Did you take advantage of the low interest rates and hot spring market and are now moving into your new home? Here’s 10 things you should do either before moving in or shortly thereafter.
- Change the locks on exterior doors. As soon as the closing is over and you’ve gotten the keys to your new house, switch out the locks. You don’t know how many people could possibly have a copy of that key, so have peace of mind and start with a new set!
- Contact your new utility companies to get all services put into your name. Try to have services turned on the day before you move to avoid doing work in a hot and dark environment!
- Get the house cleaned. Many people will do a move out cleaning prior to vacating, but some won’t. Run the washer and dishwasher; clean the oven, fridge and freezer. Washing down cabinets, counters and plumbing fixtures as well as cleaning carpets/floors and baseboards will make you feel like you are moving into a new house.
- Install new switch plates and other devices. Many older homes, especially those that have undergone renovations, will have mismatched outlets, dirty/discolored cover plates and rusted or damaged vent covers. Replacing these will give a sense of uniformity and cleanliness.
- Paint the walls and ceilings. This can be time consuming, especially if repairs are needed, so consider hiring a professional. If every surface needs to be painted, consider going with a neutral color for each room. You can always go back later and repaint the rooms to the colors you want.
- Have the mechanical equipment cleaned and serviced. Getting the heating and cooling systems cleaned and other routine tasks done is important. Also consider getting a service contract so if the system stops working in the middle of the winter, you won’t overpay to get a technician to come to your home.
- Pest-proof your new home. If you have access to the home before move-in day, set off a bug bomb or have the exterminator come and spray. Even if you don’t see bugs, they are likely there and you don’t want share your new home with pests.
- Install window treatments. Come nightfall, you don’t want your new neighbors seeing your family and belongings through open windows. If you don’t have time to consider your window covering needs, tack up a few spare linens in the interim.
- Become familiar with your circuit breaker box and main water valve. It’s a good idea to figure out which fuses control what parts of your house and label them accordingly. You’ll also want to know how to turn off the main water valve in case of a plumbing or weather related emergency. Locate the valve and turn it off, then test it by turning on any faucet. No water should come out.
- Check for plumbing leaks. This should be done at home inspection but it never hurts to double check. Keep an eye out for dripping faucets and running toilets and check your water heater for signs of a leak. Here’s a tip: check your water meter at the beginning and end of a 2-hour window in which no water is being used in your house. If the reading is different, you have a leak.
If you haven’t taken advantage of this hot market, contact Dawn Delgado to help you find the home of your dreams!
Dawn Delgado
dawn@e4realty.com
703.722.5044
“The E4Realty Group – Full Time Agents, Big Time Results!”
Sources:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/18707258/list/7-Things-to-Do-Before-You-Move-Into-a-New-House
http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/buying-home/10-things-to-do-when-you-arrive-at-your-new-home.htm#page=1
http://www.houselogic.com/blog/maintenance-repair/things-to-do-when-moving-into-a-new-house/#.
http://www.allied.com/moving-guides/family-guide-to-moving/first-things-to-do-when-moving