New Homeowners Move In Prep Tips
Mild temps and sunshine make spring the ideal season for moving into a new home which is why more people move between the months of April and September. Moving can be stressful and daunting, especially for new homeowners. In today’s blog, we’re offering up tips and advice on preparing your new home for move-in day from seasoned moving and home professionals to help make the big move a bit easier.
Develop a Move-in Budget
A new house payment isn’t the only expense you’ll incur when moving to a new home. Develop a budget plan that includes everything from professional moving services to child and pet care to updates or renovations you may need to home & garden services such as pest control and lawn care. Other expenses may include additional furniture, curtains or bathroom accessories if your new home is larger than your previous home.
Change the Locks
Scheduling an appointment to have your exterior locks changed should be one of the first tasks you tackle once the deed to your new home is in your hands. Whether it’s a new construction or new-to-you, you never know who may have a key to your home!
Paint and Make Other Renovations or Updates Before Moving In
Unless you’re moving into a brand-new or recently updated home you’ll probably find at least one room in the house you want painted. One of the biggest mistakes new homeowners make is moving into a home before all of the renovations or updates they want are complete. It’s easy to become overzealous and anxious about finally getting into your new home, but trust us, it’s best to wait until your home is completely ready for your move in. Professional Tip from McCarley Cabinets: If you are having new cabinets installed in your home, paint first and allow it to dry completely before scheduling your installation appointment to avoid costly repairs later.
Change Switch and Outlet Plates
Changing switch and outlet plates are one of those small projects that’s often neglected but can make a big difference in updating the look of your home’s interior. It’s also one of those tasks homeowners kick themselves for not completing before moving in.
Clean the Home
Whether you recruit a few good friends and relatives to help or hire a professional service to do it for you, cleaning your home before moving in is essential for a fresh, clean start. Clean every inch of the home from top to bottom, including baseboards and the inside of cabinets.
Eliminate Pests
Who wants to share their new home with an array of uninvited critters? There are a number of pest c
ontrol products available at any local general goods or big box store for the do-it-yourselfers, but we recommend taking the plunge and hiring a professional pest control service to banish bugs and rodents from your new home. The first visit typically costs between $100-$300 with monthly or quarterly follow-ups costing around $50.
Service Heating and Cooling Systems
Contact your local HVAC company to have your heating and cooling systems cleaned and serviced before your move-in date to avoid any post-move surprises like a broken air compressor. Also have other air systems, like your range hood vent, serviced or replaced if necessary to ensure you and your family are moving into a home free of harmful toxins in the air.
Plan Room Setups
Grab a notebook and a pencil and map out your vision of how you want each room in your home set up. On move-in day, hang each setup drawing in their appropriate rooms to make arranging your things a cinch.
Gather Essential Home and Garden Supplies
Between packing and preparing the major things in your new home, you may forget to gather supplies that are essential to every home. Make sure you have everything on the checklist below before moving in.
Tool kit
Lawn mower/lawncare maintenance tools
Cleaning supplies, including wet/dry mop
Light bulbs
Batteries
Window treatments
ladder
Vacuum
Trash cans
Flashlights
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Handsoap
Doormats--who wants everyone tracking in dirt into your freshly cleaned new home?
Needing new cabinets or storage solutions for your new home? McCarley Cabinets will work with you to develop a design that fits your needs. Give us a call today to get started with a free quote.
