Congratulations! You have successfully closed on a house. While the paperwork may all be finalized, however, there are still some crucial steps you need to take. Remember these three things to make your move-in as smooth as possible!
Make a Maintenance Checklist
One of the first things you should do after closing on a home is make a maintenance checklist. Before you start moving in any heavy furniture or home décor, take advantage of the clear space to inspect each room from the floors to the ceilings. Even if you don’t have the current budget to make further aesthetic fixes to the house, it will be good to have a list of things you might want to renovate in the future. Completing this checklist can also alert you to any maintenance needed on essential safety devices like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and locks. It is very important that you fix these as soon as possible to ensure your safety at home.
Start Your Move
To reduce the stress of moving, move your belongings in an organized manner. If you have lots of belongings boxed up, consider labeling and numbering the boxes so you know what is inside. Creating a master list of the boxes and their contents can also help account for all your belongings and hopefully help you avoid leaving anything behind. Move in large items first, spread your move out over several days or weeks if you have many items, and enlist the help of loved ones or professionals so you don’t get too overwhelmed. If you are planning on using professional movers, make sure to account for that in your budgeting and do adequate research to find a reliable and affordable company. Professional movers can cost you from hundreds of dollars to a couple of thousand.
Change the Locks
Even though the house is officially yours, you don’t know how many people have keys to it. Changing your locks ensures that no one will be able to enter your home that you don’t know. This can be very comforting, especially if, in most cases, you bought your home from people you don’t know personally.
This is a very exciting time for you, and there is much to do to make your home your own. Take care not to forget small but important tasks such as these that can greatly affect your safety. Being thoughtful about your move can greatly reduce your overall stress.
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