Your Post-Move-in Checklist - 7 Key Tasks to Settle into Your New Home
Unless you purchase a newly built property that has never been lived in, there is no way of guaranteeing whether your new home will be safe and secure after you've got the keys. Read this article for 7 tips on what you should do in the first week of living in your new home.
Getting the keys to your new home is very exciting. It's the day you've been waiting for for months, and there have likely been many trials and tribulations, but the day is finally here. With all of the excitement and hectic moving of family and furniture from one house to another, it can be easy to overlook some key tasks that everyone should do as soon as they move into a new home.
Meter readings: Perhaps not the most exciting of tasks, but to prevent bill issues later down the line, read the meters as soon as you take ownership. Consider taking photographs of the meter readings to prove the figures. Of course, there is no need to sit on hold with the energy provider and water board when you should be moving your furniture into the property and unpacking, but when you do get in touch to inform them of the readings and set up your account (likely at some point in the next week or so) photographs taken from the first day will help with accurate billing.
Locate stop cock and fuse box: As you plug in your appliances or attach your washing machine, it may become essential to know where these things are in case of emergencies. New appliances can sometimes cause the fuse box to trip the electric, and it is always a good idea to know where the stop tap is when doing any kind of plumbing work.
Change the locks: Fundamentally, when you receive the keys for the property, you can never be 100% sure if you have all of them. The previous owners may have given family members, friends or neighbours a spare key. So, to ensure that your new home and belongings are secure, you are advised to change the locks when you have moved in. Of course, the first day will be hectic, and you won't know exactly what time you will be given access to the property, so there is no need to panic. Still, changing the locks and getting new keys in the first week or so of your ownership is advisable.
Alarm codes: Similar to the locks, alarm codes should be changed to ensure that the property is safe and secure for you and your family. This is important as the previous owners or tenants might have shared the codes with others, compromising the security of your home.
Drain unblocking: This is a proactive step to ensure a smooth start in your new home. Most people deep clean a property when they move out if they can. But, to be sure that there are no blockages or potential backing up of the drains, unblocking plugholes in the bathrooms and kitchens is a good idea.
Check the bin day: If you are moving into a new area, the collection day for the bins and recycling may be different, so find out when your collections are by checking the local council website.
Change of address: Of course, you will notify your friends and family, but some official departments need to know about your move. The DVLA, HMRC, your doctors, dentists and the electoral roll are a great place to get started.
The big moving day will be long and tiring, but it's important to remember that it can take a week or so to unpack fully and get settled. Don't be too hurried to get everything sorted, it takes time.
If you are thinking about moving house and would like to know how to get started so that your moving day can become a reality, get in touch with our team for expert advice and assistance to get you and your family moved into your dream home.