First Things to Do After Moving into Your New Home

Congratulations on your new home! Moving to a new house is a significant and exciting event, for sure. However, you shouldn't take it lightly. There are many things to consider and tasks to finish when starting a life in a new home. The most important thing is to stay organized. Our checklist of things to do after moving into your new home is here to help you.

The checklist

Even though it might seem like you're finished with the hard part once you close the deal on your house, the reality doesn't always work that way. Moving into a new home and settling in is a different process that requires proper organization. Luckily, this is the final stretch on your new home checklist, so try not to lose steam now. 

Remember, as a new homeowner, it is essential to take care of your safety first and tackle necessary tasks and repairs. After that comes the fun part - decorating and settling in. So, to help you get to this step, here's a to-do list of things that need to be done once you move into a new home.

Take a good look around the house

The best time to do a thorough walkthrough is when the house is still empty. Therefore, before unpacking and setting up your furniture, make sure you take a look around. Here are a few things you should pay attention to:

• Has the previous owner completed all the repairs you agreed on?

• Is everything that was included in the sale present in the house?

• Is everything in working order (switches, fixtures, outlets)?

If you find any issues that don't agree with your contract, be sure to contact your realtor immediately. On the other hand, if you encounter problems not included in your contract, make them your priority.

Change the locks

Changing your locks when moving into a new home is good practice. You never know who else might have the keys to your humble abode. 

By doing so, you will have peace of mind for a small price. Remember to re-key the locks on all doors in and out the house and on windows too.

Better safe than sorry counts in this

scenario.

Make an unpacking plan

If you plan what will go where in your empty house, you will minimize potential issues, such as a piece of furniture not fitting a place you wanted it in. Even though you might have a general idea, take a moment, write it down, and think about the final setup.

Ask for help with unpacking

The first few days of unpacking and settling in can be tiresome if you do it all by yourself. However, if you call a couple of friends to help you, you will have your house ready sooner than expected. Order some drinks and food, and make unpacking a pleasant and unrushed experience.

Make sure your utilities are all set up

This is a task you hopefully arranged beforehand. First, however, it is important to double-check whether the gas, heating, cooling, water, phone, and internet are set up.

One of the things to do after moving into your new home is to contact the local waste management facility to set up your home for garbage pick-up.

Locate the shut-off valves and circuit breaker

These are the things you want to know the location of in case of an emergency. So, if you need to turn off the water or if the power goes out, you will locate them immediately. 

Common locations for circuit breakers are in basements, garages, hallways, or outdoors. As for the water valves, you can usually find them somewhere around the perimeter of your house.

Deep clean

If you don't have the time or energy to do a thorough clean, you can always contact professional services. This way, you will start your life in a thoroughly sanitized house, which is vital considering we are in the midst of a global pandemic.

Deep cleaning is one of the first things to do after moving into your new home.

Set up a home security system

According to relocation specialists from Van Express Movers, most of their customers consider moving the best time to set up home security. This is especially important if you will be living alone. The good thing is that you can shop for and set up a system on your own. 

If, on the other hand, your new place already has a system placed or is tied to a contract, make sure you get in touch with the provider and update them on the information. 

Prioritize repairs

Repairs are an inevitable part of moving into a new home that previously had owners. However, some require more attention than others, such as windows that won't lock properly or leaky plumbing. If these haven't been taken care of beforehand, make them a priority on your moving-in list.

If possible, it would be good to schedule the repairs right at the beginning, so you can relax once everything's done.

Remember to change your address

If you hadn't changed your address at the post office before moving, now is the time to do so. Additionally, there are numerous people you should notify of your address change, such as your bank, subscription services, loan providers, or anyone that sends you regular bills or correspondence.

Create a maintenance checklist

Your house is a complex thing that requires proper care in lots of different ways. We recommend creating a maintenance checklist so you don't forget the necessary tasks. 

It would be good to divide your checklist into monthly, bi-annual, and annual tasks. For example, you want to clean your garbage disposal, drains, and plumbing fixtures once a month. Other duties, like deep cleaning your entire home or inspect water filtration systems, can be done once every six months, while termite inspection, chimney, and gutter cleaning, cooling, and heating services can be done once a year.

Walk around the neighborhood and meet your neighbors

Finally, meeting your neighbors is way less awkward just after you move in. This will not only get you off on the right foot in your neighborhood, but it will help you learn about the community and get recommendations you need.

Final words

Even though moving is a bit of an overwhelming process, following our checklist of things to do after moving into your new home will make the transition a bit more seamless. Happy moving!

Photos used:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-cleaning-a-glass-window-4034705/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-handled-key-on-key-hole-101808/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/set-of-instruments-on-floor-4792494/

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/real-estate-icons-marketing-home-2081571/