How to Prep Your New Home For Move-In

First time home-buyer in need of a moving checklist? All My Sons Moving & Storage has been in the business of residential moving for over 30 years and we would be delighted to offer some wisdom to help you get relocated comfortably. 

Right after you close on a home, you’ll naturally be excited about starting this next chapter of your life. Before you start packing up to get moved, there are a few important steps you should take to prepare your new home for move-in.

The best time to make any significant changes to your home is before all the furniture and household members have moved in. If you are intentionally buying a fixer-upper as a long-term project, you might choose to do significant remodeling even after you move in. For home-buyers who want a move-in ready house, these updates are best done before the moving boxes and furniture start arriving.

• Paint Walls: There will be no need to cover or move furniture if the furniture isn’t moved in yet. Choose your ideal colors for the interior and exterior of your home and make sure to get all the painting done before you move in.

• Update Floors: Planning to rip out that shaggy carpet or thinking the bathroom needs updated tile? You can save yourself the heavy labor of moving furniture around and cleaning up dust and debris if you get this done first thing. 

• Check Plumbing: Look around sinks, tubs, and showers for signs of leaks. Clear drains of clogs and check the water pressure on all faucets. Listen after you flush the toilet for signs of consistent running. 

• Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: A smoke or carbon monoxide detector can save your life in the event of an emergency, if it’s working properly. Test your detectors before you move in, and make sure to replace depleted batteries or nonfunctioning detectors.

• Change Locks: Unless you have purchased a brand-new build, there’s a chance that some keys from the previous homeowner are still lurking around. Give yourself and your household peace of mind and get the locks changed before you move in.

• Install Security System: Keep your family sleeping peacefully at night and make sure to choose and install a new security system to help alert you of intruders when you’re home and when you’re away.

Prior to move-in, you will need to do a little bit of research to find the providers in your area for your essential utilities. Some services, like electricity and internet, you might be able to transfer if your provider still works in your new area. Other services you will have to set up from scratch, or look up how to work with the city to get your bills paid.

• Electricity and Gas: Find a new service provider for electricity or gas and have service activated at your new home. If you are transferring service, call your current company and make sure they have your new address to bill. 

• Water: This utility bill might be handled by your local municipal government. Look up where to find and pay the bill.

• Trash and Recycling: Locate your bins, find out when pickup is scheduled for your block, and look up what items are accepted and not accepted in your regular curbside bin.

• Cable, Phone, or Internet: Some people want to be absolutely certain they’re connected to the web for streaming, gaming, remote work, and social media before they have a single piece of furniture. If this is you, make sure you’re set up with your cable, phone, and internet providers.

There’s no better time for a deep clean then when you’re moving in or moving out. With cleaning supplies packed with your essentials, you’ll be able to work on a deep clean before you unpack a single piece of furniture. Alternatively, you can hire a house-cleaning service in your area before you bring the moving truck.

• Vacuum and Mop Floors: Whether the flooring is new or came with the house, it’s a great idea to clean the floors before you move in. Now is a fantastic time for carpet cleaning as well.

• Wash Windows: Use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to scrub windows. Vacuum any dust, dirt, or debris on window sills and under screens. You can also remove your screens and wash them to rid them of cobwebs and other debris.

• Replace Air Filters: One of your regular home-maintenance items will be to keep your air filters replaced on a regular schedule. Replace the filters prior to your move-in and check your HVAC system’s instructions for when to replace the filters next.

• Scrub Fixtures: Countertops, faucets, showers, and tubs all need a good scrub-down with your favorite multi-surface cleaning solution.

Now comes the fun part of your move-in checklist, create a floorplan for your new home. Measure your floor spaces and doorways, as well as any of your current furniture that you’d like to move, and start creating a mock-up of where everything will go once inside the new home. When you create a floor plan, you give yourself the opportunity to see ahead of time what furniture you might need or what furniture you might need to get rid of. You also make things easier on your movers, because you’ll know exactly where to put all your furniture and items. 

You can use graphing paper and a pencil to draw up a floor plan by hand or you can try a floorplan software like Sweet Home 3D, Planner 5d, HomeByMe, and Homestyler.

Now your home is clean, the floor plan is prepped, and it’s time to start moving in. Get your new keys and start loading up your moving truck.

The first items you should unpack will be the essentials, the items you put on your moving truck last to be unloaded first. These are the items that make daily, functional living in your new home a breeze. Some examples of essentials include:

• Sheets and Pillows: Make your bed a comfy, cozy place from the moment you first arrive by bringing what you need to make the bed immediately.

• Coffee Maker: The morning after your move will be bleak indeed if you are someone who needs a caffeine fix very early. Pack your coffee maker with kitchen essentials. 

• Toilet Paper: When packing up your bathroom items, don’t forget to include toilet paper in the items you will unload immediately. Your future self will thank you. 

• Desk and Computer: If you work from home and will be reporting in soon, you should have your equipment for work in an accessible location. Don’t forget to set up internet access as well.

Once all the essentials are unpacked, you can set about unpacking the other boxes at your leisure.

Will you be making a move to a new home? All My Sons Moving & Storage tailors services to match the needs of your move, so you can have everything from full-house professional packing to just some help with the heavy lifting. Allow us to bring our customer-centric care to your residential move.