Nine Important Tips When Moving into a New Home
Naasa Sherbeini
Naasa's keen eye for detail and her market knowledge are key advantages for her clientele. Meet Naasa Sherbeini After obtaining her degree in s...
Naasa's keen eye for detail and her market knowledge are key advantages for her clientele. Meet Naasa Sherbeini After obtaining her degree in s...
So, you just bought a new house– Congratulations! The ultimate challenge isn’t over just yet!
There is a lot to consider when moving into a new house, let alone a new neighborhood. And while most people focus on moving steps like packing and unpacking to be the only hurdles standing in the way from a successful relocation, they fail to realize that it’s the things that you do AFTER moving into your new place that makes the difference.
Getting used to your house, learning how it functions, and prioritizing after-sale projects you want to start is only a parcel of what you’ll have to undertake as a homeowner. And like with any task, it’s better to do it all right when you move in, instead of waiting and assuming you’ll figure it all out eventually.
Of course, we know you’ve got a lot going on already, so we’ve got your back! Set your to-do list straight with these nine important tips you need to consider when moving into a new home! Read on for what you need to know for you to put a plan in place.
Do a walkthrough of your empty house
There’s no better time to do a thorough walkthrough of your house than now when it’s completely empty. Take a look around and check any issues and unattended requests that were agreed upon during the sale. Everything should be in working order, including outlets, switches, and fixtures. Anything that goes against the sale contract should be reported to your realtor immediately for any recourse action.
Child and/or pet proof it
If you’re moving into a new home with little kids (or furry, four-legged babies), some initial childproofing should be done to keep them safe until a permanent setup is in place. Create a separate, kid/pet-free zone for discarded packing materials, check all windows to see if they’re secured closely, and never have long hanging blind cords– and keep anything dangerous and sharp far out of reach!
Make an initial plan of attack
Save yourself the time and effort when moving into a new home by making an initial plan of attack for setting everything up instead of winging it, especially for large and heavy items like furniture. Give yourself a moment to think about how you’d like your setup to look and make a few tweaks later on when you’re nearly settled.
Don’t forget the utilities
It’s always a good idea to arrange for your utilities to be ready before the move-in date. So, while you’re doing your once-over, make sure everything is ready to go. On the actual moving day, verify that your electric, gas, water, heating and cooling, phone, and internet are all in place. Then call your local waste management facility to ensure that your new home will be scheduled for the garbage pick up as well.
Start deep cleaning
We know the last thing you’d want to do after going through the challenges of moving house is clean your new home from top to bottom, but the task is inevitable, and right after moving is the best time to do it. However, if you don’t have the time or inclination to do a thorough clean of your house, consider calling professional cleaners instead. Everyone knows starting your life in your new home on a clean slate is more than worth it!
Put repairs at the top of your list
If you’re not moving into a newly-built home, chances are you’re going to have some repair tasks. You’ll have a general idea of what these are during the home inspection, but it won’t hurt to walk around on your own and get a handle on what needs to be done and what tops the priority list. Making a list of what needs to get done and what order you intend to do it will help you put your repair needs into perspective and give you a better footing for when it’s time to get the ball rolling.
Change the old locks
Don’t forget to change the locks on your new home. Even if you don’t have a security concern with the previous owner, you’ll never know who might have a spare key. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Update your address
The whole moving process is stressful and time-consuming, so it’s understandable to forget to set up a change of address with the post office before moving day. If you haven’t yet, then now’s 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. If you’ve moved to a new state, you’re also going to need to contact your motor vehicle department to arrange for a new driver’s license and updated vehicle registration.
Meet with the neighbors
Meeting neighbors is a lot easier and a lot less awkward when you’ve just moved in. Aside from getting yourself off on the right foot in your neighborhood, meeting neighbors help you get to know your community, and you can seek recommendations for local services, too! Make it a point to introduce yourself the first time you run into a new neighbor. A little friendliness will go a long way.
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