Moving into a new house is definitely an exciting experience – especially if you finally move to the location of your dreams. However, it is also very stressful – after all, there are so many things you need to sort out before and after you move that it can quickly become very overwhelming.
We get the struggle, which is why we decided to prepare this moving into a new house checklist – it includes everything you need to remember about before, during, and after your move. If you are interested, just keep on reading!
Before the Move
One of the first things you should do before officially moving into your new house is setting up your physical appliances, which require water, gas, and electricity.
Depending on the location of your new home, you might be able to choose which company you’ll be working with. You might also want to find one that offers heating & cooling services so that you can get your AC and heating set up.
Next, see what needs to be fixed, and take care of it, so that you’ll be left with a blank canvas for decorating and arranging the furniture. Pay special attention to the outside of your new house – especially the roof and the garage door. Depending on how severe the damage is, you might be able to repair it yourself, or you’ll have to call a professional. As experts from A1 Garage Repair Services say, it’s better to tackle all the repairs in the beginning and have peace of mind for the rest of the move.
Finally, you need to decide what you are going to do with your furniture. Are you going to take it with you to your new home? Are you going to sell it, or maybe you’re going to donate it? Now’s the time to make that decision.
The Checklist Before Moving in
The three things we mentioned above are probably the most important ones, but not the only ones. Here is a complete list of things you should do before officially moving in (including those from above):
- Meet up with the real estate agent to collect the keys.
- Make sure that all items that were supposed to be there according to the purchase agreement are there (sometimes previous owners can, for example, ‘forget’ about leaving some things) – if something is missing, you need to contact the real estate agent.
- Paint everything that needs to be painted (and we’re not only talking about the walls but also, for instance, kitchen cabinets if you left those that belonged to the previous owner).
- Clean the house – if you don’t want to do it yourself, or you simply don’t have time for it, you can always hire a cleaning company.
- Repair everything, not only the things that are begging for the renovation.
- Take meter readings and document them.
- Put all the documents somewhere safe.
- Set up or transfer to your name all the utilities.
- Test the smoke detectors.
- Change the address for a new one, even if it’s just a magazine subscription.
- Hire a moving company and pack all of your stuff from the old house – while doing it, take pictures of all the valuable items you own, so that in case they become damaged during the move, you have proof of what they looked like when they left the house.
After the Move
Once you have prepared everything in your new house so that it is ready for you to live in, and all your belongings have arrived, you can move on to the fun part – that is decorating and organising the space.
Before you start moving things around, you should take pictures of each room when there’s still no furniture in it (unless, of course, you are leaving the furniture the previous owners left). Although this is of greater importance when you are renting the place rather than when you’ve bought the house, it is still good to have a visual of what every room looks like when it is empty – it will make buying new modern furniture a lot easier.
Then, you should make sure that your appliances are working perfectly fine (no matter if they are new or you brought them from your old house). Accidents happen, and it’s better to ensure everything is working properly right away than to wait.
The Checklist After Moving in
Here is a more detailed list of what you should do once your belongings are all in your new house:
- Set up a home security system.
- Decide on a lockout solution – at one point, you might lock yourself out of your house. It’s fine – things like this happen all the time, which is why you need a plan B in case your turn comes. Common ideas include putting a spare key under the doormat or a planter or installing a garage code.
- Change the locks, so you’ll feel safer.
- Locate the shut-off valves, as well as the circuit breaker.
- Buy or unwrap the furniture.
- Unpack all of your belongings – ensure nothing became damaged during the move.
- Make sure all of your appliances are working just fine.
- Go grocery shopping.
- Get to know the laws of your local Homeowner Association – make sure you understand their policies, especially those about pets, lawn care and monthly dues.
- Say ‘hi’ to your neighbours.
- Make a copy of your keys and give it to someone you trust.
Furniture – Essential Pieces for Every New Home
Although the amount and type of furniture differ from house to house, as everything depends on its size and owner’s personal preferences, there are some pieces that should be present in every home.
Those include:
- A good bed – new house means new beginnings, so if you have contemplated throwing away the old bed, but didn’t because it was sentimental, now is the perfect time to do it. Good bed equals a good night’s sleep, and you’ll definitely need it if you’re going to unpack all of your belongings, and every other task on your to-do list.
- An armchair – having this piece of furniture around is always a good idea. Just imagine – the long winter nights sitting under a blanket with a cup of tea. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Besides, depending on your needs, you can move it all over your apartment or house. In a living room? Sure. The bedroom? No problem. Just pick it up and place it where you want it to go.
- A dining table and chairs – An advantage of this piece is that you can utilise it in different ways. For example, during the day, it can serve as a desk, so that you can complete your work. During the evening, you can eat dinner at it. When buying a table, remember that it should be comfortable to sit at. Also, don’t forget about the chairs – you don’t have to buy a set right away, one will do just fine in the beginning.
- A quality sofa – a quality sofa is one of those things that are worth waiting for if (local companies that make them can take up to six weeks). Why settle for a cheap one from Ikea when you can have a custom-made one that suits your house and your needs perfectly?
- A dresser – a space that is clean and organised feels more welcoming. Besides, you’ll need a place to hide all of your clothes, bedsheets, and so on once you take them out of the boxes.
The Bottom Line
Let’s be honest – moving, although a very exciting experience, is also extremely stressful. After all, there are dozens, if not hundreds of things you need to keep in mind, and if you aren’t prepared well enough, you might quickly find yourself going crazy.
We hope that after reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do before and after you move so that you can organise your time accordingly. Remember, completing the whole process in one day is a very ambitious task, which more often than not ends up taking more than it was originally planned – unless you pack everything beforehand, and the only thing left to do is transportation.
Either way, don’t be discouraged if it will take you more than one day to move – try to enjoy the whole process, just like you will enjoy living in your new house. Good luck!