Buying a new property is always a huge task, and it can be incredibly stressful. Once all the paperwork is done and you’re ready to move in, you likely just want to relax and settle into your new home. Unfortunately, there is always more to do.
The good news is that, once you’ve made sure that everything is sorted out, you can finally concentrate on getting on with things and enjoying this new chapter in your life. Here are some steps to complete once you’ve been handed the keys to your new home and are ready to move in.
- Do a Final Walkthrough
Before you move your furniture in, you should take this opportunity to walk through the property and make sure that everything is as it should be. Ideally, you should have already seen the house in the flesh, but sometimes you can’t be as thorough as you’d like to be.
For example, if you bought a preowned property, it might have furniture cluttering it, which can make it hard to properly look at everything. You should also check that any requested repairs have been completed by the prior owner and that it’s free of any nasty surprises.
Check the switches, fixtures, doors, and windows to make sure that everything works correctly. You should also look for warranties and maintenance guides and check the outside of the property. Locate the fuse box and water valve right away, so that you don’t have to look for them when something goes wrong. Make sure that your utilities are ready to go.
2. Move in Furniture
Once you know that everything is as it should be, you can finally move in your furniture. This is a massive task, but there are things you can do to make it less stressful.
First, if you have small children or pets, then you should find someone to take care of them while you take care of the big move. This means that they can be somewhere safe and won’t get stressed or anxious about the move. You can also focus, saving time.
Another good way to make things easier is to use furniture storage to keep your belongings safe. This is a great idea if you have packed in advance and want to keep everything in one place. It’s also good if you’re temporarily living in a smaller building before you can properly move into your new home.
Finally, nobody should attempt to move in all of their furniture by themselves. You can hire a removal team to help you safely transport your items to your new home. Or you can go the old-fashioned route of conscripting family and friends and hiring a truck. Just remember to pay them back in pizzas and beers afterwards.
3. Deep Cleaning
The previous owner should have already cleaned the property after moving out, but there’s no harm in making sure that everything is spick and span. When you’ve moved your furniture in, you’ve likely traipsed mud and dirt in from outside, which is yet another reason to clean things up.
True, cleaning the house from top to bottom is likely the last thing you want to do after the hard work of moving in and unpacking, but it’s better to do it sooner rather than later so that you can relax.
Start from the top of each room and work your way down, cleaning in a logical manner. Dirt from up high tends to settle below, which means that you don’t have to redo the floors after cleaning the shelves.
You should also clean each room as you go. This means that you can focus on important rooms, like the kitchen, and if you need to take a few days to clean, then at least you can unpack properly in some parts of your home and you have an easy way to track your progress. Assign tasks to each family member to speed things up.
4. Unpack
Finally, you can unpack all of your smaller belongings and get yourself organized and comfortable. If you have children that are old enough, then they can unpack their own rooms and be responsible for their belongings.
Unpacking can sometimes take months before you’re fully done, so focus first on the most important items that you will use every day. However, it is worth getting everything unpacked as soon as possible so that your house can truly feel like a home.
5. Repairs and Renovations
If you’re moving into a pre-owned property, then there might be necessary repairs and renovations to tackle before you can get comfortable. The sooner you get these out of the way, the better. This means that you can save money and time further down the road.
Even if you don’t want to get started with everything right away, at least create a list and start planning home repairs and renovations. Renovations are often the final step to putting your personal stamp on your home and making it your own, so don’t rush it.
6. Change the Locks
One thing that many people don’t think about is changing their locks. While most of the time, you have nothing to worry about, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Contact a locksmith shortly after you move in and make sure that you know who has all of the keys. You can also get more keys cut as you need them.
7. Change Your Address
Finally, you should make sure that your address and details are correct on all of your important contacts. This includes your bank and place of work, as well as subscription services and anyone else who regularly sends you letters. You should also tell your friends and family.
If you’ve moved to a different area, you will also need to contact the local services, like doctors, dentists, garages, and any other service providers you regularly use. This will save you time and irritation when you need to use these services as you know where to go.
