As you prepare to move into a new home, there are a lot of things that have to be taken care of. You’ve got your furniture and valuables being moved by professional movers, so that’s not something you have to worry about.
But what about repairs and rooms that have to be made ready for your new home? There’s a lot of tasks that ideally need to be taken care of before you officially move in.
Here’s a rundown of the maintenance you need to do before the movers arrive and you start to unpack your new home:
1. Start with a list — Before you do anything, you need to walk through your new home and make observations about all the repairs and maintenance you want to take care of as soon as possible. It’s important to take note of things now before your belongings and boxes clutter everything and you don’t have time to think about maintenance.
2. Familiarize yourself with the utilities — You should not only schedule a time to turn on the utilities, but you also need to familiarize yourself with the systems. Check out the electrical panel and make sure you have all of the circuit breakers properly labeled so you know which shuts off each circuit. Also, locate your main water valve shutoff so that you can find this quickly in case of an emergency.
3. Take care of safety — Safety is a huge concern for any homeowner. Start off on the right foot by installing brand new smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Buy a home fire extinguisher for the kitchen (and another for the garage if you’ve got one). Make sure that all your windows are properly secured and determine the best route to get out in the event of an emergency. This is also a good time to install a high-tech doorbell such as Ring that can provide you with a security camera on your front doorstep.
4. Check your air quality — Once you have these first pieces in place, you need to make sure that your air quality is off to a good start in your new home. Replace air filters with new filters and make sure the tubing you plan to set up to your clothes dryer is clean and clear. This is also a good time to clean your air conditioner condensers and evaporators. (Make sure your power is off first before you wash it down and then brush it out.)
5. Clean your floors — While you don’t have any furniture in place, clean all of your floors. If you have hardwood floors, rent a buffer so you can buff and refinish the wood. If you have carpets, rent a steam cleaner and give it a good going over. That way you can start your time in the new home with pristine floors.
6. Polish the wood — If you have large wood features such as a mantelpiece, this is a good time to use mineral spirits to clean the wood. Polish it to get rid of any built-up grime.
7. Check your electrical outlets — Now is also a good time to use a receptacle outlet checker to make sure that you have working outlets. Also, don’t forget to replace all of your light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs that will last you for quite a while.
Take the Worry Out of Moving by Hiring Professional Movers and Preparing Your New Home
When you move into a house, there are naturally going to be a lot of things on your “to do” list. But if you don’t have to worry about the hassle of packing and moving thanks to professional movers, this will give you a good opportunity to get your house in order before you move in.
For More Help with Your Move
For more tips that will help you move , contact BBB-accredited Crescent Moving and Storage. By filling out a form on our website, we can give you a virtual moving quote. Moving consultations can be done over the phone or through an online video conferencing program. This limits the face-to-face contact between our staff and your family. We can provide an accurate and no-obligation estimate without coming to your house.