Moving into a new home can be daunting. You are already changing so much and parting ways with a home where many memories were made.
The fun part of moving day is thinking about what should go where. But before you unload the moving truck and start arranging furniture, there are some important move in things to check off the list first. If you forget to do any of these before unpacking, you will likely regret ffit later.
Here are seven things to do before moving into a new house:
*Renters: This list applies to you, too! If you’re moving into an apartment, your landlord may have some of these steps covered. It’s best to check with them to make sure!
1. Double check the place.
Once the keys are in hand, head over to your new pad and check over all the rooms. Make sure everything that was agreed upon in the sale is still accounted for once you’re the new homeowner. You will want to be sure everything you expected to be there is still in the house.
2. Change the locks.
There is no way to know how many sets of keys to your house may be floating around. Give yourself peace of mind — hire a locksmith and have a set of new keys made.
3. Give your new house a deep clean.
While your new space may have had a cleaning prior to sale, you will still want to give it a good deep cleaning so it’s up to your standards. You never know what went down there before you moved in!
Not sure what to clean? Download our free move in cleaning checklist printable.
QUICK TIP: Pack a box of essentials and deliver that first to your new home. Fill it with cleaning supplies, paper towels and toilet paper along with the other essentials you’ll need to make it through moving day (lots of snacks, a set of clean sheets so you can sleep after a long day of unpacking, etc.).
Need help? Hire a pro to get your new house ready for moving day.
If you are trying to save some time on the unpacking process and you don’t want to worry about the deep cleaning yourself, hire someone to get to the grime for you. At least hire a professional company to clean your carpets and grout. There is no telling what may be hiding in those carpeted floors, especially if the previous owners were pet people.
Also, during the moving process, furniture may have shifted and scrunched your wall to wall. Often times a professional company can stretch and clean carpets in one visit and give you a fresh, clean floor.
4. Change the toilet seats.
This may seem like a silly one, but the toilets are probably the grimiest spot in a house. Rather than spending your time cleaning them, remove them, clean under there and replace them with a brand new seat. You will have serious peace of mind, sitting on the brand new seats, knowing your family has christened them.
5. Pest control.
Make sure you and your family are the only ones moving into your new house. Hire an exterminator to come by and check for unwanted guests, plug holes for all pests and spray to deter any future uninvited home invaders.
6. Change your air filters.
Since you can’t be sure when they were last changed and you don’t want extra dust clouding up your newly cleaned home and carpets, it’s best to just start with fresh filters. Mark the date you installed them on the filter and your calendar so you can keep track and change them regularly.
7. Safety first!
While conducting that deep clean, take some time to make sure your home is safe. While in the laundry room, vacuum out that dryer vent. As you are clearing dust from walls and ceiling fans, change the batteries in your smoke detectors. When you clean out your kitchen cabinets, find a proper place to store a fire extinguisher.
QUICK TIP: Most people might also repaint when moving into a new home. This may be something you want to wait on. It is perfectly fine to pick up samples and paint a few patches. However, it’s best to live in a house for a bit before committing to a new paint scheme. Living in a new homes helps you understand how you use each room and the lighting throughout the day. Those things will affect your color choices. You don’t want to have to paint twice after deciding you don’t like the hue you chose at a certain time of day.
Read Also: Choose the Right Paint Colors + Design Inspiration
Don’t forget these seven items on your moving day checklist. These are the things that are easily forgotten when you move into a new house, but that are extremely important in the long run. Save yourself time down the road by doing them day one in your new home.
A Few Things to Do Before Moving Out of Your Old House
Are you moving out of a home or rental? It’s good etiquette to leave a home in good shape for the next family. Sometimes it’s part of your rental agreement to leave a place the way you found it. And who doesn’t look forward to getting back that security deposit?
Here are three quick tips for how to leave a home before you move out and on:
- If you are renting, check your lease agreement. Sometimes the landlord will leave a list of exactly what is expected. For example, mopping the garage floor… you probably didn’t think of that! But maybe your landlord has.
- Plug any holes in the walls and touch up paint. If you are an owner selling a home, leave the leftover house paint for the new owners. After moving in, there are sure to be some touch ups needed.
- Take all your furniture! Unless it was specified in the sale, do not leave the new owners with your leftover furniture donations. Moving is already hard work — let’s not add more to the to-do list.
Read Next: How to Organize a New Home as You Unpack
Help others who are compiling their moving day checklists — share your top tips for things to do before moving into a new house in the comments below!
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