The Complete Move-In Checklist
The Essential Set of Moving Tips
Moving to a new home is an exciting change, but the moving process itself can easily become somewhat hectic when not properly planned out. No matter how thrilled you are to be getting into a new place, you still have to maintain your clarity of thought long enough to actually transition into the new home successfully, and that will require some forethought.
There is a lot to think about as you are relocating, and many different tasks and responsibilities may try to cloud your mind. Therefore, having a list of the important activities to accomplish before, during, and after the move can be a big help to new homeowners, and Chris Doering Mortgage is here to provide that list. We want you have a seamless and simple moving experience, so we have compiled the necessary advice that will make that experience possible. As you are settling into your new home, secure a smooth adjustment by following the steps of Chris Doering Mortgage’s Move-In Checklist.
The Move-In Checklist
Before You Move In
- Collect important documents
Packing important documents in random boxes will not help you keep them close at hand for quick retrieval when necessary, and depending on the box you put them in, you may not see them again for a few weeks. Therefore, gather all of your important documents before you move and put them in a secure container that you can easily identify and can access whenever you need before, during, and after the move. These important documents may include moving van documents; real estate papers; closing documents; receipts recording moving expenses that may be tax deductible; and warranties and instructions for new appliances. - Update your address
So that you don’t miss any important mail or delay bills in need of payment during the transition, update your address before you move by filing change of address forms with the post office. Remember to change your address on important items such as your driver’s license, voter registration, and credit cards, and notify your auto insurance company, your Internet and cable TV suppliers, the bank, and newspaper and magazine subscriptions as well. Finally, transfer utilities such as gas, water, electric, and phone to your new address, or choose new providers. - Review HOA rules
No matter how you feel about homeowners associations, you should review the rules of the homeowners association you may be moving into so that you can determine what you can and cannot do in terms of renovations and decorations. These rules will also fill you in with need-to-know information such as trash and recycling schedules, which you should heed as soon as possible. - Change the locks and set up a security system
As soon as the keys to your new home are in your hand, nullify them by getting the locks changed on all of the exterior doors. Whether you buy and install them yourself or have a locksmith handle it, you should get new locks installed immediately. This step should renew your peace of mind in light of the fact that realtors, maintenance folks, and previous owners may still have keys to your place, and it will enable you to take one more step towards making the house truly yours. Enhance your renewed peace of mind even further by equipping your new home with a security system if it does not otherwise have one. - Have the mechanical equipment cleaned and serviced
As soon as you buy your new home, schedule to have routine cleaning and maintenance performed on the heating and cooling systems so that you can reduce the chance of encountering significant problems with this equipment when the seasons change. - Pest-proof your new home
Ideally, you should have your new home sprayed for pests or set off a bug bomb before you and your family get there. Finishing this task early will allow you to avoid exposure to the harsh chemicals and keep the bugs out of your stuff as you are unpacking. - Deep clean your new home
After you pest-proof your home, get your new place in pristine condition by deep cleaning it. Thoroughly wiping down the countertops, shelves, drawers, baseboards, windows, and floors will be much easier before rugs and furniture begin to occupy the space as well, and cleaning out the oven, refrigerator, and freezer will be a breeze before the food arrives. If you have the time to complete a deep cleaning of your home before you move in, save some money and get to know your new house better by doing it yourself, and if you do not have the time, hire a cleaning service to help you get every room spick and span before you unload the moving van. - Paint the walls and ceilings
Getting a fresh coat of paint on all of the walls and ceilings in the home, if it needs this treatment, is a pretty time consuming job, so consider hiring professionals for this task as well. If the walls are slightly damaged with holes, cracks, or other defects, the surfaces will definitely need to be prepped before the new color goes up, so if you do not have the ability to accomplish this before your move-in date, then there is all the more reason to outsource this chore to the pros so that you can focus on more important parts of the move-in process. If every surface needs repainting and you are short on time, choose a neutral hue to cover all of the walls and then plan on repainting rooms in colors you prefer in the future.
As You Are Moving In
- Install new switch plates and other devices
If you are moving into an older home, you may see mismatched outlets, discolored cover plates, and rusty air vent covers throughout the home. To give the house a sense of uniformity and cleanliness, replace all of these items yourself if you can, and if any project involves working with electricity, contact the professionals. - Double-check repairs
For freshly built or renovated homes, builders routinely conduct a final walk-through of the space, and this is time to note last minute details that need to be addressed. Your builder will probably take care of them before you move in, but be sure to determine who will be responsible for any open items. Things to look for include a burned out light bulb, paint that needs a touchup, or chipped electrical outlet covers. - Inspect your stuff
After the moving truck has been unloaded, check your inventory list to confirm that everything has been delivered, and to ensure that everything makes it to its new place in the home, review the floor plan as well to figure out what goes where. Then, walk through each room of the house to check that your belongings made it safe and sound. Open boxes containing your most breakable items, such as china or glassware, to see if they survived the trip, and remember that if your breakables arrived in one piece, your other stuff is probably fine as well. - Organize as you unpack
If you have not hired the movers to help you unpack, then resist the urge to try to unpack everything at once. Instead, locate the essentials and put those away, then unpack and organize the rest of your things as you need them. Essentials include towels, bed linens, toiletries, a few sets of clothes, necessary dishes, and the items the kids and pets need to feel settled as well. - Get closet organizers
Before you pull out all of your stuff, survey the closet situation of the house and make a plan about where you will put certain things. To prepare your closets to provide maximum storage solutions, outfit them with closet organizers, and create additional storage options throughout the home by adding shelves, hooks, tubs, and baskets where needed. This step will help you guarantee that everything has a good place to live. - Get to know your home
If you are moving into a new build or a home decked out with a lot of systems, get acquainted with the specifics of these features as soon as possible. Take a tour of your new build with the builder to discover the locations of the electrical circuit breakers, water cutoff valves, and furnace and air conditioning filters, and learn how to operate all new systems such as garage door openers, sprinkler systems, programmable thermostats, water softeners, appliances, home security, home automation, home theater, and more. - Get to know your neighborhood
As you are learning about the inside of your home, learn about the outside as well by meeting your new neighbors, discovering the best places to get groceries and other necessities, and mapping out the major roads and best routes around your home.
After You Move In
- Add window treatments
The dual purpose of window treatments is something new homeowners will want to take advantage of as soon as possible: window treatments supply both desirable privacy and the finishing touch to your space. If you do not have the ability to put curtains or blinds up on all the windows right away, at least dress the windows that need it the most, such as those in bedrooms and bathrooms. - Prepare the beds
Empower everyone to get a good night’s sleep and feel cozy in the new house by unpacking bed linens for every bed that your family will be using for now. Forgo making the guest beds until a later date if no friends are staying over, and focus instead on getting out the favorite blankets, sheets, and pillows that everyone needs to start enjoying their new bedrooms right away. - Throw a housewarming party
Once you are feeling good about the condition of your new home, celebrate the success of your transition by throwing a housewarming party with friends, family, and neighbors. People might bring gifts to the party to help welcome you to the neighborhood, and you have a chance to meet new people and show off the beautiful space you have created.
The Move-In Mindset
As you are working through this major process and trying to keep your stuff and your sanity intact, remember why you are moving and the vision you have for your new life in this new house. As much as you can, try to fashion the home you always imagined, but don’t pressure yourself to race through every step. Instead, take the time to relax, be with your family, and celebrate even the smallest moving achievements. Chris Doering Mortgage is here to help you master moving with this Move-In Checklist, so to learn more about Chris Doering Mortgage and our services, contact our team today!