“Moving to a new house was a piece of cake,” said no one ever. While getting a new home is exciting, shifting to a new place can be daunting. Clearing things you don’t need, packing different items, turning them into a portable unit for transportation, and so on can get tiring. And, it is not like your work ends just there.
There are a bunch of energy-draining tasks that make their way to your to-do list as you move to the new house. If you are not careful, you may miss some, only to regret it later.
To prevent that, though, here is a list of things that you should do as soon as you move to a new house:
Table of Contents
Change the locks at your earliest
Statistics show that over 2,000,000 home burglaries occur in the US annually. Statistics show that there over 2,000,000 home burglaries occur in the US every year. Chances are that you know no one or only a handful of people in your new neighborhood. So, you can’t really learn how safe a vicinity is in half a day.
Consequently, your first step should be to change the locks. You can install the new locks yourself or call your local locksmith provider to get excellent locksmith services. Typically, locksmiths charge roughly $100 for paying a home visit. Additionally, you will have to pay for the lock. However, it is an investment worth making.
Consequently, your first step should be to change the locks. You can install the new locks yourself or call your local locksmith provider to get excellent locksmith services. Typically, locksmiths charge roughly $100 for paying a home visit. Additionally, you will have to pay for the lock. However, it is an investment worth making.
Paint the walls before your belongings reach the house
You may have hired moving services to transport your belongings from your old home to its new location, such as moving from Edmonton to another city. Before your container load arrives, though, get the painting work done.
Painting empty rooms is always much more convenient than coloring a space dotted with furniture. Moreover, you wouldn’t have to move things around, clear out closets, or remove pictures and mirrors from the walls. Once your first coat of paint is done, wait for a day so that the paint can dry and you can apply another coat.
Painting empty rooms is always much more convenient than coloring a space dotted with furniture. Moreover, you wouldn’t have to move things around, clear out closets, or remove pictures and mirrors from the walls. Once your first coat of paint is done, wait for a day so that the paint can dry and you can apply another coat.
Check for any plumbing leaks
Another significant task to tackle when you relocate to your new house is to look for any plumbing leakages. Although the house inspector should have done this before your arrival, it is only wise to double-check things.
Keep your eyes peeled for any running toilets and dripping faucets. One good way to uncover leaks is to check the water meter at the start and end of a two-hour window during which water is not used in your new residence. If the reading is different, you are in for a leak. Also, check the water heater for any leakage signs.
Keep your eyes peeled for any running toilets and dripping faucets. One good way to uncover leaks is to check the water meter at the start and end of a two-hour window during which water is not used in your new residence. If the reading is different, you are in for a leak. Also, check the water heater for any leakage signs.
Clean the house before the movers arrive
Whether the previous owners left the house clean for you, you will want to clean it nonetheless. Just as in the case of painting, cleaning the new place is a lot easier before the movers arrive.
You have two options again: either you handle the cleaning yourself or do it with professional cleaners such as Bright Touch Cleaning. The choice is yours. If you plan to go for the DIY cleaning option, commence by placing all the cleaning tools and supplies in one corner and start by washing sections of your house at once.
You have two options again: either you handle the cleaning yourself or do it with professional cleaners such as Bright Touch Cleaning. The choice is yours. If you plan to go for the DIY cleaning option, commence by placing all the cleaning tools and supplies in one corner and start by washing sections of your house at once.
Plug the refrigerator before going grocery shopping
It is best to plug your refrigerator and let it work for an hour or two to check if it is functioning at its best. If you skip this step, you may get the grocery and ruin it all after finding out later that the refrigerator isn’t working.
This way, you will waste money on the grocery if the fridge takes time to repair. Hence, it is best to be proactive and check the refrigerator before getting the eatables into it for cool-keeping.
This way, you will waste money on the grocery if the fridge takes time to repair. Hence, it is best to be proactive and check the refrigerator before getting the eatables into it for cool-keeping.
Install new switch plates
Several older houses have mismatched, discolored, or dirty cover plates over the switches. This is more common if the house has been through multiple rounds of renovation. It is also possible that the cover over the air vent is damaged or rusted.
Subsequently, it is best to handle this task as early as possible. Once you replace these, you will feel better with the uniform and new look that these small changes bring. Replacing covers is easy as it just needs a small screwdriver and some time. However, be careful when working with electronics. In this case, it is best to get professionals into the picture.
Subsequently, it is best to handle this task as early as possible. Once you replace these, you will feel better with the uniform and new look that these small changes bring. Replacing covers is easy as it just needs a small screwdriver and some time. However, be careful when working with electronics. In this case, it is best to get professionals into the picture.
Take charge of any pests or other uninvited guests
The new place may be infected by critters, including roaches, termites, mice, bats, rats, or other unwelcome mammals. It is best to approach this problem with an iron fist and settle it before the moving services bring in your heavy luggage.
An initial visit from a pest control service costs between $100 to $500. The initial visit is followed by quarterly or monthly visits at roughly $50. You can get the poison solution(s) for the rodents and close their chapter altogether.
An initial visit from a pest control service costs between $100 to $500. The initial visit is followed by quarterly or monthly visits at roughly $50. You can get the poison solution(s) for the rodents and close their chapter altogether.
Familiarize yourself with the main water valve and electrical breaker box
Lastly, it is best to know the electrical circuit breaker box and learn which fuse controls which part of the house. Label them accordingly so you don’t get confused in an emergency.
Repeat the drill with the main water valve as well. Locate the main water valve and turn off the knob to see if the water is off. Test this by turning on any faucet. If any upgrades or repairs are needed in both cases, don’t delay them and get them over with as soon as you move to your new house.
Repeat the drill with the main water valve as well. Locate the main water valve and turn off the knob to see if the water is off. Test this by turning on any faucet. If any upgrades or repairs are needed in both cases, don’t delay them and get them over with as soon as you move to your new house.
Wrap up
There is a lot that goes into shifting and moving your house. You must be mindful that your work continues after you have packed things and loaded them into the storage units provided by the moving service.
Instead, another list of tasks needs to be managed as soon as you enter your new house. Moving these tasks to the done slot before your container load arrives is best. They will help you feel at home and ready to arrange your furniture and belongings.
Instead, another list of tasks needs to be managed as soon as you enter your new house. Moving these tasks to the done slot before your container load arrives is best. They will help you feel at home and ready to arrange your furniture and belongings.
