How to Prepare Your New Home for Move-In Day

Prepare Your New Home for Move-In Day

You’ve finally decided on a home that's perfect for you, but that doesn’t mean all your work is done! You’ll need to actually prepare for moving and make the space your own, which can seem daunting and stressful. There are some tasks you’ll want to complete before moving in to reduce the stress and frustration of this major life change. 

Deep Clean

Even if your new home has already been cleaned, you’ll want to walk through and give it a final polishing. Foot traffic during the selling process may have impacted the cleanliness of the floors, counters, and other areas. Wipe counters down, including windowsills. Ensure the glass on windows and doors is clean and free of debris. Vacuum and clean the flooring, including steam cleaning for carpets. You can hire a professional cleaning service if you prefer, but in most cases, it’s more affordable to do it yourself. You can use this opportunity to inspect the property once again for any repairs or changes you’d like to make before moving in that you may have missed.

Make Necessary Repairs

Unless your home is perfectly turnkey, there are likely some repairs or changes you’d like to make. If you have the time and finances, it’s easier to take care of them before moving in, especially when it comes to changes that will impact the use of the home. Focus on any emergency repairs first, like roof leaks or broken windows. Cosmetic repairs can be addressed later if needed. If the repairs require heavy contracting or professional work, especially in areas such as plumbing or electrical, it’s best to hire help unless you have professional experience yourself. DIY plumbing or electrical work can be hazardous and may not comply with local codes.

Preventative Pest Control

When your home doesn’t have any occupants, pets, or furniture, it’s the best time to address pest issues before they arise. Consult with a professional pest control company to ensure you’re utilizing the most effective preventative measures for your home and area. Otherwise, you can do preventative measures yourself with store-bought or online pest control measures. You’ll typically spray or apply the pest control formulas around the interior and exterior perimeters of the home, including any problematic areas, such as under sinks or on window sills. While you’ll need to reapply periodically in most cases, taking care of the first application before move-in reduces frustration and protects your family members, especially if you have kids or pets who might accidentally touch it before it has dried.

Change the Locks

You don’t know who has had access to your home in the past, even if the owner has given you all known copies of the keys. You’ll want to ensure your safety and obtain new keys and locks for all doors to the home, including storage areas. You’ll also want to change the codes for any electronic locks. Starting with a reset of your home’s security is a wise choice. 

Paint the Walls

If you want to touch up or change the color of the walls, consider doing so before moving in. If you wait until you’ve moved in, you’ll have less room to paint, and you’ll need to cover the furniture to protect it from paint drips or splatters. It’s easier to get the painting done before you have to worry about occupants touching fresh paint or splatters getting on your belongings.

Create an Interior Design Plan

It’s easier to plan your home’s furniture layout when you’re approaching it with a blank slate. It can be challenging to get a clear idea of the space when it is already cluttered with furniture. Before moving in, take measurements of the space and consider ideal furniture placement, taking into account the location of the windows and doors. Determine which colors and materials would best complement the room and select decor and furniture accordingly. You can even use interior design software to try out different looks based on photographs of the layout.  

Coordinate With Movers

If you’re traveling a long distance or relocating to or from a large city, consider finding and scheduling an appointment with a moving company in advance. Summers are also very popular times to move, making movers busier from May through September than at any other time of year. Choose your movers in advance and inquire about their availability, as well as how far in advance you’ll need to schedule the appointment. For large cities and university towns, the sooner you set everything up, the less frustration you’ll experience. Sun Belt cities, such as Houston, San Antonio, Miami, and Atlanta, have also experienced high demand for moving companies in recent years. Movers in Atlanta or other Sun Belt cities will want to coordinate with you to ensure their schedule is blocked out, helping you to have a seamless moving experience. You can also dictate where the movers will place certain items, saving you manual labor.

Set Up Utilities

You don’t want to deal with a lack of power or water service in your new home due to miscommunication or any technical issues. Ensure the utilities are connected before moving in, so you can address any problems that may arise before needing access to these services. Depending on the property, additional steps may be required to activate internet or television services. You may also want to inquire about these amenities. 

Conclusion: Prepare Your New Home for Move-In Day

When preparing your new home for move-in day, creating a seamless and stress-free transition involves more than just unpacking boxes—it’s also about safeguarding your most important belongings. Before the movers arrive, consider decluttering and setting aside valuables like documents, electronics, and treasured keepsakes. Self storage like the storage units Lake St Louis offers a perfect interim solution, giving you a secure off-site location to store these items until your space is move-in ready. This approach not only protects your valuRenovating your storage strategy? Here's a simple yet effective way to prables from damage or misplacement during the hectic move but also helps streamline the process, so you can focus on settling into your new home with peace of mind.

You don’t want to add frustration to the stress of moving day. When you arrive at your new home, you’ll want to settle in, place your furniture, and relax. Addressing necessary repairs, painting the walls, preventing pests, and creating a solid interior design plan should be done before moving in, if possible, to make these tasks easier and smoother. To make the most of your new space, tackling important issues early on will make a significant difference.