Relocating can be a bittersweet experience for many of us. You might be looking forward to the idea of a new job in a new city, yet the thought of leaving your current city might be overwhelming in so many ways.
Regardless of how you feel, we can all agree that moving from one place to another is one of the most stressful tasks. Packing, moving, and then unpacking isn’t as simple as it sounds. Rarely do we realize how physically taxing the entire process can be.
Therefore, it would be a good idea to create a checklist of things to do before moving into the new place. If you are looking for tips, read on.
Here are seven things you should do before moving into a new house.
Find a good moving company
When it comes to relocating, there is only so much you can do yourself. Sorting out what to take and what not to, and packing everything can be pretty time-consuming. For working men and women, changing houses is extra stressful because most of them can’t take time off work to plan the whole thing smoothly.
Therefore, it would be wise for you to look up moving companies to make the process more manageable. Not only do they help you shift your stuff from one place to another, but some even offer packing, loading, unloading, and rearrangement services. Hiring a moving company helps you stay focused on your work and make the moving process a lot easier. If you are worried about the cost, you could find cheap man and van companies in London and many cities in the UK using websites like WhatManandVan.
Call in pest control to clean the new house
Before you move into your new home, it would be best to call in pest control services and have the whole place fumigated. After all, you don’t want to share your new abode with all sorts of bugs, pests, and creepy-crawlers.
Suppose you have a pest problem after you move in. In that case, cleaning up can become quite challenging. With your stuff all over the place, it will be hard for the pest control team to identify problem areas and take the necessary steps to exterminate the little buggers. It would be best to give them an empty space and ample time to do their job thoroughly. Also, it’s worth considering eco-friendly pest control services like Home Shielders Pest Control which will protect your new space without any dangerous chemicals.
Besides, the chemicals can make it difficult to breathe. If you don’t get this done before moving in, you might have to vacate your house for a day or two, which can be pretty bothersome.
Change the toilets
If you haven’t moved in yet, you have the chance to make a few changes to the house or apartment. Once you move in, things become considerably more complicated because everything is in use, and you may not have the time to undergo minor renovations!
However, it would be wise to change the sanitary fixtures before you move in. If the house was previously occupied, you don’t want to be sitting on the same seat. Who knows what filth rests on the seat! Changing the toilet seat and accessories will ensure that bathrooms are hygienic and in working condition.
Check the boiler
If you live in a colder part of the country, you might want to check the boiler before moving in. If you’re relocating as a family, this is even more important. Understandably after hard days of work, you would want to take a hot shower or relax in the bathtub. If you don’t have hot water, the experience becomes more unpleasant.
If you can do it yourself, check and make sure that everything is working correctly. Otherwise, consider calling in a professional to look at the heating solutions for the place. Again, it is paramount that you do this before you shift in so that the professionals can go about doing their business with ease.
Take a look at the electric details
Most household fires in America are due to faulty electrical wiring in the house. The older the place is, the more likely it is to have less than perfect electrical wiring. Short-circuits, live wires, and faulty switches are some things that can give you trouble if not fixed on time.
Get the electrical work sorted out as soon as possible to avoid any major incident. In extreme cases, the place can catch fire. Moreover, power surges due to faulty wiring can fry your expensive electronics and put a dent in your savings.
Check the smoke detectors
You should also have a smoke alarm system with working batteries to make sure that you detect a fire before it’s too late. Both the detector and the alarm should be working in perfect condition to ensure a fire doesn’t grip the house and take you by surprise.
If smoke detectors already exist in the house, get them checked out by professionals so that you know they’re functioning correctly. If the new place doesn’t have a smoke detection system, consider having one installed.
Go through local property records
When moving into the house, you should know a thing or two about the property’s and neighborhood’s history. American laws make it possible for a long-forgotten case related to the property to reopen at any point in the future. It would be good to know if the house has a history of rental claims, inheritance issues, or in a worst-case scenario, criminal activity. Therefore, even if the authorities come knocking to find more information, you should know what they’re talking about.
Check local public and police records to gauge what kind of history the house has. Often, there is usually nothing. However, if your home does have a history, you might want to keep a copy of the latest tenancy contract or buyer’s deed.
Conclusion
Moving into a new place can bring a lot of positivity into your life. No one knows who you are, and you get to meet new people and make the place your own. The tips mentioned above can go a long way in helping make the place a lot more comfortable and livable. Just make sure you get all these things done in advance so that it isn’t a hassle later on.