8 Things You Should Do Before Moving Into A New House

 Moving into a new house?  Your task list doesn't end once you pack up your current home.  There's a few more things you're going to want to do before you get in and start living it up.

Change the Locks

It doesn't make you paranoid to want new locks on the exterior doors to your home.  It makes you smart!  Who knows how many people were given keys to what is now your new home?  You could call a locksmith to come to the house to re-key the locks or get a nice update plus peach of mind by replacing the the whole hardware.

Don't forget to change your garage door opener code, too.

Do an In-Depth Tour of the House

Identify where the water and gas shut-off valves are.  How about the electrical box and water heater?  Do you know how to use your sprinkler system?  Familiarizing yourself with all the ins and outs of the house and making sure key members of the household are also aware can help avoid disasters.

Seal Off Rooms You Won't Be Using Right Away

Between moving costs, new furniture, any renovations needed, and the cost of turning on all your utilities, you're probably going to want to save a few dollars where you can.  Sealing off rooms you won't be using for a while can help lower your heating and cooling costs.

Meet Your Neighbors

Your neighbors may be planning to come by once they see you're settled in, but think about beating them to it.  You might make a new best friend or find one for your kids.  Being friendly from the get-go established good will.

Join NEXTDOOR

Log on the Nextdoor.com to find your community site.  If you need a babysitter, a handyman, or a recommendation for the best Chinese restaurant in your area, Nextdoor will help you find it.

Clean Your Carpets

A thorough cleaning of the home should have been done when the sellers were moving out, but unless specific cleaning tasks were called out in the contract, the house may not be as spic-n-span as you want.

Even if the house looks clean when you move in, they may have skipped getting the carpets professionally cleaned.  A good cleaning can extend the life of the carpets, improve air quality, and remove allergens.

Wipe Out Drawers and Cabinets

This is another often ignored task and one that could be responsible for leaving germs and crumbs behind.

Change Your Smoke Detector Batteries

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that smoke detector batteries get changed twice a year.  Since you probably won't know when the last time this was done, it's best to change them when you move in.

Hopefully this helpful tips will prove useful to you when you decide to purchase a new home.  When you're ready to make a move, don't hesitate to contact us.  We'll provide with helpful tips to prepare your home to go on the market.