It’s time for the things to do after you move! Here is everything you should do after you have moved into your new house
Change the locks
Moving into a house means that your locks may have multiple keys out there. Book the locksmith to come in and change the locks. If you are into tech, you can always choose smart locks that will help you monitor things. Smart home technology is so cool!
If you think it might be expensive, realize that the people who owned the house before you could have given out 30 keys to the place over their time living there, and all it takes is one unscrupulous person to decide to let themselves in and steal your Elvis plates. It’s worth the cost to get them changed or to DIY change the locks on your own.
Replace the air filters
A good rule of thumb is to replace your air filters when you move in. That way, you have a date when you know they need to be changed in the future.
Inspect the windows for any unlocked windows or broken latches
Just like the lock changing, inspect the windows to make sure everything closes properly and can lock. If there are sliding windows that can’t be locked, put a stick in the slider to prevent people from opening it.
Install security systems
Wherever you live, a security system is a good idea. For many having the system actually lowers the amount of insurance. For us, we save more on our house insurance premiums than it actually costs for the monitoring.
Plus, there is peace of mind knowing the house is secure. You can go with a smart home security system or get a security system professionally installed. It’s a good idea to get this done. If you already have an alarm system, make sure to change the codes.
Test the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
Go and quickly test each of the fire alarms and see if you need to have the batteries replaced if some aren’t working. While you are checking them, replace the battery, so you are good for the next 6 months. Make a point of replacing them every 6 months as part of your maintenance checklist.
Find out what day is garbage day
Call the city and see if there is anything you need to do to be ready for garbage day. You may need special cans or have to pay a fee for collection.
Introduce yourself to the new neighbors
Did you cringe just a little when you read this? Of course, meeting new people in real life is always a little hard. But they are curious about you, so walk over and introduce yourself as the new owners of the residence.
It’s a good way to get the details on the house, the people who lived there before, and get a vibe for how people are in the area. Plus, it’s always good to have people looking out for your place when you aren’t around. Also, make sure to ask about recommendations for places to get snacks and take out in the area.
Call the utility companies
If you didn’t do it on moving day, call the utility companies immediately and get your accounts switched over. Take pictures of the meters and make a note somewhere. Also, book any installation visits that need to happen to get your services up and running.
Review your insurance policy
Take a few minutes to go over your insurance policy and make sure everything is in order. When you bought the policy, it was likely you didn’t know everything about the house. Now that you have moved in, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the right coverage.
Change your car insurance
While you are at it, if you have your insurance at the same place for your vehicle, make sure to change over your plates and insurance information on your motor vehicle as well.
Contact your banks
Now that you are in your new home, you want to make sure your banks know where you are. This can get overlooked if you are getting a mortgage from a different provider than your usual bank, so make the call and get things changed over.
