You have just finished purchasing a home and are over the moon. So are we for you. However, the job isn’t finished there. You need to come up with the best possible list of things that you need to do before you move into the dream house that you have been wondering about for the last few days.
However, creating this list could be a worrisome factor as you may leave out a few important, and possibly harmful things that the previous owners simply fail to mention, or bring to your attention. Fret not. We spoke with the guys at Action Furnace, and since they have seen multiple clients move into their new home, they decided to help us out with a quick list of things that you should always check before you move.
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Change all the locks
This one seems like a no-brainer, but is something many new home owners overlook. You really don’t know who else has keys to your home, so change the locks. That ensures you’re the only person who has access. Install new deadbolts yourself for as little as $10 per lock, or call a locksmith. If you supply the new locks, they typically charge about $20 to $30 per lock for labour.
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Checks for any leaks in the house- plumbing or otherwise
Your home inspector should do this for you before closing, but it never hurts to double-check. Keep an eye out for dripping faucets and running toilets, and check your water heater for signs of a leak.
Here’s a neat trick: Check your water meter at the beginning and end of a two-hour window in which no water is being used in your house. If the reading is different, you have a leak.
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Change your toilet seats- all of them
A simple toilet seat swap will help you feel like the home is really yours – and it will keep you from worrying about what happened in it before you got the keys. If you want to go the extra mile, consider choosing a detachable toilet seat. You know that frustrating feeling of scrubbing your toilet seat hinges, never feeling like they’re truly clean? With a detachable seat, you can take the whole thing off and get every nook and cranny sparkling.
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Check out the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Before moving, head to your new place with a box of batteries and test every smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. If your new home doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector, buy one at a home improvement store or from Amazon. When you first set it, do so outdoors so it gets a clean reading of fresh air as its baseline.
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Have the new house professionally cleaned- and make sure that installed heating and cooling systems are checked properly
Theoretically speaking, most properties will be given a professional clean before the previous owners or tenants move out, but sometimes a house will be empty for an extended period of time which means it will need another clean before you move in. Make sure you hire professional cleaners who specialise in final house cleans and have them steam the carpets and do a thorough job on the bathrooms and kitchen.
Also, since we were discussing this topic with people in the very industry, it is merely common sense that they asked to include the checks for heating and cooling systems lest there might be certain issues with them. You don’t want to move in on a cold night without any heating on.
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Pack a first night box for your family
Last, but not the least, the first night box is essential to a successful move. It should contain a change of clothing, basic toiletries, toilet paper, pyjamas, towels, bed linen and any other essentials you may require like tea bags or a coffee plunger. It makes such a big difference to the comfort of your first night in your new home so you aren’t frantically searching through boxes at midnight trying to find your toothbrush.
We sincerely hope that this would allow you to successfully move into your new home. All the best, and Happy Moving!
