After having gone through the hassle of searching for a home and doing all the payments and paperwork, you may feel relaxed and confident about relocating to your new house. But not so quickly; there remain a few things that you still must do before moving.
Shifting to a new place may excite you, but the move’s struggles are still bogged with different things. The D-day for the relocation may come swiftly and be upon you as though you have woken up from a dream. And if you fail to remember the following things, you may have to ensure another about of issues instead of settling into the house with some peace of mind.
1. Change The Locks
When the deal is over, and you are the new proud owner of the house, the foremost thing to do is change the locks to all the exteriors, windows, doors, and the main gate. You never know if the previous owner, or even the real estate broker, has extra keys or who they may have handed the spare keys to. So, changing the locks is a precaution, and the new ones should be installed before the moving day.
2. Paint The Walls And Ceilings
Painting may not be necessary since most homes are put up for sale when all repairs are done, and the properties are looking well-maintained. But even then, the color choices may not settle well with the buyer, and if such is the case for you, you should plan for the paint job to be done at least a week or two before moving into the new house. In most cases, the exterior may not have much that takes away from your personal preferences, but the interior will need a bit of work. The painting job is also an opportunity to identify and repair the little-missed details, such as tiny cracks and holes or other defects.
3. Inspect Plumbing Leaks
Though you may have tested if the water runs in all the taps in the kitchen and bathrooms, that is not proof that the plumbing is in good working condition. You must schedule an inspection to ensure the house has no plumbing issues. Have the faucets, water pipe systems, toilets, tubs, and washbasins inspected; also, remember to have the exterior plumbing checked and necessary repairs done.
4. Pest Control
Pests are a huge bother, and you would not love to move into your new home only to discover what you bought is a pest-haven. Insects and other unwelcome creatures can decide to invade places that look clean. Moreover, you do not know how clean and hygienic the previous owner was, so do not take any chances. The entire property should be inspected for pest infestations, and the necessary treatment and preventive measures should be implemented.
5. Clean The Place
Though most homes are clean, you need to have this redone before moving in, which you can outsource from professional house cleaners. You will avoid the hassle of getting brooms, mops, scrubs, buckets, dusters, and a vacuum. The cleaning should be done a day before so that you arrive to find a spotless and welcoming house.
6. Sort Important Documents
The purchase of a new home will be a process that involves different documentation, and you need to ensure all these important records are secure. The same goes for the paperwork regarding the current place of residence. As you sort these, remember to do the same for other essential documents such as medical records, birth certificates, and social security cards to avoid losing them in the shuffle of possession when moving. Changing your address is also of the utmost importance. You can do that easily at change-of-address-form-online.com.
7. Return Borrowed Items
If you have any items you borrowed from your neighbors and friends, you need to sort them out and return them; it will show that you are a considerate neighbor. Good neighborliness is often denoted by sharing things freely, and this will often see some things not returned because people forget about the loaned items. So, you should be honest about the various belongings you have when packing in readiness for moving and returning the items you borrowed.
8. Notify Loved Ones And Utility Service Providers
It would help if you made an effort to inform family and friends about the move. You can do this by hosting a farewell party and can also be a pre-housewarming party and use the occasion as an opportunity to let them know of your plan. As you do this, also remember to check with your utility service providers, insurance card company, banks, and cable provider, among others, about the change of residence and new address so that they can revoke or make the necessary changes and adjustments to the services they provide to your old and new home respectively.
9. Greet Your Neighbors
You should try and get familiar with the new neighborhood because that is the place where you will spend most of your time and a better part of your life. Please call to know your new neighbors because they will be the ones you may have by your side during the good and bad times. Therefore, be courteous tak,e the initiative to say hi, and try to establish some rapport. A bit of small talk, as you introduce yourself, will help break the ice and see you make new friends.
10. Set Up Security
As you try to know the new community, try to find out about the area’s security level. While at it, it makes places have a security system set up. The objective is to ensure you and your family feel safe in the new home even as you get fully acquainted with the neighbors and assimilate into the community.
As you take the things mentioned above into account, the other thing to remember is to plan for the relocation in terms of transportation. Figure out if you will hire movers’ services or call a few of your friends and family to give you a helping hand with the move.
