hinder their ability to function correctly.
First, replace all batteries and test them before reinstalling. If the home is fitted with carbon monoxide detectors, check them, and if it’s over five years old, replace the smoke and carbon detectors.
Prioritize Repairs to The Home
The best time to do repairs on your new property is before you occupy it. Unless it’s a new home that never had previous owners, there’s a chance you’re going to find things that need fixing. It would be best to get a general idea of what home improvement is needed to prepare the house from your home inspection.
Many of the problems to fix will have been flagged from your home inspection.
Although you don’t need to fix small damages right away, preparing a list of what needs to be done will help you focus on your repair needs in the right order.
Change Your Address
If you have not yet notified the post office of your impending relocation, you should visit them to change your address as soon as you get moving. Also, notify your friends and family of your move, and update this information with your bank, loan providers, and subscription services.
Share the new address with anyone who sends you regular bills or correspondence. You don’t want your mail going to the wrong location. Don’t forget to visit the department of motor vehicles to update your vehicle registration if you’re relocating to a new state. Changing your address should be at the top of your list of things to do before moving.
Meet Your Neighbors
At first, it might feel awkward to knock on people’s doors, but it’s necessary to introduce yourself to your neighbors after you move your home goods. Besides getting to know about the neighborhood, meeting your neighbors helps you to learn about your community.
Take this as an opportunity to get recommendations for services. A little friendliness will help you settle in and form bonds with your new neighbors.
Final Thoughts on Tasks When Moving
Relocating to a new environment can feel a bit overwhelming, but following these tips will help you settle in seamlessly. Before you move into your new home, sign up for home insurance, and inspect for any potential threats to your safety and security. Once you settle, you can do seasonal home maintenance to keep your house in pristine condition. Get familiar with your neighbors and ask about essential services in the area.
What advice can you share with anyone planning to move to a new home? Share some tips in the comments below.
About the author: The above article on what to do before moving into your new home was written by Archie Adams.
Archie was a builder for more than 40 years. Mainly after his retirement, he has been enthusiastic about electrical works in the garden and writing for a blog Homemakerguide.com to keep himself occupied. His many years of experience can get you the right tool reviews, whether it is a drill, welding machine, or so. An impressive fact to note about him is that almost everything in his house represents his skills made by his hands.
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