Moving into a new home is an exciting activity for the family. But it can also be a major source of stress. There are so many things you need to prepare before moving to your new house. That includes securing your new place, of course, and planning your move and hiring contractors such as Sunshine Movers of Sarasota LLC. But don’t you worry, this guide will spare you from all the hassles you might encounter on your move. Here are 5 things you need to know about moving into a new home.
1. Change the locks
Especially when the house you’re moving into is not a brand new house, it’s very important to change the locks. You don’t know who has the keys to your new house now, don’t you? So yup, settle this one first and foremost before moving in. You get security and peace of mind in exchange of a few bucks from your local locksmith. And while you’re at it, you may even consider replacing the hardware itself, it’s a nice update to your new front doors after all. There are so many selections to choose from. If you’re feeling fancy and techy, why not get some of those card entry door lock systems.
2. Check for any plumbing issues
Done changing the locks? Now, check for leaks. If you didn’t get the chance to inspect your new home after purchasing it, there’s no better time to do so than before moving in. Essentially, you want to make sure the entire house is functional before you move your family in there. Otherwise, the problems are going to sprout one by one and it will be a total wreck to deal with when you’ve got a crowd under the roof already.
One of the easiest ways to check for a leak is to look at the water meter before and after around 2 hours of not using water in the home. Ideally, the reading should remain the same after that time. If it doesn’t, then there’s a leak somewhere that you should check. Go around the house and make sure there are any puddles of water accumulating somewhere, and that water isn’t spurting under the pipes when you turn on the faucets.
3. Clean the house
This is going to be messy but there are a ton of things that you need to clean before settling into your new home. The floors, the walls, the kitchen, cabinets, sinks, counters, etc. Start with the kitchen because it’s the stickiest. Next, you can go with the fridge, make sure it’s defrosted and unplugged before rubbing the insides with special cleaners. For the stove, wiping diligently will do, and for the oven, you can use an oven-cleaner. You may also want to leave it open for a while to neutralize the smell of chemical cleaners. Kitchen cabinets and counters are good with just mild cleaners, and maybe some feather dusting. The sink should be scrubbed, and the walls could be updated if you want to. If your flooring has carpeting installed, you can vacuum, or if it’s too dirty you can always hire a professional cleaner.
4. Get rid of pests
If you signed up for home warranty, pest control should be covered in there. Otherwise, general treatments could cost around $300 to $500 depending on the range of pests covered in the service. Pest prevention is an important thing to do before moving in. You don’t want to haul all your new furniture just to be eaten by bed bugs and termites. And definitely, you don’t want to be sick!
5. Check the mechanical equipment
This pertains to checking the heating and cooling system in your home. Make sure that they are cleaned and inspected routinely. Clean the vents and make sure there are no obstructions inside such as spider webs and thick layers of dust, as this could affect the air quality in your house. Check if your thermostat is working. And of course, don’t forget to check your heater if there’s any trouble too.
Contributed courtesy of Joe Troyer.
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[…] to avoid costly headaches down the line. Once you’ve done the pre-move-in checks detailed in ‘5 Things That You Need To Know About Moving Into a New Home’, it’s time to consider the next steps and draw up a list of the kind of maintenance your home […]