Congratulations! You have finally closed on your new home and have now moved in. Here are the top five things a new homeowner should do before moving in or after moving into their new home. If you have already ticked these out, this could be a refresher or an article to forward to a friend or family member. So, what are they?
- Inspect the house: Make sure you have everything you are legally owed and that it works. Yes! Owning a new home is beautiful and you could get caught in the excitement and forget to check that everything is working. Go with a friend, family member or your spouse. Make sure they have an eye for details. You will be happy you spotted that malfunctioning tap or faulty door handle before you moved in. Do not forget to note it, take a picture, and send to your Realtor or Builder.
- Turn on the Utilities: Notify the utility companies to transfer gas, water, electrical, trash, and sewer into your name. Depending on where you leave in Canada you would have to do this before you move in else you may sleep in darkness on your first night and have no running water for starters. Get the utility companies the switch the house to your account on time. Make sure you do this before the weekend or a national holiday.
- Clean the new place before you unpack: Take time to clean your new home. If you are busy or not the hands down cleaning type. Get professional cleaners to clean it again even if it looks clean. You never know.
- Change the Locks: You have no way of knowing how many strangers the previous owner gave keys to your new home. As soon as you have the opportunity, change all external locks, including your garage code. If you can, have it changed same day you take possession of your new home.
- Start and finish any renovations: If you can, finish all renovations you want to get done before moving in. You do not want to move in and have handy men all over your house unless you must. Not that they are bad, but you would have to schedule them and be at home to receive and guide them.
Remember, these are just general suggestions and may vary depending on individual circumstances.
Credit: Photo by HiveBoxx on Unsplash
