6 Things to Do When Moving Into a New Home

Whether you’re in the act of moving or are close to finishing up, there are a few things to keep in mind before comfortably settling in your fresh new abode. Despite how tempting it may be to rush things and get the whole process over with, it’s beneficial to leave some vital tasks at the back of your mind.

Sure, the whole thing is super stressful and a hassle – you’re probably on the brink of exhaustion and can’t wait to relax, but some things just can’t be left unattended. You’d be surprised how many people forget to do some of these basic yet essential things before (or while) moving in.

In this article, we’ll be looking over six of the most important and crucial things to do when moving into a new house.

Change the External Locks

Have you thought of calling a locksmith? If not, you really should. It’s better to be safe (and somewhat paranoid) than sorry. Even if you think you can fully trust the previous owners, you should apply the same mentality of personal safety as if you’ve just met them.

After all, nobody wants a surprise visit during inopportune times, right? And one time is one too many, if we’re being honest, so change those exterior locks as soon as you can. The same thing goes for the garage door, regardless of the lock mechanism it has.

Do Some Much-Needed Sanitation

One can never truly know which nooks and crannies require a deep cleaning when entering a new house. Things might look fine at first glance, but there’s no telling what went down with the previous owners, cleanliness-wise.

A deep cleaning will, in most likelihood, require you to hire professional cleaning services to do the dirty job for you, as sanitization tends to go beyond a simple scrubbing here and there. We’re talking about potential mold growth, carpet floor stains, hidden gunk, or other messy substances, you name it.

In addition, you have the toilet situation to consider – and we don’t mean just the seats either. It’s a good idea to replace as many parts as possible within your budget. It beats trying to fight off the bathroom germs, that’s for sure.

Swap the Filters in the HVAC Set-up

HVAC systems will inevitably differ from household to household, and if you’re not planning on swapping out and replacing the entire thing, you should at least consider getting new filters. We've mentioned this before, but air filters should be cleaned on a six to twelve-month basis, depending on various factors.

Check for Plumbing and Electrical Errors

Nobody on this planet wants to be welcomed into their new household by headache-inducing problems like a leaky faucet or, worse, leaky pipes.

The “classic” spots to look out for are under the sink, near (and around) the toilet, and especially within the crevices of the basement.

As for the electrical side of things, you owe it your personal safety – and that of your family members – to check for potential faulty connections and the overall condition of the breaker box. Services like YourHomeFix can provide you with thorough examinations and connect you with licensed electricians.

Consider Calling Pest Control

Nasty rodents, disgusting insects, or terrifying arachnids – whatever the case, we know you don’t want them, and we all refer to them as pests for good reasons! It should go without saying at this point, but thoroughly checking every spot minimizes any potential “surprises,” like a cockroach next to your toilet paper holder in this case.

Sometimes it’s not as simple as seeing an animal inside your house. Try to actively look out for any subtle damage and tear to your household surroundings or even excrements (which don’t necessarily have to emit an odor in some instances).

Make Sure You’re Safe From Fires!

This last one might seem super obvious, but there have been one too many cases of people foregoing the necessary measures, including entirely ignoring the state of their fire safety devices.

Replace any near-empty batteries, and test whether the smoke detection even works. Being safe can never go too far, so consider installing fire extinguishers in places like the kitchen or garage.

Hopefully, this article has enlightened some future homeowners about the potential problems that may surface from being “too relaxed,” so to speak. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it cannot be stressed enough just how important it is to examine every part of the new abode for potential problems.