Moving into a new house is an exciting adventure filled with possibilities. Whether you move into a newly constructed home or you’ve purchased a pre-loved house, it takes time to make it uniquely your own. Unpacking your things and creating a list of projects can be overwhelming, so it’s helpful to have a list of priority projects. Here are seven things to do soon after you move in.
1. Inspect Your Empty House
When your new home is still empty, walk through it for a quick inspection. Look over the following:
- Determine if the previous owner or the builder took care of your agreed-upon requests and repairs.
- Check on the electrical outlets, faucets and other fixtures to be sure they work properly.
- Take final measurements to determine if your furniture will fit.
- Check that the previous owner left the agreed-upon items in the house.
- Decide where you want to begin cleaning.
If you find any problems that should have been repaired by the builder or previous owner, call your real estate agent.
2. Change Utilities and Addresses
As soon as you know your official move-in date, contact your utility companies to arrange for new service. They will activate your new service on the date you specify. Don’t forget to change your internet, cable, trash service, water and any subscription services. You’ll also want to stop the services — or remove your name from the accounts — at your former home.
Remember to update your address with your bank and credit card companies, with your cell phone provider and with your employer. Change your voter registration and make sure your insurance company knows you have moved.
3. Clean Everywhere
Before you move your furniture and belongings into the home, start cleaning. Start by dusting the ceiling fans, tops of the doors, and ceiling light fixtures, then work your way toward the floor.
Give the carpet a thorough shampooing so it can dry before you bring your furniture. Clean the refrigerator coils, the inside of the oven, and the dryer vent. Tidy up the baseboards and clean the window sills. Disinfect the counters, sinks, toilets, showers, and tubs. If you’ve purchased a new construction or the home had renovations before selling, consider getting your ducts cleaned to remove dust and debris that may have ended up in your air system.
You can hire a cleaning company to do this work for you, but you should expect to pay around $50 per cleaner per hour.
4. Set Up Your Security System
Any home installation project is easier in an empty home. Before you move into your home, think about your security system needs. You can add Notion Sensors to cabinets with plumbing and other areas of your home that could have potential leaks. Consider placing the sensors near your washer and dryer, around a sump pump in your basement, near your water heater, and near smoke detectors where they can alert you of any alarms that sound while you're away.
5. Prepare Your HVAC System for the Upcoming Season
Before the cold or hot weather arrives, you can prevent potential HVAC problems by hiring a local heating and cooling company for an inspection and checkup. Most HVAC companies will replace filters and inspect furnaces and air conditioning units. You can request that they clean the unit and repair any small problems they find.
While the HVAC technician is at your home, ask them how to shut off electricity and water, so you can get control of electric issues or leaks if they accidentally arise. Ask the technician to show you how to use the fuse box, then label the fuses according to the rooms they control. After the inspection, you can add Notion Sensors near your HVAC system for alerts about unexpected temperature changes or gas leaks.
6. Baby-Proof or Pet-Proof Your Home
If you have young children or pets, use this early time to add the items you need to make your home safe. Add the gates, cover outlets, and decide which cabinets will hold cleaning supplies. You can also use this time to anchor heavy furniture to the walls and make sure your window coverings do not have dangerous cords.
7. Change the Locks
For your safety and security, you should get your locks changed as soon as possible. The previous owners or contractors could have keys to your home, which means they could enter at any time.
Change your locks and replace your garage door opener to limit entrance to your home. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that you have control of the keys. You can also place Notion Sensors near your doors and windows so you can have peace of mind receiving alerts when someone enters your home.
Prepare to Enjoy Your New Home
Make moving less stressful by preparing for these projects in advance. Once you have your possession date, arrange appointments with contractors and technicians. You can help yourself by creating a checklist and sticking to it.
