How You Can Prep Your New Home Before Moving In

So, you’ve signed all the paperwork, grabbed the keys, did a whole cross-country move, and maybe even taken a cute “new home” photo to share with the world. Congrats, it’s all yours! But here’s the thing that you really need to keep in mind first; just because it’s officially your house doesn’t mean it’s ready for you to move in and call it home. Oh no, there’s a bit of work ahead before you can kick back and relax.

Actually, moving into a new place isn’t all excitement and Pinterest boards. It’s also a lot of, “Wait, why does the light switch control absolutely nothing?” or, “Was that stain on the carpet there during the showing?” And if the previous owners weren’t exactly pros at cleaning or fixing stuff, you might be left with a few… surprises. Gross ones, at that (no one wants to deal with nasty surprises, right?)

Well, before you put all your boxes in that home, and set everything up, this is your chance to make sure your new house feels like yours before the boxes start piling up and the chaos begins. Nobody wants to spend their first night in a new home realizing the smoke detectors don’t work or discovering the last residents left behind a mystery smell in the fridge. In all honestly, it just takes a little prep work now will save you so much stress later.

So, where do you start? Keep reading, because this is the guide you didn’t know you needed!

Start With A Deep Dive Into Repairs

Okay, so before you even start thinking about where the couch is going or what color to paint the walls, take a good, hard look around. Sure, the house might’ve seemed flawless when you first saw it, but now that it’s officially yours, those tiny “quirks” have a funny way of revealing themselves. Maybe the bathroom faucet has a drip-drip-drip that could drive you insane by day two, or that light switch in the hallway still doesn’t seem to do anything at all.

Well, this is your chance to catch all the little things that need fixing before life gets busy and the furniture makes everything ten times harder to reach. Go room by room, check everything from the cabinets to the ceiling fans, and don’t skip the appliances. 

Just imagine settling in for your first dinner, only to find the oven is about as useful as a paperweight (and those inspections before moving in can sometimes be more outdated than expected). Just think of it this way; if you fix it now, your future self will be forever grateful.

You Need A Fresh Start With A Fresh House

This is never shown in the movies, but not all houses are pristine on move-in day. Actually, not everyone moves out like they’re trying to impress the next owner. Some people leave behind surprises you definitely didn’t ask for, like crumbs in the cabinets, smudges on the walls, and, if you’re really lucky, a smell that seems to have set up permanent residency. It’s gross, it’s annoying, and it’s the last thing you want to deal with when you’re already buried in moving chaos.

So, you’re exhausted, you’re overstimulated, you have a list of things you need to do. So maybe cleaning this yourself isn’t really an option for the time being (or maybe you’re already bad at cleaning?) Well, this is why a professional house cleaning service is an absolute lifesaver.

You can count on them to tackle every corner, scrub down the stuff you don’t even want to think about and leave the place feeling like it’s finally yours. But really, you shouldn’t have to scrub out someone else’s mess before you can enjoy your new home. You deserve a fresh start, and yeah, a fresh home offers just that!

Think About Security Before Settling In

Alright, so before you get too cozy in your new house, it’s time to think about security. Because here’s the thing: you have no idea how many people still have a key to your front door. Maybe the previous owners gave one to their neighbor, their dog sitter, or that friend who promised to water their plants once… three years ago. Now, none of this is exactly comforting, right? It’s scary to think, but yeah, there’s always a chance that something awful like that could very well happen to you.

So, for starters, you’ll need to swap out those locks. It’s quick, easy, and gives you the peace of mind you didn’t know you needed. While you’re at it, check that all the windows and doors close and lock properly, meaning no wiggly handles or stubborn latches are allowed. If the house has a security system, update the codes ASAP, and if it doesn’t, now’s the perfect time to consider getting one.

If you have the funds (and yes, sometimes vacant houses or newly moved homes can be a target for criminals), then it’s best to install cameras, and motion sensors, even a simple doorbell cam can go a long way in helping you sleep better at night.

Take Care Of Utility Transfers And Inspections

Just imagine moving into your new home, flipping the light switch, and… nothing. Or maybe you’re trying to take a shower only to discover the water’s not running (or it’s just cold). Now, all of this is a massive mood killer, right? 

Well, before the big moving day arrives, make sure all your utilities are sorted. Alright, so electricity, water, gas, internet, well, everything needs to be in your name and ready to roll before you show up with a moving truck full of boxes.

This is also the perfect time to check on the big stuff, like the HVAC system and water heater. Overall, these things have a habit of breaking at the worst possible times, like during a heatwave or a snowstorm. While sure, it’s not great, but overall, just having a quick inspection now can save you from scrambling to fix it later. But yeah, moving is stressful enough, so don’t let a surprise cold shower make it worse.

Plan for Pest Control And Prevention

For this one, it just depends on how long the house was vacant until you moved in, and even what time of year you’re moving in (such as the winter). But seriously, there’s nothing worse than moving into your dream home only to find out it’s also a dream home for pests. 

Nobody wants to unpack a box in the kitchen and spot something scurrying across the counter. Gross, right? So, ideally, before you settle in, take a little time to make sure your new place isn’t already hosting a family of creepy crawlies.

Even if everything looks fine, pests can be, well, pretty sneaky. It’s best to call in a pest control service to check for any signs of trouble, like droppings, chewed wires, or suspicious little holes in the walls. But of course, if your new house has been vacant for several months, then regardless of any signs, you should still go ahead and call for pest removal. 

It’s about preventing a full-blown invasion later, so playing it safe now is better, you’ll most likely save money too (if there aren’t any signs of droppings at least).

Test Smoke Detectors And Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Okay, so before you get too comfortable, take a second to make sure your safety gear is up to par. Sure, this one is super obvious, but you’d be surprised about the sheer amount of neglect that tends to happen. So, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms keep your home safe when you’re asleep, in another room, you name it.

So, you’ll need to just go ahead and give them a test to see if they’re doing their job, replace any dead batteries, and if they’re looking ancient, it’s time to upgrade. No, really, nothing’s worse than realizing your alarms are duds when you need them the most.

Consider Painting Before Moving Furniture In

Is this one fun? Well, maybe not, but if you want to do this (if you’re dead set), then you should do it sooner rather than later. So, with that all said, painting a house is a million times easier when it’s empty. Just think about it; there are no heavy couches to scoot around, no “oops” moments where paint splatters on your favorite rug, it’s just you, a roller, and a blank canvas. If you’re even slightly thinking about changing the colors, now’s the time to do it.

Seriously, you’ll thank yourself later when the house looks like your house and not someone else’s questionable design choices.

Don’t Forget About Flooring

Just go ahead and take a look down, are the floors everything you dreamed of? If not, this is the time to handle it. Meaning, that you should look into doing a deep clean for the carpets, polish those hardwoods, or even replace anything that’s seen better days. Doing this while the house is still empty is a total lifesaver.

Plus, who wants to move all their furniture out again just to deal with scratched floors or weird stains? Tackle it now, and you’ll move in with one less thing on your to-do list. Chances are, the cleaners you’re hiring might do this one for you too.