Moving In Checklist
Published by Chris Townsend
A Checklist For Moving In To Your New Home
It’s always challenging getting acclimated after you move into a new home. You may in a different city, away from friends and the creature comforts you’re used to, starting a new job, or any other number of things that can make it difficult to get adjusted. Even something as simple as finding the closest gas station and grocery store can make you feel like a fish out of water. Those things will come with time, but there are a few things you’ll want to stay on top of right when (or shortly after) you move into a new home. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind during this process.
Set Up Utilities
In an ideal world, you will have already planned for utilities to be hooked up before moving in. If you haven’t done that, make sure you do it as soon as possible after moving. Otherwise, you may be stuck eating out until your fridge is up and running and dealing with whatever weather comes your way as you wait for your heat or air conditioner to be ready for use.
Update Your Address
This is another thing that you’ve hopefully set up before you move in, but it’s easy to forget some of the parties you’ll need to contact with your new address. The post office makes it easy to forward your mail and establish your new residence as your current home, but if you have bills that only come electronically, you’ll want to be sure to contact those businesses as well. The same goes for banks, bills, credit cards, medical offices, pharmacies, and any other institution that you may need to stay in contact with.
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Do A Walk-through
It’s important to do a walk-through of your new home when you first arrive to ensure that it’s in the condition it was promised. This applies whether you’re renting or buying and it’s advisable to take photos if there is any existing damage. Pay special attention to walls, baseboards, crown molding, floors, doors, and carpets. If you’re buying, you want to be sure the house is in the condition as it was presented to you, and if you’re renting this will help safeguard against losing a portion of your deposit down the line.
Change Your Locks
Locks should be changed any time you move into a new home. You never know who has lived there before you and whether or not they still have a key. If you’re renting a home, be sure to get approval from the landlord before changing the locks and that they receive a key after the fact.
Locate Your Electric Panel & Water Shut Off
If you should have a fuse blow, a circuit breaker flip off, or pipe burst, the last thing you want to do is have to scramble to locate the electric panel or water shut off. Locate these as soon as you can so that you’ll know right where they are should the need arise.
Replace Batteries
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors rely on batteries to work effectively and you’ll want to replace those upon moving in. While they typically have an alert that lets you know if the batteries need replacing, it’s worth it to replace them from the jump so that you don’t get awoken by an incessant beep during your first few days in your new home. It also provides some peace of mind knowing that you’ve taken care of the safety of your house.
Explore Your Neighborhood
Lastly, you’ll want to get out and explore your new neighborhood. Find what your local dining options are, what events are in the area, and where you need to go for day to day items like food and gas. If you live near a downtown area, you can get out on foot and really get to know the new neighborhood on a day off. If you have to drive to find these things, it can be helpful to do some online research to see what’s in the area first.