10 Things to Do Before You Move Into Your New Home

How much time until moving day? It never seems like enough! While relocating is often exciting, it can also be stressful. You have thought extensively about moving out of your current home, but some simple pre-move work on your new home will help ensure that when moving day arrives things go off without a hitch.

A solid plan can reduce the risk of any major hiccups on the big day. Make sure your new place is ready for the movers with these 10 things to do before you move into your new home.

1. Change Your Address

While you are focusing on packing and purging nonessential items for the big move, don’t forget to schedule your change of address with the postal service. Changing your residential address is not too difficult – while in previous years you may have needed to go to the post office, today you can fill out the necessary forms online.

Be careful to use the official USPS website. There are a lot of fake websites out there that may try to charge over $20 to process an address change.

Visit the USPS website and click on “Get Started.” Enter your contact info, your previous and future address, and pay a small processing fee. On the date you select, your mail will begin forwarding to your new address. You can submit one form per family – or group with the same last name – but if you have multiple last names in your household, you’ll want to submit a separate form for each.

While you’re at it, go ahead and update your voter registration information.

2. Call a Locksmith

You need to change the locks in your new house as soon as you move in. Even if you think you can trust the previous owners, you do not want them to surprise you one night.

Change all of the exterior locks in the entire house and make sure that only your immediate family gets copies of the extra keys. You will also want to change the garage door code and program a new garage door opener.

3. Order a Deep Cleaning

When moving into a new house, you want to make sure it is sanitary for your family. While the previous owners may appear like clean and lovely people, you do not know all their habits.

For a deep clean of the entire house, hire a cleaning service to scrub down all the cabinets, closets, bathrooms, and any other nooks and crannies. You can also hire a professional carpet cleaning company to clean and sanitize the carpets. This is significantly easier to do before all your furniture arrives, so plan ahead and ensure that you have a clean space waiting for you on moving day.

In turn, you can also hire carpet and house cleaners for the home you are leaving. While paying for cleaners for a home you will no longer live in may seem odd, keep in mind that the cleaners you hire will notify you if they find anything they think may belong to you. Think of this final cleaning as a double check of your property before the new residents arrive.

4. Replace the Toilet Seats

In keeping with sanitation, swap out all the toilet seats in the house with new ones. Exchanging the seats helps ensure your health and makes the house feel a little more like yours.  You can buy new toilet seats at your local hardware store, and changing them is often as easy as turning a screw.

5. Change the Air Filters

Depending on the HVAC system, air filters should be changed every 60 days to 12 months. Changing the air filters gives you a fresh start and allows you to define your maintenance routine.  You can change them yourself with a quick trip to the store, just make sure you check to see what size you need before you leave.

You can also hire a heating and air conditioning professional or duct cleaner to clean and inspect the entire system so there are no surprises later.

6. Locate the Breakers and Water Valves

While it may sound discomforting, one of the first things you need to do in your new home is prepare for emergencies. Find your breaker box and familiarize yourself with it in case of a power outage. You also need to know where necessary water shutoff valves are in case of a plumbing emergency.

7. Check the Plumbing and Electrical Systems

It is crucial to check the plumbing and electrical before you move into your new home. Leaking pipes or faulty wiring can be costly and potentially dangerous if not taken care of properly. Look under sinks, around toilets, in crawlspaces, and in the basement for signs of excess water. If you find anything, call a professional plumber.

Also, check your breaker box for loose connections or signs of faulty breakers. If you are not sure what to look for, call in a licensed electrician to perform a whole-house inspection.

8. Check Fire Safety Devices

Locate and test any existing smoke and fire alarms. Replace batteries in working detectors and replace faulty devices. Does the house have any carbon monoxide detectors? If so, check these devices as well. Be sure to install residential fire extinguishers in vulnerable spaces like the kitchen, garage, and laundry area.

9. Look into Pest Control

Inspect your property inside and out for signs of bugs, rodents, or any other unwelcome guests.  While you may not notice any pest control issues now, you also need to consider the time of year and what types may have been an issue in the past.

Hire a pest control professional if you find any indications of infestations or damage. A good pest control provider will have a variety of methods for dealing with pesky critters, including environmentally friendly, pet-safe chemicals, and humane catch and release programs.

10. Identify Additional Significant Maintenance Issues

Hopefully you were made aware of any significant maintenance issues before you purchased your new home. It doesn’t hurt to take another look and identify any significant upkeep projects that will need to be completed after you move into your new home.

Check your roof and attic for signs of water damage or rot. Test your sump pump and search your foundation for signs of damage. Assess landscaping and trees to correct any potentially hazardous problems, like trees too close to the foundation. Handling these types of projects before they become emergencies can save you both anxiety and money.

Let Best Pick Reports Find a Professional in Your Area

Moving is often exciting and stressful. Let Best Pick Reports find qualified professionals in your area to help with your new home’s maintenance and even hire a professional moving service to do the heavy lifting on your big day. Take the time to plan ahead and you’ll enjoy the move into your new home even more.