Things to do when moving into a new house
It’s exciting to move into a new house. But before it really feels like home, there are essential things you need to do. If you fail to do them, the next few days or weeks will become a disaster. Therefore, to make the new house safe and homey, here are things you need to set up before moving into your new home.
Change the locks
You need to prioritize your safety when moving into a new home. Since you don’t know who else could be having the keys to your home, it’s best if you change the locks. The guarantee you are the only one with access to your home can give you peace of mind. Call a locksmith to do the installation for you but if you are a DIYer, you can install the new deadbolts yourself. Whichever way you choose, just ensure the home is safe for you and your loved ones.
Clean and disinfect your house
Before bringing any furniture and appliances, make sure you deep clean your home. Even if the previous owner deep cleaned the whole house, give it your touch as well. Besides, you don’t exactly know the number of people who have frequented in that house walking and touching surfaces since it was first listed for sale. Hence, you must make the house safe and clean before bringing in any items. Make sure you have deep cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. These are two areas in a home that are most frequented and can hold a lot of germs and bacteria. You don’t have to do all the cleaning by yourself. You can even contract a local cleaning company to do what they do best. This will make things easier for you and give you ample time to do other important tasks.
Take measurements of each room
To make your moving smooth, take measurements of each room before bringing in the furniture. This will assist you to know how to arrange the furniture. Trying to fit some furniture in a certain room then removing them because they cannot fit can be so tiresome and chaotic. In fact, it should be the last thing you want to deal with when moving into your new home. When you have the measurements, you will know the exact bedrooms to put certain beds and how to arrange the couches in the living room. You will even realize it’s easy to keep the moving boxes at their right destinations. Making the moving issue a little less messy.
Get the appliances up and running
The first appliance to put in place is your refrigerator. Make sure it’s ready to use immediately you move in. If you are moving your fridge, let it stand upright for not less than 3 hours before plugging it in to allow the fluid flow back into the compressor for the cooling effect to take place.
Next, check the condition of the cooker. Ensure the burners are working and ready for use. You will need to prepare a meal even if you are busy moving. Run the dishwasher when empty. Check for any leaks and its overall performance. If there is something that needs to be done, organize for it. Checking the working condition of the appliances is very important especially if they were included in your home purchase. If they have a defect, you can talk to your real estate agent before it’s too late to see what your chances are.
Stock the kitchen
When it comes to food matters, be smart. Stock your new kitchen with some easy to prepare meals. They will greatly help you during the moving day and a few days after moving in. Cereals, granola bars, milk, frozen pizza and instant coffee can really come in handy. If you are into meal prepping, do your best a week to your moving. You will be so glad you did so.
Pack like a pro
Do you want your first night into the new house feel like you’ve been there since last week? If yes, then pack smart. Make sure you have one box with essential items you will need to have access to the first few days of your moving. The box should be well-labelled to make it unique from the rest. If you are not sure what to pack in the box, pack like you would have if you were going on a vacation. This will ensure you have essential items within reach and you are not pressured to unpack the other luggage. Also, pack one small bag with important items you will need throughout the moving process such as cell phone chargers, medicines, passports, personal effects etc.
Explore the neighborhood
It’s important to know your surroundings. You do not have to wait until you move in. If you can spare some time, then explore your neighborhood beforehand. Get to know where essential amenities such as hospitals, gas stations, schools, grocery stores and hardware stores are located. You will be needing their services soon. Then, get the phone numbers of the local police department, hospital and fire department. Write them down on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge door or any other place accessible to people living with you.
Get settled into your new home
The moment you walk into your new home, your mind will be racing on the things you need to do. This can be overwhelming and even lead to stress. Don’t be too hard on yourself and other family members. Always know there is tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Prioritize on safety. After that, cleaning and unpacking the essentials can follow. If you can cook and enjoy a goodnight’s sleep, then the other tasks can be completed as time goes by. Give yourself about two months to finish with unpacking, maintenance and any other needed organization.
As much as you are excited into moving to your new home and making it your dream home, take time before making any major renovations. Get to know your new house first. This can only happen if you live in it for about 12 to 18 months. That is enough time to know the exact areas which need improvement.
