The Essential Checklist to a Happy New Home: Part 2

Moving into a new home is an exciting and busy time, that’s what makes it hard to keep track of everything you need to do. While you may have already completed the pre-move tasks outlined in part 1 of The Essential Checklist to a Happy New Home, you’re not in the clear quite yet. Before you unpack that moving van, take a look at the checklist below and make sure you’re on the path to homeowner success.

• Activate your utilities. This is one of those pesky tasks you’ll need proof of residence for. While you don’t want to turn your utilities on before you arrive in case of an emergency situation, like bad pipes or wiring (and some companies won’t activate them without the homeowner present), it’s important to remember that you’ll have to schedule an appointment for many companies, which may take longer than you expected due to volume and holidays. Call well in advance and schedule an appointment for your move-in day.
• Check your major appliances. If the previous owner left behind a refrigerator, stove, washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave or any other major appliance, take them for a quick test drive to make sure they work properly. Do a load of laundry, preheat the oven, boil water, fill ice cube trays for the freezer and anything else you can think of to easily put everything through its paces.
• Inspect delivered boxes. If you hired a professional moving company, like the experts at Molloy Bros. Moving & Storage, make sure you have a list of all of your boxes before they’re transported to your new home. You may even want to take pictures of all boxes, labels out, that you can refer back to when you verify all of your possessions made the trip successfully. It’s also important to label boxes “fragile” and check them for breakage before the movers leave.
• Secure your home. Once the keys to your new home are yours…change them. You should change every lock in the house, even on the bedroom doors if they have a key, to ensure only you and your family have access. If there is an existing alarm system in the house, immediately call and put the service in your name, or deactivate it and install one of your choosing.
• Childproof everything. If you have kids, take the time before the house is full of boxes and furniture to childproof the basics, like drawers, doors, the toilet and electrical outlets. And if you don’t have kids, you could always childproof it anyway to add a challenge to your daily routine, if you’re so inclined! Just kidding…mostly.
• Paint. This may sound simple, but consider how much more difficult it is to paint with furniture in all the rooms and people already living in your house. Take this one-time opportunity of a clean slate to paint your walls the color of your choice and at the very least add a refresh coat to the ceilings and any walls you may not be changing. You’ll be thanking yourself when you don’t have to take all your picture frames down or worry about spilling paint on your couch.
• Check your credit reports. While you’re setting up new utilities and completing the plethora of paperwork associated with buying a home, you’re more vulnerable to identity theft. After you move, get free copies of your credit report from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, and check your FICO score to ensure there are no inaccuracies or suspicious activity.

Now that you have a sneak peek at your post-move to-do list, contact the moving and storage experts who will start your move off right: Molloy Bros. Moving & Storage.