New House Checklist: Things You Must Do Before Moving In

When moving into a new house, there are many things to consider. One thing to consider is ensuring that you have all the essential home supplies such as furniture, clothes, bedding, books, and some tools. In addition to the necessities, your new house checklist should include a list of other things that may have gotten overlooked.

Pre Move Essentials: Things to Do Before Moving Into a New House

Understandably, you may be feeling anxious about moving day. Ensure that you have all the basic moving supplies and use this moving checklist to assist you throughout the day:

1. Transfer Utilities

Your new home’s utilities must be connected before you can start settling in and feeling comfortable. Which service provider you choose will depend on your location and how soon you need service. You’ll want to select a provider sooner rather than later so that there’s plenty of time to set up connections, complete paperwork, and, if necessary, pay the required security deposits.

2. Collect Essential Documents

What do you do with all those vital documents that are gathering dust in your file cabinet? Just as you move furniture, you must pack and move them as well. This is a great time to organize and determine what you need. Documents that are no longer needed can be shredded or discarded. Make sure essential documents are put in a safe location so that they’re not accidentally destroyed.

3. Update Your Mailing Address at least 2 Weeks Before you Move Out

So many aspects of daily life rely on your mailing address, whether it’s receiving monthly bank statements or other important official documents like insurance information, checkbooks, vehicle registration, and driver’s licenses.

4. Establish TV and Internet Service

Nobody wants to move into a dead zone. Make arrangements to have important services like tv and internet service before moving day. Do some research into providers’ service bundles and pricing to determine which are the best match for your future needs and budget. It is advised that you book an installation appointment at least 2-3 weeks before your scheduled move-in date to ensure you get the most convenient appointment date and time.

5. Photograph Your Valuables

Moving your stuff can be stressful, but you’ll be fine as long as you take a few simple precautions. This includes making an inventory of your valuables by photographing them. Doing so captures their condition before the move so that damage is easily identified.

6. Explore Storage Options

If space is something you’ll need more of at your new place, consider a unique home storage system to make your life easier. Wire shelving in a closet wastes space and can make storing some items difficult. Consider remodeling your unfinished garage to include storage cubbies or building a custom storage closet.

7. Examine Local Businesses

Moving to a new town, state, or even a new neighborhood means familiarizing yourself with local businesses. Since you won’t be visiting your usual haunts, you’ll want to explore your new possibilities, such as nearby doctors, hairdressers, and gardeners.

8. Take a Vacation

You’ll be unpacking a lot of boxes and waiting for deliveries, repairs, and installations. Why not block off time away from work so you can focus on completing these tasks? Notify your employer that you’ll be taking some time off to get settled in your new living space.

9. Plan a Professional House Cleaning

Get your new house cleaned thoroughly before moving in. The previous owner may or may not have had the house cleaned after they moved out, so hire a cleaning agency to give it a complete once-over.

10. Plan Renovations

Moving into a new home may call for necessary repairs and renovations. Some fixes such as leaking pipes or non-locking windows will require more care than others. If you’re planning major renovations that involve demolition, make plans ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about it on move-in day.

11. Pack Up

As moving day approaches, start tossing away or donating unwanted items such as clothing and furniture and make a list of what you’ll need to replace. Keep in mind the layout and dimensions of your new house since this may affect storage space.

New House Checklist: Post Move Essentials

Now that you are done with moving into a new house checklist,  try setting daily or weekly goals to complete the unpacking and settling-in phase. Be practical, follow your plan, and you’ll be established in no time.

1. Ask Family and Friends to Help With Unpacking

The more help you can get to unload and unpack, the better. Ask for help from a few close friends to speed up the process. Set deadlines and organize the unpacking process to help it go more smoothly. Your new house will soon start to feel like, well, a home.

2. Find the Circuit Breaker

You may need to replace a fuse or reset a circuit breaker one day, so make sure you know where the fuse box is located and how to reset it if needed.

3. Change the Locks

Whether you hire a locksmith or do it yourself, have all external locks changed. Doing so will offer you peace of mind, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

4. Install a Home Security System

Moving is a great time to install home security. If you already have a system or are currently under a service contract, contact or update your information with the service provider. Consider innovative or DIY home security systems for renters and homeowners who want the benefits of security without contractual obligations.

5. Locate Shut Off Valves

If you have an emergency leak or are conducting repairs and need to turn off a major utility like your water or gas, you’ll have to find your shut-off valves. Learn where they are located on the property and how to shut them off.

6. Pick a Lock Out Method

You may find yourself locked out of your home one day. It’s vital to have a backup plan in place just in case. You can place an extra house key under a doormat or install a garage keypad to open the garage door (if you have one) in the unfortunate event that you lose your key. You can even give a trusted neighbor an additional key or hide one beneath a planter so that you’re ready in any circumstance.

7. Check Smoke Detectors

Installing smoke detectors helps protect you and your family from harm in case of a fire. Smoke detectors might fail when you need them the most if they’re not working properly, so test your new home’s smoke detectors. Every month or two, light a match or spray a smoke test aerosol in front of each sensor to ensure it works as intended.

8. Inspect your HVAC System

HVAC systems are necessary, and they can be pricey to replace. You, property management, or an HVAC professional should inspect your HVAC system within the first few weeks after you move in. Any issues should be corrected right away.

9. Make a Housekeeping Checklist

Seasonal maintenance inspections can help guarantee your new house is in excellent condition. Some of these maintenance checks include gutter cleaning, landscaping, unclogging bathroom drains, and snowplow services. Get the contact information for the local services you’ll need to properly maintain your home.

Final Thoughts:

It’s now complete! You’ve gone through everything and have a nice new home checklist. Most importantly, your move-in date is exciting because your new home will be the setting for many new memories.

Once you’ve moved in, introduce yourself to your neighbors and ask them any questions you may have about the neighborhood and the businesses in the area. You probably asked the real estate agent many questions when you purchased the house, but meeting the neighbors is a terrific opportunity to meet people in the area. The next stage will be organizing your housewarming celebration!

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