Things to Do Before You Move Into a House

Before You Move – There are a lot of things to think about when you are moving into a new house. Some of these things are more important than others. Therefore, you need to learn how to prioritize all of the tasks you need to complete in order to make the move to your new house go as smoothly as possible. Most people focus on the actual move itself. This consists of wrapping fragile items and carefully placing them in boxes.

It also involves hiring professional movers in the event that large and heavy items need to be moved. While these are certainly important things, many people lose sight of what awaits them on the other side of their move. Prepping your new home and getting it ready for your move is equally important. Here are some ways you can go about doing this before you move.

1. Make sure the exterior locks are changed before you move

This is one of the most commonly forgotten chores among people moving into a new house. However, it is vitally important for the safety of both you and your family. You also need to change the locks in order to adequately protect all of your valuable possessions. So why aren’t the previous locks good enough? You need to keep in mind that the previous owner of your house may still have copies of the keys to all of the exterior locks.

Also, he or she may have given copies of those keys to many friends and family members. Basically, you have no way of knowing how many people are out there who can easily gain access to your home. Rather than have to find this information out the hard way, it is a good idea to schedule a locksmith to meet you at your new home the same day you plan to move in. Do not leave the old exterior locks on your hone for even a single day more than you need to. You should also upgrade to deadbolts if they are not already installed.

2. Contact your utility companies before you move

Imagine what a disaster it would be if you arrived at your new home and discovered to your horror that there is no electricity. If you are moving in cold weather, it would be equally bad if you forgot to have your gas turned on before your arrival. This is why one of your first orders of business during a move should be to contact your utility companies and inform them of the exact date you will be moving into the house.

Do not wait until the morning of your move or the day before. You need to give the utility company enough time to make the necessary arrangements to begin your service. In most cases, this will not take very long. But it is better to be safe than sorry, so give your utility companies as much notice as possible.

3. Check for any pest problems before you move

Before you unpack a single box of your possessions in your new home, you would be wise to make a thorough inspection for pests. These can include bees, roaches, termites, rats, mice and many other unwanted guests. In many cases, the previous owner and the real estate agent may purposely neglect to tell you that there is a pest infestation in the home.

This is why it is up to you to look for yourself. If you see any evidence that pests are present in the home, you will need to determine if you can handle the problem yourself. If the job look too big, call a professional exterminator to eliminate the critters. In cases where an exterminator is needed, it may be necessary to fumigate the home. Therefore, make your inspection long before you move in.

4. Have all of the carpets steam cleaned before you move

Let’s face it, you have no idea what went on in your new house when the previous owner lived there. There is no way of knowing how often he or she cleaned the carpets. As disgusting as it may sound, there might be remnants of vomit and feces still embedded in the fibers of your carpeting. In order to ensure that you are moving into a clean and healthy home with no contaminants, hire a professional steam cleaning company to thoroughly clean all of the carpets prior to the day you plan to move in.

5. Clean all of the cabinets before you move

You never know what may be lurking inside the cabinets of your new home. Cabinets are places where mice frequently like to hang out. Needless to say, you should remove all of the mice droppings before you start placing your dishes and toiletries inside the cabinets. Ideally, you should clean the cabinets with supplies that are friendly to the environment. Supplies like these can be found in most retail stores.

These are all helpful tips to remember before your move and of course before the big day you’ll need a reliable moving company (click for estimate) Thanks for reading about all things to do Before You Move.