8 Changes You Must Make to Your New House Before Moving In
Moving into a new house can be an incredibly exciting yet stressful time. While you may be eager to start this new chapter, you should make some important changes to your new house before moving in. Making these updates and preparations ahead of time will ensure a smooth transition and help you avoid any major issues down the road.
According to recent statistics, over 35 million people in the U.S. move each year. With so many relocating to new houses, it's clear that moving is a common life event. However, it's also a major undertaking that requires extensive planning and preparation. By taking the time to make key changes to your new house, you can prevent headaches and ensure a swift transition to your new place.
Pro-Tip: Hire Professional Movers
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Before making changes to your new house, get expert movers on board to assist with the relocation process. Whether you're relocating within your city or making an overseas move, professional movers have the proper equipment and training to safely and efficiently move your furniture, boxes, and other belongings. Moving your belongings all by yourself can be stress-inducing, time-consuming, and dangerous, resulting in damaged items or injuries.
Especially when moving across borders, understanding customs regulations and international shipping nuances is crucial. So, only hire the best international movers to ensure a swift and timely move. They possess the expertise required to navigate international moves and offer custom moving plans for any budget.
This way, you may save time and effort transporting your belongings and focus on other aspects of settling into your new home.
Now, let’s discuss a few changes you must make to your new house before move-in day.
1. Deep Clean the Property
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The previous owners may have cleaned the property before leaving or putting it on the market. However, it likely still needs a deep clean before you move in, as dirt, dust, and grime can accumulate in a house over time.
Thoroughly clean every room from top to bottom before unpacking anything. It includes washing walls, wiping down baseboards, cleaning fans, dusting light fixtures, scrubbing tile grout, and more. A sparkling clean slate will make unpacking and decorating much more enjoyable.
2. Update Locks and Security
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One of the most crucial changes to make in a new home is updating the locks and security system. You probably don’t know if the previous owners made copies of keys or how many different service providers may have access.
Ensure to immediately rekey or replace all the locks in your new home for maximum safety and peace of mind. Also, consider installing new high-tech security features like video doorbells, motion sensor lights, and monitored alarm systems.
3. Inspect Appliances
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Before using any appliances left behind by the previous owners, thoroughly inspect them for functionality and safety. Turn them on to ensure they operate correctly.
You must also check for leaks, faulty wiring, or other red flags. For major appliances like the water heater, furnace, and AC unit, hire professionals to inspect them and perform any necessary maintenance. It's better to discover issues ahead of time than once you start routinely using the appliances.
4. Set Up Utilities
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Contact all the utility companies servicing your new home to set up new accounts. And this includes electricity, gas, water, internet, cable, and more. Schedule all services to start on your move-in date so they’re up and running when you arrive.
Confirm the account is in your name and not the previous homeowner's to avoid billing issues. Also, take final meter readings at your old place before shutting off the service.
5. Install Smoke and CO Detectors
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Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are vital safety devices that should be present in every home. Walk through your new house and note any missing or outdated detectors.
Before moving in, install new smoke detectors on every level of the home and inside each bedroom. Make sure to place CO detectors on every floor near sleeping areas. Test them all and replace any batteries to ensure they are functioning properly.
6. Prep the Yard
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Ensure your new home's yard and exterior are ready for move-in day. Mow the lawn, trim hedges, clear debris, and tidy up the landscaping. Check for any issues like broken sprinklers or drainage problems and address them. When you start welcoming guests and neighbors over, you want your new home’s curb appeal to be top-notch. Putting in this prep work ahead of time prevents dealing with overgrown shrubs or other outdoor eyesores down the road.
7. Mount TVs and Shelves
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Get your new home ready for your stuff by mounting TVs, installing shelves, and making other minor adjustments. Measure your existing furniture and electronics to determine ideal mounting locations.
Also, install shelving in closets, the pantry, and anywhere else you need extra storage space. This way, once moving day arrives, you can start unpacking directly into customized spaces designed for your belongings.
8. Paint and Update Flooring
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Painting or installing new floors is a great way to put your stamp on a new house. But you don’t want to do this right after moving in when all your belongings are in place. Schedule any painting, refinishing, or new flooring installation before move-in day. This way, there will be ample time for paint fumes to dissipate and new floors to fully cure. Plus, you’ll avoid having to work around unpacked boxes and furniture.
Conclusion
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Moving into a new home marks an exciting new chapter in life. Make sure you start on the right foot by making key updates and changes before move-in day. Taking the time to deep clean, enhance security, set up utilities, mount hardware, and make other preparations will ensure your new home is ready for you when you arrive. With these tasks checked off your list, you can focus on the fun parts of settling into your new space and making it your own. This comprehensive checklist will lead to a smooth transition into your new home. But before anything else, hire professional movers. They possess the skills and expertise crucial to making your relocation swift and less stressful.
