It’s easy to get super excited about moving into your new house. But for your own safety and security, be sure to cross these tasks off your checklist before you call it home. (And also, be sure to buy these new home essentials).
Here’s your new home checklist:
#1 Change the Locks
You really don’t know who else has keys to your home, so change the locks. That ensures you’re the only person who has access. Install new deadbolts yourself for as little as $10 per lock, or call a locksmith — if you supply the new locks, they typically charge about $20 to $30 per lock for labor.
#2 Check for Plumbing Leaks
Your home inspector should do this for you before closing, but it never hurts to double-check.
Keep an eye out for dripping faucets and running toilets, and check your water heater for signs of a leak.
Here’s a neat trick: Check your water meter at the beginning and end of a two-hour window in which no water is being used in your house. If the reading is different, you have a leak.
#3 Steam Clean Carpets
Do this before you move your furniture in, and your new home life will be off to a fresh start. You can pay a professional carpet cleaning service — you’ll pay about $50 per room; most services require a minimum of about $100 before they’ll come out — or you can rent a steam cleaner for about $30 per day and do the work yourself.
#4 Wipe Out Your Cabinets
Another no-brainer before you move in your dishes and bathroom supplies, especially if the house has been vacant. It’s not uncommon for mice and other pests to move in quickly. Make sure to wipe inside and out, preferably with a non-toxic cleaner, and replace contact paper if necessary.
And if you do find traces of unwanted roommates, take the next step.
#5 Invest in Pest Control
That includes mice, rats, bats, termites, roaches, and any other uninvited guests. There are any number of DIY ways to get rid of pests, but if you need to bring out the big guns, an initial visit from a pest removal service will run you $100 to $300, followed by monthly or quarterly visits at about $50 each time.
#6 Introduce Yourself to Your Circuit Breaker Box and Main Water Valve
It’s easier to do with two people: one to stand in the room where the power is supposed to go off, the other to trip the breakers or fuses and yell, “Did that work? How about now?
You’ll want to know how to turn off your main water valve if you have a plumbing emergency if a hurricane or tornado is headed your way, or if you’re going out of town. Just locate the valve — it could be inside or outside your house — and turn the knob until it’s off. Test it by turning on any faucet in the house; no water should come out.
