8 Things to Do Before Moving Into Your New Home

Moving is a huge endeavor. Just think about your life’s worth of belongings having to be carted from one house to another, and depending on how far you’re moving or how much stuff you’ve accumulated over the years, the job can be an even bigger one.

But before you make the big move, there’s a lot of preparation that needs to go into it. You can’t just call a mover and throw all of your stuff in the back of the truck and hope for the best. A streamlined, stress-free move is what you are aiming for, but you’re not going to get that if you’re not properly prepared before moving day.

If you want things to be as hassle-free as possible when it’s finally time to say goodbye to your old home and hello to your new abode, there are a few things you should do first, including the following.

1. Give the House a Good Scrub-Down

Sellers should typically leave their old homes in “broom-swept” condition, but it’s likely that more cleaning will be required. Even if there are no dust bunnies left behind, you’ll still probably want to mop the floors, clean the bathrooms, wipe down the sinks, clean inside the kitchen cabinets, and polish any other surfaces before you move in.

Cleaning without any furniture and accessories around is much easier. If this isn’t the type of job that excites you, hire a cleaning crew to get your home spic and span before you show up with all of your belongings.

2. Clean the Ducts

You never know when the ducts in the house were last cleaned, and a lot of dust and debris can accumulate in these hidden areas over time, which will wind up circulating all over the home. In order to ensure good air quality in your new home, hire a duct cleaning company to clean your air ducts before you spend your first night there.

3. Tackle Repairs

It’s much easier to make any necessary improvements to your new home when it’s empty as opposed to when it’s been filled to the brim with your things. Any changes that need to be done to the place should ideally be done before you settle in. Whether you’re painting the walls, installing new light fixtures, or getting rid of that unsightly popcorn ceiling, such work can make a mess. Before you haul all of your stuff in, make sure to tackle any updates or repairs beforehand.

4. Call the Utility Company

The sellers of the home you just bought obviously had electricity and running water, but they’re not going to continue paying those bills just so you can have these modern-day perks. Instead, you’ll have to call the utility company yourself and set up your electricity, gas, and water in your own name.

While you’re at it, you’ll also want to set up cable, internet, home phone, and anything else that you need to operate your home and make it comfortable.

5. Establish a Blueprint of How You’ll Arrange Your Furniture

If you already have furniture that you’ll be moving from your old home, try to come up with a layout of how you’ll arrange it in your new place. It would be a lot easier to have the movers set the furniture down in the exact spot that you want it in rather than have to shuffle it around after the fact.

6. Change the Locks

On closing day, you’ll be given a set of keys to your new home. However, there’s always a chance that another set might still exist. Rather than taking the chance of having keys to your house in someone else’s hands, consider changing the locks before you move in for added security.

7. Change the Alarm Code

If there is already an alarm system installed in the home and you will be keeping the same monitoring company, change the codes and put the account in your name.

8. Book Your Movers

Unless you’re renting a big truck and moving all your stuff on your own, you’ll want to book a moving company well in advance of moving day. These professionals book up quickly, so if you want to make sure you have some help the day you need it, you’d be well-advised to pencil in a date and time with your moving company of choice.

The Bottom Line

There’s definitely a lot of work to be done before the big day. Moving is already a labor-intensive project, but the steps that you take beforehand can make the process a lot easier and more streamlined. Don’t skimp on the pre-moving day preparations in order to keep things more simplified when it’s finally time to move into your new home.