Moving is hard work. And if you just sold a house, you know how much work goes into preparing a home for sale. Sorry to tell you that you can’t take a break just yet – even though the sale of your home is complete and you are holding the keys to your new place.
However, with just a few steps, you can ensure that your move will go smoothly and you can quickly start enjoying life in your new home.
1. Set up a change of address.
Send out an email or postcard to all your contacts stating your new address and date of move. Also, go to the post office and pay for the service of having your mail redirected to your new address for at least a few months. This way, even if some people did not update your contact information and used your old address, you will receive their mail. And, it will be easier to contact these persons or companies individually to ensure they send future communications to your new place.
2. Change the locks on all exterior doors.
Changing the locks in your new home will give you peace of mind.
You don’t know who has keys to your new home – and that can be unnerving. Have a locksmith – or if you are handy, do it yourself – install new lock sets on all exterior doors. You shouldn’t forget any other buildings on the property such as a storage shed or garage. This can be a bit costly, but you are getting peace of mind, and making this house yours. It is definitely worth it.
3. Clean the house.
Many sellers these days make an effort to leave a home clean and tidy for the new owners. Whether yours did that or not, you may still want to clean it up yourself. Washing the inside of kitchen cabinets will make you feel good when you start putting your dishes and pantry supplies away. Cleaning the fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen is also a way to make you feel at home and relaxed in these spaces. Mopping, vacuuming and dusting will do wonders for how at home you feel. If you have the budget, you can hire a cleaning service – or enlist the help of friends and family for a day. The promise of a pizza dinner will likely round up a few volunteers!
4. Paint.
It may not be possible for you to paint the home before you move in. And there is no point in doing a quick and shoddy job on the day of the move. The best route is to assess the condition of the walls and ceilings before your belongings get delivered. Take note of the walls that have cracks or holes that need patching and which rooms are going to be a priority. You can then do the painting when you have more time, or hire professionals – and have
A freshly painted house feels clean and new.
solid notes to guide you.
5. Install closet organizers.
Most standard closets come with a pole and a shelf. That is hardly adequate to accommodate everything! If you are taking advantage of a final walk-through with your agent, take measurements of the closets. You will be ready on moving day to assemble them and start unpacking everything from winter boots to laundry detergent. Having a place for it all makes living in a house more enjoyable, and it makes it easier to keep a tidy home.
6. Do minor cosmetic fixes.
“The devil is in the details” – as the saying goes. Take a look around and see if you can improve the look and feel of your place by making small changes which will have a big impact in how you feel in your home. Does the house have mismatched electrical outlets or cover plates? Are the air vents dirty or damaged? Is the hardware on kitchen and bathroom cabinets to your taste? A quick trip to the harware store and a couple of tools and you can greatly impact how new and clean your new place feels. Just make sure you are not tackling electrical work that should be handled by a professional.
7. Arrange to have the mechanical equipment serviced.
The furnace, the air conditioner, the pool pump, and even some of the big appliances such as the washer and dryer or dishwasher should be inspected. Even though your purchase agreement likely stated that the previous owners should leave all equipment in working order, it’s still a good idea to get to know the working parts of your new home. As well, this will set up a relationship with a servicing company that can be useful should something break down in the future.
8. Install window treatments.
If you are planning custom-made treatments for your home, have the rep come with you on your final walk-through to measure the windows. Hopefully you can have these ready and installed within a couple of days of your move. Otherwise, you can measure the windows yourself so you can buy and have shades or curtains ready to be installed on the day of the move. It will make all the difference in terms of privacy and provide that needed finishing touch to all the rooms.
Yes, moving is definitely hard work. But if you get organized, it can be a wonderful start to living and enjoying your beautiful new home. Good luck!
Do you have other suggestions for new home owners on what to do on, or before, moving day?
If you are looking to buy a home, or are thinking of selling yours, I would be glad to represent you and help you negotiate the best deal. Please contact me at steve@stevewalsh.ca.
Images courtesy of Gualberto107 and Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
