Before You Move Into Your New Home Do This

Buying a new home takes quite a bit of time, from the moment you decide to make the purchase until the day you can finally move in. Unfortunately, once you have the keys and the home is in your name, there are still a few things you should do before moving into your new home, including the seven items listed below.

1. Do a Walkthrough of the Home

Once the home is completely empty of the previous owner’s possessions and before you fill it with your own is the perfect time to walk through the house and make sure of the following things.

• All requested, and agreed-upon changes have been made.
• Everything that was supposed to be included in the sale is present in the home.
• Everything is in working order, including all the outlets, switches, fixtures, etc.

Bring a checklist along with you so that no details are overlooked, and mark the items off one-by-one. Failing to do this now could prove costly later. Especially once you start moving your own items into the home, repairs or comparisons are more difficult to make.

2. Child and/or Pet Proof Your New Home

It is easy to overlook certain dangers and risks in the hustle and bustle of moving in. It’s important, though, to make sure that your home is a safe space for your children and your pets, even during the move-in process and beyond. Plug outlets, install cabinet locks on doors, and create kid-free zones where you can place discarded packing materials until you can manage them.

Double-check that no long cords are left hanging on blinds and that other potential dangers are managed. Finally, don’t forget to update information on your pet’s tags in case your pet escapes in the confusion and doesn’t yet know its way home.

3. Manage Utility Setups

While turning utilities on is essential, it is equally important to know the location of your new home’s fuse box and water valve before you begin moving in and face a potential emergency that requires the use of one or both items.

4. Deep Clean Your New Home

While some people prefer to clean after moving in, it’s a good idea to do so before you begin moving your items into the home. This is also an opportunity to identify any changes you’d like to make, areas where you’ll need supplemental extension cords and outlets, lighting issues to address, etc.

5. Change the Locks

The last thing you want is to be worried about someone having access to your home via the previous owner’s keys (you never know how many keys are out there to the house). Changing all locks before you move in adds an extra layer of security for you and your family.

6. Change Your Address.

In addition to the official USPS change of address form, it’s a good idea to change addresses in the locations that matter, including your delivery accounts, like Amazon Prime, credit card companies, lenders, children’s schools, and auto insurance companies as well.

7. Meet the Neighbors

Nothing makes a house feel like home faster than the community surrounding you. Get to know your neighbors and make a few new friends along the way. It’s a great way to learn the lay of the land and to feel a little less alone in your new home.