Moving into a new home is always an exciting process. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you’re just getting a new place, there are always things you need to make sure you do before you move in that can make a big difference.
Below we’ve included a handful of tips to make the entire moving process that much easier. Hopefully, you can apply these tips and tricks before you move into your next home!
1. Review The Entire House
First and foremost, you’ll need to have your home inspected. This is often required before you move in. An inspector will come and check things like mold levels, windows, doors, appliances, and more.
The purpose of an inspector is to make sure the home is livable and in working order. It is important to note that a home inspection is not free. Make sure you budget for it accordingly and plan for unexpected fixes that may need to be done.
Sometimes the inspector may require you to do something to the home in order for you to safely move in and this is why it’s important to make sure you have a proper budget set aside.
2. Replace All Of The Exterior Locks
Another thing you want to do right away is to change all of the exterior locks. There are multiple reasons why you may want to do this, the main being safety-related. If you’re moving into a home that’s been lived in by others before you, you may not know what type of person lived there.
For the safety of you and your loved ones, it’s important to change the locks. This ensures that you and your family are the only ones that have keys and can access your home. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have some stranger out there with the key to my home.
3. Redo the Flooring
This step might not be necessary, but you can never be too safe. Before you move in, be sure to check the quality of the flooring. It’s inevitable that wooden flooring may not age well over time. Carpets may be stained and dirty, and concrete floors may have drafted.
It will be way less work for you to upgrade the flooring before you move all of your belongings and than after, and think about all the mess you’ll be spared!
4. Check The Water Pipes
This may be part of your inspection, but either way, you want to check the water pipes. It’s important to make sure there are no random leaks throughout the house. Doing this will prevent water damage and will let you know that the pipes are in good shape.
Don’t forget to check the water meter before you move in. The last thing you want is to move into a new home and then be faced with plumbing issues, so it’s better to get it done beforehand.
5. Replace Detectors
Another safety-related item that you should be paying attention to before you move into your new home is the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors., You want to make sure your home has these. You want to smoke detectors in each bedroom, outside of the bathroom, and in the kitchen.
You also want to make sure you have at least one carbon monoxide detector per level of your home. This is an absolute necessity, and you need at least one in your home at a minimum. If the home you buy already has these detectors, make sure you put fresh batteries in before you move into the home.
6. Replace All Filters
You don’t want you or your loved ones breathing in dirty air, which is why you want to make sure you change out all of the air filters throughout the home. This should be done around every six months, but this is something people often forget.
Putting in new air filters when you move in will ensure you have clean air flowing through your home and you’ll be able to schedule when they need to be changed next.
7. Paint the Interior
Lastly, it can be way easier to paint the interior of your home before you move in. That way you won’t have to cover your important belongings and worry about getting paint on expensive pieces of furniture or things you care about. It’s also a lot easier to paint without having to move around bookshelves and beds! Make sure you swatch paint colors on the walls before you decide on one single color; this will give you a better idea of which colors will work in what room.
It is always good to get some home improvement out of the way before you move in, not only to spare your furniture and other valuable items but also because this will likely be the only time the house will be completely empty (until that is when you move out). An “empty” house makes it a lot easier to do certain improvement projects!
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