Moving to a new home can be a bit overwhelming, mainly because of the various things that you have to do as you start a new chapter of your life. Although most people tend to focus on simply packing their belongings and loading them into a moving truck, you have to consider other equally important factors as you prepare to live in your new house.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the different things that you can do to make your experience in your new home easier and more enjoyable.
Before unloading all of your furniture and boxes, it’s essential to do a walkthrough of your home while it’s still empty. Aside from familiarising yourself with the house’s various spaces, this also lets you check if all the features stated in the contract are still inside the house. In addition, you’ll also be able to see if the previous owner was able to complete the necessary repairs as agreed upon.
As you walk through your home, check if its various features, such as the lights and switches, are in working condition. Also, be on the lookout for potential areas in your house that need to be repaired or renovated. Doing so helps you prioritise possible repair projects once you move in.
Walking through an empty house also provides you with an opportunity to plan your furniture placement. Doing this is certainly much easier when the house is still bare as it gives you a clear view of the available space in your home.
One particular tool that can help you with this task is a tape measure. This item enables you to make sure that your bed, couch, entertainment system cabinet, or other bulky furniture will fit in the area where you want to place it. More importantly, a tape measure allows you to quickly determine if you’ll be able to carry a piece of furniture through a room’s doorway.
If you have kids or pets, another essential factor that you should consider is making sure that your new home is child and pet-friendly. This involves installing or even removing certain features to make your home safer for kids and pets.
For instance, before allowing your pets and children to run around in an unfamiliar environment, you should first install locks and gates to certain features like windows and staircases to prevent accidents. You should also remove or cover objects that are considered safety hazards, such as exposed nails and hot water pipes.
The fuse box and the water valve control some of the essential utilities of a home. Before settling in your new house, it’s important to locate these first to avoid stumbling inside your new home in times of emergency. By knowing where the fuse box and water valve are, you can easily find them in case your power suddenly goes out or if there’s a problem with your water supply.
In most cases, you can find the fuse box in your home’s basement, storage room, or garage. As for the water valve, this is usually located around the house’s perimeter.
Before moving in, make sure that all of your utilities have been arranged and set up. These include electricity, gas, water, heating and cooling systems, phone line, and Internet service. Taking care of these factors beforehand can alleviate the stress of moving in and settling into a new home.
More importantly, setting up your utilities allows you to easily carry on with your daily routines and activities immediately after moving in.
Thoroughly clean the house while it is still empty. Doing so allows you to reach certain places that you probably won’t be able to clean properly once you’ve unloaded all of your furniture. Aside from removing all the dust and dirt that have accumulated when the house was still vacant, cleaning it also allows you to check if there are certain features that need to be repaired.
Although you can clean the house yourself, you also have the option of hiring a professional cleaning company to handle this task. Most companies have the right set of equipment that can make your new home spotlessly clean.
For safety reasons, it’s important to change all the locks of your home as you’re moving in. This step ensures that only you and your family members can access your house. Even if you trust the property’s previous owner, you can’t be entirely sure who else has a key to your home.
So, for your family’s safety and peace of mind, change all the locks of the doors and gates leading into your house. Some windows also have locks of their own, which you can also change.
If you’re currently in the process of finding a new home where you can start the next chapter of your life, then be sure to get in touch with Ray White Albury Central. This real estate and property management agency uses its collective network and latest resources to connect clients with their ideal home. With Ray White Albury Central, you can be sure that you’ll get the best value out of your investment.
It is often said that location is everything when selecting a renting property – but that’s just one of the many factors you should consider before deciding on a new rental property. Other factors such as the amenities available in the property, the neighbours, and even the lease terms will … Read more
Spending some time in Albury-Wodonga and looking for fun things to do? You’re at the right place! On the main highway between Melbourne and Sydney, the twin cities of Albury-Wodonga is a popular spot, with the state of Victoria on one side and New South Wales on the other. Since … Read more