This is a collaborative post
It’s supposed to be all fun and games when you move house, especially after the long and complicated process of purchasing the home in the first place. However, if you just get the keys and move in, you might regret that decision. Unfortunately, there are a few important things you should do when you first move into your new home. While it might feel like a pain, having to do even more, it will be worthwhile, and you will definitely thank yourself later.
To make it easier, here are some of the most important things to make a priority when you move in, so you can ensure peace of mind. The rest, like the decorating and furniture moving, can come when you are ready.
Deep clean your home
Regardless of how clean a home looks on the surface, it is always a good idea to take some time to deep clean the home, including carpets, walls, floors, windows and doors, bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens. This can ensure the health and safety of your family, remove any worries about germs or pests and give you a clean slate to move into. It can be much harder to do this after you have fully moved in.
Change the locks
You are typically handed all the keys and the copies that exist when you move into a new house, but it is still always a good idea to get them changed. This could be for security reasons, as you never know how many people have keys or how many keys have been lost. You may also not know how old the locks are, and whether you may run into any issues. Fitting new locks can give you peace of mind in many ways.
Check the plumbing and heating system
The home’s plumbing and heating are one of the most important things you should check on first, even if you move in the middle of summer. Pipes tend to be hidden, which also means so can leaks or ageing issues that can be detrimental if not checked. Check your water pressure, how quickly and evenly radiators are heating up and if you can hear any unusual noises. If it is old or showing signs of a problem, it may be worth getting it checked and a new boiler installed sooner, rather than later. Especially as you don’t want to decorate and then have to undo it all due to water damage or the tearing out of pipes.
Locate important shut-off points
In a new house, everything is likely located in a different place, so it can save you a lot of time and stress to locate these as soon as you move in. Check gas, electricity and water shut-off points and make sure you are familiar with how they work. You can even label these for ease.
There are a lot of things to do when you move home; it can be overwhelming enough as it is. But you will find life a lot harder and more stressful if these things are neglected and have to be dealt with later down the line.
