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The Ultimate New House Checklist to Make You Feel Right at Home

The Ultimate New House Checklist to Make You Feel Right at Home

Many people find moving house more stressful than divorce or starting a new job. It should be an exciting time. So, what can you do to make things easier?

Giving yourself enough time to move is crucial together with a little bit of careful planning. Throw in our new house checklist and you’ll soon be home and dry.

Here’s the help you need to turn your house into a home with minimal fuss.

Things to Do Before Moving Day

There’s plenty you can do before the big day to ensure you’re well prepared and organized. Anticipating any issues you may face in the weeks ahead is going to save you time and stress.

Book Sufficient Time off Work

The first few days of your move won’t just involve unpacking boxes. There are a whole host of details that will need sorting out. Trying to do this while you’re working is not ideal.

Let your employer know that you’ll be moving and book the time off you need. This will be a minimum of two to three days in order to get properly settled in. That’s going to let you deal with repairs, deliveries as well as start on the unpacking.

Sort out the Insurance and Utilities

You’ll need to be sure your home is adequately insured on the day you move in. It’s usually a simple process but something you should think about sorting out two weeks or so before the move.

Before you get settled you’ll have to take over responsibility for all the utilities. That includes gas, electricity, and water. Remember to shut off all the utilities in the home you’re leaving to prevent accidents and extra expense.

Depending on where you’re moving to, you may be able to select which company you want to use as your supplier. The sooner you can notify these companies with your dates and details the better.

Next on Your New House Checklist: Get Connected

You’ll want to make sure you have a great internet connection and TV service as soon as you move in. All this can generally be set up in advance but may involve the service provider coming to the home.

Allow at least two to three weeks before you move to find out what the process to get connected is likely to be.

Change of Address

Sit down and make a list of all the services you use in your life. This will include your bank, credit card issuers, insurers, and loyalty programs. Inform all companies of your change of address.

Remember to include anything related to your vehicle from servicing to registration documents. The more of this you can do in advance the better because it’s going to make you feel more in control.

Make a File of Important Documents

You need to make sure you know where your most important papers are. Gather them together and put them in a file. This will mean finding birth certificates, medical cards, and insurance policies.

It’s the perfect opportunity to dispose of anything that’s out of date or no longer relevant. At the same time, take photos of valuables and keep an inventory of them.

Accidents can happen during a move. It’s important that you have a record of the condition your most precious possessions were in before you move.

Scheduling and Packing

You may know of urgent improvements that will need to be made the moment you arrive in your new home. Schedule in the necessary plumber or electrician. You may also want to have the locks changed so you might need to book in a locksmith too.

Take time to declutter and have a good clear out of unused or unwanted possessions in advance. Make sure you have taken important measurements from your new home so that you can plan where your furniture is going to fit best.

Packaging boxes need to be clearly marked. Always leave one open for items you know you’re going to need on the first day in your new home.

Explore Your New Neighborhood

If possible, try and get to know your new surroundings a little bit before you move. Work out where the closest hardware and grocery stores are.

You should make sure you know where nearest gas stations and hospitals are as well.

Things to Do Once You’ve Moved

If possible recruit some friends or family members to help you with the unpacking. If you have hired professional movers then even better. That will be money well spent as it will allow you to concentrate on other more pressing matters.

Here are some of the most important things to remember for moving day and the weeks ahead.

How to Shut Things Off

Emergencies can happen so make sure you know how to turn off the water in the event of a leak. There may be several shut-off points around the property as well as a central one to turn off the entire system.

You’ll also need to understand how the electricity supply works in your home. This includes knowing where the electrical circuit breakers and fuse boxes are. Make sure you understand which areas of the house they can cut off.

Consider Your Security

Moving in is the ideal opportunity to set up a home security system. They’re a good investment but only if they’re installed correctly and in a timely fashion.

Make sure you test out any heat and smoke detectors. If any are missing or faulty you should replace them immediately. Smoke detectors can be lifesavers and they’re usually very simple to install.

You’ll also need a plan for what happens should you lock yourself out of the home. You can consider leaving keys with friends or hiding them somewhere that you’re going to remember.

You should also think about installing a safe in an appropriate location inside the home. It will give you peace of mind when you’re away for the weekend or on an annual vacation.

Give Your New Home a Clean

Make sure you have brought with you a supply of cleaning products, clothes, and mops for moving day.

The previous occupants or builders may well have left the home neat and tidy. However, it’s likely you will want to clean things yourself, at the very least the kitchen and bathroom.

If it’s possible, hire in some professional help to give the place a deep clean on the day you move.

Get the HV/AC Checked

Heating and cooling bills are likely to make up a significant part of your monthly expenditure. You should consider hiring a technician to give you an expert opinion on the energy efficiency of the home.

They’ll also be able to let you know of any potentially urgent repairs. They should be able to check all filters, ducts, and insulation. Small fixes in the short term could save you a lot of headaches later on.

You may also need to invest in or replace any generators. If your home is undergoing major work which requires the mains power supply to be cut off then these will be essential. Check here to see all the types of generators for sale.

Make a Maintenance and Renovation Checklist

It’s almost inevitable that there will be things around the home that need fixing. Do a walk around and itemize all maintenance issues. There may be areas that are new to you such gardens that will need maintaining and turning into a place to relax.

You don’t need to feel that you need to get everything done straightaway. Focus on priorities. This is an opportunity to compile a list of local specialists who may be able to help in the future.

You may want to make some major changes to the home. Home improvements don’t always need to cost the earth. Some effective renovations can be done economically and over time.

Gather up Those Take-Out Menus

If there is one day in the calendar that is ideal for a take-out then it’s moving day. The last thing you want to be doing is preparing and cooking a meal. It’s unlikely you’ll feel up to going out to eat either as there will be so much to do.

Put those take-out menus into a file. The next few weeks are going to be hectic with painting, decorating and unpacking so it’s good to know you won’t be going hungry.

Throw a Party!

Moving house is a cause for celebration and you deserve a reward for all your hard work. It’s time to show off your new home to your friends a family. Put a date in the diary and start sending out some invitations.

There’s nothing like a deadline to help you make sure everything is unpacked and in its place!

It’s a New Dawn

You’re starting a new chapter in your life and that’s both daunting and exciting. You can mitigate many of the stressful elements that come with a move by planning ahead. Our new house checklist is designed to help you do just that.

Check here for more tips on how to settle into your new home.

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