Moving into your new home is an exciting time. It’s a new chapter full of exciting prospects for yourself, family and friends. Once you have successfully conquered the dreaded moving day from your last place, it seems as though the only job to do in your new house is to unpack. Although moving into a new house is a joyous time, there’s no denying that there is an unquestionable amount of preparation and organising to do. One way to ensure that the settling-in-post-move phase goes smoothly is to have a checklist of things to do once you have got the keys to your new abode. So, if you’re aiming for the dream of “how can I sell my house fast and move into my new home without any hiccups”, here at We Buy Any House have found a way to make the impossible, possible. Here’s a checklist of things to do once you’ve moved into your new home.
Locate and Inspect All Delivered Items:
As the day of moving is already a day full of chaos- ideally you would like the transitional period to go smoothly once everything has been moved. The first thing is to check that all your household items have been successfully transferred from your old house to your new place. If you made an inventory list, then this should be as simple as checking and ticking things off the list. However, if things are damaged or missing, it’s important you call the removal service as quickly as possible to correct the situation. Also, if you have ordered new furniture for your new property- maybe call them to double check they’re delivering to the right address.
Get the Utilities Up and Running:
If this hasn’t been arranged prior to your moving date, then it’s one of the first tasks that need completing. First on the list of completion is the water and power providers- as you won’t be able to settle or live in your new place unless you have electricity, gas and running water in your new home. Once those are organised, you can consider sorting things such as internet, phone and other important services.
Do a Walkthrough:
As your house will still be completely empty (minus the boxes and suitcases blocking the hallway), there’s no better time to do a walkthrough of the home whilst it’s empty. This way, you can look at each house in the room in great detail- inspecting every corner and detail. A few things to look out for are:
- All requested repairs agreed by the previous homeowner have been carried out.
- All things included in the sale (such as appliances) are present in the house.
- Outlets, switches and fixtures are working.
Child/Pet Proof:
If you’re moving into your house with children or pets, then it’s wise to have a box of child and pet proofing equipment at hand that can be easily accessed once you’re in the new house. Instantly child/pet proofing the house will make the property a lot safer while everything else gets set up. Another tip is to ensure that all boxes with dangerous equipment are kept out of reach.
Unpack the Essentials:
Before you start unpacking useless items- think about what are the bare minimum items that you need to get you through your first night in your home. After a long day of moving, the last thing you will have the time or energy for is completely setting up your new home. The two most important rooms in the house are the bedroom and bathroom- so prepare these two rooms. Before you move, pack two separate boxes for these rooms and label them accordingly. Of course, the kitchen is a priority- but in the meantime, why not treat yourself to a well-deserved takeout?
Do a Deep Clean:
It seems like the most labour intensive and unnecessary task. Who wants to do a deep clean after moving house? However, now is probably the best time to do so. As your house will be empty, you will be able to clean the house thoroughly before you start unpacking all your belongings. This way, you know you’re unpacking into an extra clean home.
Change Your Locks:
It’s always good practice to change the locks on a new property. Even if the previous owner isn’t of concern to you, you will never know who has a key and therefore access to your property. It’s a small risk, but in this circumstance it’s better to be safe than sorry- so organise a locksmith to come by, or if you’re confident, it can be a DIY job. Don’t forget to rekey window locks and any other doors leading between the interior and exterior of the property.
Meet Your Neighbours:
To make things a lot less awkward further down the line, it’s a good idea to meet your neighbours as soon as possible- and moving day is a great opportunity. Meeting right away will give you a helpful advantage to find out more about the community and find recommendations for local services and amenities. Additionally, a little kindness goes a long way- and maybe you’ll need their help in the future, so establishing a friendship is a great way to start.