Top Tips for Moving Into Your New Home

*This is a collaborative post on tips for moving into your new home

Buying a house and moving into the new property is very stressful and is a long journey to endure. Many people make the mistake of believing that once they have got the keys, all the hard work is over. However, this is not the case. If you can, it is important that you try to take a little time to do a few more tasks. This will be some effort, but it will help you in the long term. You will be able to move into a clean and secure home that is set up correctly. You will be comfortable and the home will be practical and functional to meet your needs. 

It can be difficult to know what to do, especially when all your time and energy has been taken up with buying the property. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips for moving into your new home. 

Get your bearings

The first and most important thing you should do when you buy a property is get your bearings. Get the keys from the estate agent and head over to the property. When you buy a home, you don’t get time to look around for very long, even if you organise more than one viewing. Head over to the property and spend time getting your bearings and getting to know the property. This will give you a good place to start when you plan on where you are going to put all your belongings, who gets what room and what changes you might make. 

Take metre readings

Metre readings are very important when you first move into the property and should be one of the first things that you do when you get the keys. You want to make sure that you are not charged for the use of energy from the previous owners. Make a note of the metre readings for both electric, gas and water if necessary.

Find the water valve and fuse box

These are important parts of your home that you need to know in case of an emergency and you need to turn off the electric or water. They are usually found in a cupboard under the stairs, in a utility room or on the porch. 

Change of address

You should make a list of all the places that have your address and you use for correspondence. You should work your way through the list and make sure you notify them of your change of address. Some will let you change it straight away, while others may tell you that you need proof of address. You may not be able to get this until you get your first utility or council bill through the post. Make sure you request these and make a note of who you need to contact later down the line. 

Set up your new utilities

You need to set up all the household utilities in your name. You will need to find the provider that you wish to partner with and contact them. They will need all of your details, including the new property address and metre readings if necessary. Make sure you consider the water, electricity, gas, council tax, TV licence, and more. 

Give your new home a good clean

Before you move in all of your belongings, it is a good idea to give the property a deep clean. Regardless of how clean it might look, that is only on a surface level. You don’t know how clean it actually is, how hygienic the owners were before you, whether they had pets, whether they wore their shoes indoors, and more. If possible, it is a good idea to clean the property before you move in your belongings, as this will make it much easier and ensure if there are any health issues, that your belongings don’t get contaminated. 

Secure your new property

Securing the new property is an excellent thing to do. This will give you peace of mind. You may consider changing the locks on the doors and windows, including any outside parts like a garage or shed. You could also consider installing CCTV cameras around the property, or a video doorbell. 

Assess for issues

Take a notepad and pen and walk around the property. This time, look for any issues or hazards. This could be loose wires, damp, mould, termites, broken floors, warped windows, and more. This will ensure that you are made aware of any issues as early as possible, so you can get them fixed sooner rather than later. If you don’t, these may be hazardous to you and your family or can cost you a lot of money in the future if it turns into a bigger issue. 

Fix issues

Now you have a list of issues, it is a good idea to work on them quickly and resolve them. You may write a new list and prioritise which ones should be completed first and urgently. You may be able to fix them yourself, or you might have to call in a professional to support you, to make sure everything is fixed properly and to a high standard if you don’t possess the right skills and knowledge yourself. 

Assess what you want and need from the property

The next kind of assessment you should make on your property is a bit more exciting. Consider what you want and need from the property. What will make it comfortable and homely for you? What will make it more practical and functional for you? What changes do you need to make to ensure the property meets the needs of you and your family? Answer these questions and form a plan of action for yourself. You will need to consider your time and budget in this plan and make sure it is something realistic and achievable. 

Update the property

The property may need updating. This could be because it is old and needs work, or it could simply be because you want to make changes so the property is more functional and practical for you. For example, you may choose to take down some walls to create a brighter, open-plan space. Or you may choose to add an extension to the property so you have more room for your family or a home office or gym. The opportunities are endless! Just make sure you obtain the right permissions from the council first. 

Customise it with decor

When you have made your property more functional and practical, the real fun can begin. Take some time to think about what theme, colours and decor you want to fill your home with. Paint the walls the colours you love, hang up some beautiful curtains, and add art to your walls. Head to the shops so you can try out some quality fabric sofas and find a coffee table that works well in the space. Make your bathrooms and kitchen beautiful. Spruce up the garden so you have a nice place to spend outside. See your garden as an extension of your home. Go crazy and make your home your own. A new property is a clean slate, and it is a great opportunity for you to personalise the house to your tastes and needs. You want to look forward to coming home every day and feel good when you are in your home. You can do this all through decor and choosing comfortable furniture and colours that make you feel good.

Check your bin days

Bin days are really important. They are going to be different in different areas, so make sure you don’t just assume! Check on the local council website or ask a neighbour. Do this straight away so you don’t miss a bin day and have piles of rubbish sitting outside your front door, or leave yourself with rubbish you have to dispose of yourself. Check the rules and make sure you have the bins for the property, and you know which colour bins are for what. Contact your council if you need any support or new bins for the property. 

Introduce yourself to your neighbours

A great thing to do when you first move into a property is introduce yourself to your neighbours. You don’t have to do anything official, but it is always nice to at least say hello to them in passing, or knock to let them know you have moved in next door. This helps to create a nice environment. You will be living next to each other for a long time, so you want to get off on the right foot and minimise any issues right from the start. It is really important that you speak to your neighbours when you first move in, especially if you are going to be doing work on the property like making upgrades or extending it. This can help to keep the peace and ensure there are no issues. People can be very understanding when you openly communicate with them. 

Moving house is not quick or easy, and there is a lot you have to do after you have purchased the property and collected the keys. To help you, here is a breakdown of what you should do.