After the upheaval of moving house, many of us can’t wait to get settled in our new homes. Relocating can be stressful, but the hard work doesn’t end when you’ve taken the final box out of the removal truck. To help you get sorted as quickly and easily as possible, we’ve put together a list of essential jobs to cross off when you move into a new home.
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Clean the house
You may be lucky enough to move into a pristine home, but if your house has been empty for a while, or you’ve been trudging around carrying boxes and moving furniture, it may not be spotless. Cleaning the house will make it more appealing and inviting and it will also save you time further down the line. A tidy home is also easier to organise. If your home is spick and span, this can also help you to adjust, especially if you walked in to find unusual or unpleasant odours or you had to get rid of items the previous owners had left behind. If you don’t have the time or energy to clean your home before you move in, it’s worth getting some quotes from a professional cleaning company.
Check the heating system
We all want to feel comfortable and warm in our homes. When you move into a new house or apartment, it’s beneficial to check the heating system and get to grips with timers and thermostats. You might want to turn the temperature up or down, adjust the timer or address issues if you’ve noticed warning lights or faults. It’s also a good idea to try to find out when the boiler was last serviced. If your boiler is overdue for a service, look for reputable local companies. Read reviews and ask the previous owner, neighbours or members of community social media groups for recommendations.
Review home security measures
Nobody wants to think of their home as a target for burglars but it’s beneficial to be prepared. Review home security measures and consider adding or enhancing security to lower the risk of break-ins and protect your family, your home and your possessions. If you don’t have a home security system with alarms and cameras, you might want to browse doorbell cameras and explore alarm options or look into smart systems. You could also contact CCTV installers if you want to invest in more robust security measures. Other options include adding gates to your driveway and fitting outdoor lights. Check all of your window locks and change the locks for the front and back doors. This will ensure that nobody else has keys to your home.
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Unpack
Unpacking is much more fun than packing but it can still be time-consuming. To save you time and effort, label every box when you’re packing and move each box into its intended location. Tackle the most important rooms and items first and pack an overnight bag for your first night. Work methodically through the boxes in your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. You can leave items you don’t need until later. Examples include summer clothes and outdoor toys if it’s winter. When you unpack boxes, try to ensure that everything has a home and avoid throwing bits and bobs into drawers and cupboards. If you find that you have a lot of stuff that doesn’t have a home, you can then explore storage solutions.
Test the smoke detectors
Safety should always be a priority. One of the most important tasks to tick off is to test the smoke detectors. If you have a smoke detector in your new house, check the batteries. If you don’t have alarms in your home, fit one on each floor as soon as possible. It’s also wise to ensure you have carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors can save lives. They can alert us to danger long before we can see flames or smell smoke.
Check the freezer
If you’ve moved into a house that has a freezer already installed and the vendors have left it for you, it’s a good idea to have a quick look to make sure that there’s no food in there that has been left for months or even years. You might also need to clear excess ice away.
Explore insulation options
Insulation is an effective way to reduce heat loss and lower energy bills. As the cost of living is rising and energy prices are spiralling, it’s more important than ever to explore insulation options. If you’ve bought an old house, or your home feels cold, improving insulation will boost heat retention. There are various ways to enhance insulation, including replacing old windows and doors, adding double glazing and using loft and cavity wall insulation. Plugging gaps and holes in the walls can also help and using a draft excluder is a simple way to save money. It’s worth looking online to see if you are eligible for any incentives that could lower the cost of insulation and compare prices.
Draw up a list of decorating jobs
Many of us want to put our stamp on our homes and this often involves redecorating or renovating. If you have grand plans for your interiors, or you’re thinking about knocking walls down or adding an extension, draw up a list of jobs you want to do, starting with the most important. For most of us, the kitchen and bathroom are the most critical spaces. Tackle these rooms first if you’re keen to revamp the decor or you’re taking on a project. Get ideas from magazines and social media, discuss plans with reputable builders and designers and set a budget. If you’re looking for simple, budget-friendly ways to spruce up the decor, there are lots of ways to transform the look of your home without breaking the bank. Consider painting the walls, adding accessories, replacing tired or damaged flooring and creating new focal points using furniture, statement walls or an eye-catching fireplace, bed frame or bathtub.
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Change your address and set up mail forwarding
When you move, you’ll need to transfer accounts or contracts or change your address. Contact utilities and service providers and make sure you’re all set up in your new home. Get in touch with your bank and any credit card or loan companies you have accounts with, contact your doctor and dentist and change your details with the local council and your mobile phone provider. Set up mail forwarding to make sure you receive post as normal and notify friends and family members of your new address. You’ll also need to change the details on your driving licence and let your employer know that you have moved.
Check gates and fences
If you have young children or a pet, check gates and fences to ensure that your dog or child can’t get out or escape into the road or a neighbouring garden. You might need to secure fences or create new barriers to keep animals and small children safe and enhance privacy. If you do have young children, put stair gates up indoors and check every room to make sure there are no hazards, such as trailing wires or cords. It’s also wise to unpack potentially dangerous items, including cleaning products, chemicals and medicines, straight into lockable units or cupboards.
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Moving into a new home is incredibly exciting, but often, it can feel like there’s a never-ending to-do list to get through. If you’ve recently moved, or you’re preparing to relocate, try to cross off these essential jobs as soon as possible. This will help to reduce stress and enable you to settle in and start enjoying your new home quickly.
Another thing to pay attention to is an electric panel. Some homes, especially the old ones, could have a panel with a total amp capacity as low as 100 amps, which is obviously not enough for the average household. The old or not suitable panel should be replaced. Otherwise, it can cause fires from an overload.
Yes, checking the HVAC system when moving into a new home is essential. Not only do improperly functioning HVAC systems empty your pockets due to the increased bills, but they also can threaten your health. The thing is, this can lead to leaks of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and can also cause a leak of freon, which is also very dangerous. And it is often challenging to detect, as some gases are odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible.
As for HVAC, another thing you should remember is duct cleaning. When your ducts accumulate dirt and dust, it can lead to a range of problems, such as poor indoor air quality, reduced air flow, higher energy bills, and a shorter lifetime for your HVAC unit. And you know that failed HVAC causes a lot of discomforts.