Finally, getting the keys to your new home is so exciting, but it can also be daunting. There’s a lot to do when you first move into a new home, and it can be overwhelming when you consider that the property is now entirely your responsibility. So you can get the most enjoyment out of your home move and to protect your property, we’ve put together a list of things you should do when you first get the keys to your property.
The very first thing you should do is inspect your new home. Check for any problems or damages that you didn’t see (or weren’t there) before. Verify that everything that was included in the purchase agreement is actually in the property and is in good, working condition. Finally, document any problems in case any disputes arise.
Fun ideas:
- Make a video tour of you entering your property for the first time that you can later send to your friends and family.
- Introduce yourself to the neighbours and start getting to know the people you’re going to be living by.
- Start choosing rooms and deciding where the big furniture is going to go in the room. Visualise yourself using and living in the space.
- Celebrate, invite your friends and family round and enjoy your new home.
Security:
- One of the first things you should arrange to have done is a lock change. When you take ownership of a property, you can’t be sure that someone somewhere doesn’t have spare keys to your home. It makes sense to have the locks changed on your new home, so you have peace of mind only you can let yourself into the house.
- Get your bearings of the local area. There are some things you need to know how to get to. For example, you have to know where the nearest hospital is, police station and fire station, as well as where the supermarkets and local petrol station is. It’s a good idea to get used to your area before you move.
- Sort out your insurance. You need to make sure the building and your contents are all insured. Set this insurance up as soon as you take ownership of the property so that if the worst should happen, such as a fire, you are covered for any damages to the property.
- Check alarms are all working. Change the passcode on any house alarms and check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
General:
- Acquaint yourself with where the important things in your property are, including things like your fuse box and emergency shut-off valve. In case of any problems, you’re going to want to know where these are without having to look.
- Have a deep clean. Even a brand new property will need a clean, any property that has previously owned and lived in will need a stronger, deeper clean.
- Child and/or pet proof the property, if you need to. This might not be something you need to worry about, but if you do have children or pets, take a look around the home to look for any hazards or dangers that you need to make safer before bringing the family into the home.
- Change all the utilities into your name and make sure they are all working so that when you are ready to spend your first night in the house, you have working electricity, gas and water.
- Change your address so that everything is registered to your new address and you receive all of your post.
Decoration:
- It is a good idea to decorate before you move all of your furniture and belongings into your new property. If you decide to use a professional decorator, you might receive a discount for having empty rooms, as this makes their job easier for them.
- Refresh the flooring, replace carpets and lino to not only freshen up the look but to make the property your own. Replacing the flooring will mean you can choose any interior design you like for your home, you don’t have to work around the existing carpet.
As you can see, some of these things are more essential and important than others. Security issues and things like insurance should always be addressed first, anything like decorating should come secondary to that. Above all else, remember that moving into a new home and starting this new chapter in your life is supposed to be fun. So try to make your house move as fun as possible.
