Move-In Day Advice
If you’re reading this article, it’s probably safe to assume you’re either in the process of signing or just recently signed the dotted line on a new home. Congratulations! We’re super excited for you. Now is a great time to go over the important steps for your move-in.
We know you must be excited, so we’ll keep this simple and to the point. Here’s a checklist form of the most important action items for your move-in day!
1. Schedule movers!
A good, quality moving company can be hard to find. Be sure to give yourself enough time to ask around and find movers that will be careful with your belongings, while giving them enough time to schedule you in. Remember, most high quality movers are wanted and therefore have busier schedules!
2. Documentation
Anything that’s missing or doesn’t align with your agreement should be noted and shared with your real estate agent so they can sort it out with the seller ASAP.
3. Change the locks
For safety purposes, you can either change the locks or switch to a smart lock. Now that this new home is yours, let’s make sure we don’t leave the old owners (or anyone who has come across the keys during the selling process) with a way inside.
4. Paint if needed
It’s significantly easier to paint now than it will be with furniture all over the place! We recommend getting this step out of the way early on.
5. Hire cleaners.
Again, this is much easier (and faster) now than when everything’s out of the way. You’d be surprised by the amount of dust that can settle in an empty house, or the dirt tracked in as the former owners move out.
6. Lawn maintenance.
This is one of those things that becomes really easy to put off when you get into the daily grind. Get your lawn care schedule set up now so you can start off on the right foot!
7. Note important locations.
You’ll want to know where circuit breakers (controls electrical flow) and shut-off valves (controls water flow) are in the case of an emergency.
8. Check smoke detectors.
Press and hold the test button on your smoke detectors until you hear a loud, piercing sound. If it’s quiet, replace the batteries. Smoke and carbon monoxide are silent killers - make sure you’re protected.
9. Take meter readings.
This will show you the normal usage of gas, water and electricity so you can compare them to your usage later on. These numbers are key to understanding if there’s a future leak in your new home.
10. Transfer utilities.
Trust us, you’ll want to have your lights, electricity and water on when you move in!
With the move in day action items handled, it’s time to start making the new house truly yours. Write up a note of all of the home improvement repairs you’ll want to make. It’s best to list them all out and order them from most to least important. Then you can begin tackling them one by one based on their level of priority. The sooner you get started on this track, the sooner you’ll have the perfect home!
One major piece of bonus advice - when your movers are arriving, don’t forget the hard work they’re going to have to put in to get your home set up nicely. If you treat them well, they’re more likely to do the same to you and your belongings! We recommend buying them breakfast or lunch, and always supply them with plenty of water so they’re fueled for the moving day!
Lastly, celebrate! It’s not every day you move into a new home, so enjoy it and get ready for memories to come!
Fine Point Homes believes in cutting through the confusion around your perfect home - whether that’s buying new or upgrading your existing house. We simplify the process and stay in touch during every aspect so that you always know what comes next.
If you’re interested in setting up an interview with our real estate team, contact us here.