The Essential New Home Checklist – What to Do After You Get the Keys
You have purchased your first house, and you and your family are eager to move in right away. But you might be wondering, what do you do after you get the keys?
Buying a house can be a very long and stressful process, so when you get the keys, you just want to move in. It is so exciting to get to the end of the buying process and start your next chapter.
However, there are a few important things that you need to do after you get the keys. It isn’t just about moving your belongings and unpacking all the boxes, you need to consider their safety and functionality.
New Home Checklist
To help you on your journey, here is a list of essential tasks that you should complete when you get the keys to your new home. This will help you to obtain peace of mind and hit the ground running.
1. Set Up Utilities
Modern life requires utilities and internet, so getting these set up should be a top priority. This will ensure you remain compliant and get yourself the best deals before you use any energy.
Transfer or Set Up Utilities
Contact electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash companies to transfer service to your name. Many areas have only one provider for each utility, but some have choices for electricity or gas.
Don’t assume service will automatically transfer, you could end up without power or water on moving day.
Get Internet Installed
This often takes the longest to set up, so schedule installation as early as possible. Research your options beforehand because speeds and prices vary dramatically between providers.
Consider your needs, if you work from home or have kids doing online school, reliable, fast internet isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.
Update Your Address Everywhere
Start with the obvious ones: bank, credit cards, employer, insurance companies, and subscription services. Don’t forget about less obvious places like your voter registration, driver’s license, car insurance, and any professional licenses.
The post office’s mail forwarding service is helpful, but it’s not permanent and doesn’t catch everything.
Test Everything
In addition to sorting out the bills, it is a good idea to know how to operate all of the appliances left on the property by the previous owner. Not only can you check they are all in working order, but you can also ensure you know how to best use them. This includes the boiler, water heater, electrical panels, and more.
Check that outlets work, garage doors open and close properly, and HVAC systems are running. It’s much easier to document problems now than to discover them after you’ve moved into your new home and can’t remember if they were working during your final walkthrough.
2. Change the Locks
This isn’t paranoia, it’s common sense. You have no idea how many people have copies of your keys.
The previous owners, their family members, contractors, real estate agents, house sitters, the list could be longer than you think. A locksmith can rekey your existing locks for around $75-150, or you can replace them entirely.
Don’t forget about any back doors, side doors, or garage entry doors.
3. Inspect the Property For Safety Hazards
Take some time to go around your new home and inspect the property for safety hazards. This will ensure that you keep your family safe, and nothing important is missed in the excitement of moving to a new home.
It is very easy to move all your belongings right away, but if you do this, you may miss some important and potentially dangerous things. Start by checking the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the electrics, exposed wires, if windows and doors are safe, fire extinguishers, damp, mold, pests, sharp corners, loose walls, and more.
You can then make a list where you prioritise what needs doing before you move your family and belongings in, and what you can do gradually over time.
If your home came with a security system, contact the company to transfer service to your name and change all codes. If you’re not keeping the existing service, make sure the system is properly disconnected.
Consider upgrading to a modern smart security system that you can monitor from your phone.
4. Clean the Entire Home
You never know what might be hidden under the surface, even if the property looks clean. It is a really good idea to give your new home a deep clean before you move anything in.
This will ensure it is not only clean but also safe for your family. Especially if you have young children!
5. Pest Control Inspection
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, you may choose to conduct a pest control inspection. You can do this by looking for certain signs of pests. This is essential if the property you are moving into hasn’t been lived in for a long time.
You can also seek the help of a professional for peace of mind. Pests are not only safety and hygiene hazards for children, but can also impact things like the foundations of the property over time if they are not dealt with.
This is an important task as they are not always easy to spot.
6. Handle the Paperwork
New homeownership comes with a surprising amount of paperwork. Staying organized from the start will save you headaches later.
Set up a home filing system. Create files for warranties, manuals, receipts, and important documents. Include sections for each major system (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) and major appliances.
When something breaks in two years, you’ll be grateful to have the warranty information and service history in one place.
Review your insurance coverage. Contact your homeowner’s insurance company to confirm coverage is active and adequate.
Take photos of valuable items for your records. Consider whether you need additional coverage for things like jewelry, art, or expensive electronics that might exceed standard policy limits.
Register for local services. Sign up for local garbage collection, recycling programs, and any other municipal services.
Register to vote in your new district. If you have kids, research school districts and registration requirements.
7. Consider the Layout and Functionality of the Home
Before moving everything into your new home, you want to make sure that the layout of the home meets your needs and your current furniture. Consider the different zones that you want and how you want traffic to flow through your home.
You may also need to measure different rooms and walls to ensure everything you have fits. This gives you a chance to plan how to unpack and set up your furniture.
It also means you have a chance to consider any renovation work that may need doing, and if you need to purchase different furniture to meet the layout of your new home.
8. Customise Your New Home
The most important thing that you should do is customize your new home. Before you move everything in, consider if there is any renovation work you want to do.
You can start to work on the property bit by bit, for example, paint the walls and hang wallpaper that expresses your personality and the vibe that you want to create.
Add your desired fixtures to the walls and install LED Ceiling Downlights to craft an inviting atmosphere. Hang wall art, and slowly build your dream home bit by bit.
It is often recommended to start this process before you move in all of your belongings, as you can see what space you have to work with.
9. Strategically Unpack
Leaving it last is best, as you can do all of the cleaning and quick maintenance before strategically unpacking your belongings. The last thing you want to do is take all of the boxes to the property, only to find that you need to try and deep clean around them or move the belongings back out because of a pest issue.
This gives you a chance to inspect and sort the property out first. It also means you can set your new home up ready, so when you unpack, there is a place for everything. By completing it in this order, you can then enjoy your new home.
10. Know Your New Neighborhood
Finally, part of settling in involves understanding your immediate surroundings and building relationships with neighbors and local service providers.
Introduce Yourself to Neighbors
You don’t need to throw a block party, but a simple introduction goes a long way. Neighbors can be your best resource for local recommendations, package deliveries when you’re not home, and general peace of mind.
Plus, it’s just nice to know who lives around you.
Find Essential Services Nearby
Locate the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, urgent care clinic, and gas station. Find out which hospital is closest and how to get there.
While you’re at it, research local service providers like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians before you need them. When your air conditioner breaks on the hottest day of the year, you don’t want to be scrambling to find a reputable repair service.
Understand Your Trash and Recycling Schedule
This sounds mundane, but nothing says “new neighbor” like putting your bins out on the wrong day or not knowing what can be recycled. Most cities have apps or websites with this information, and your neighbors can usually help fill in the details.
Your new home represents a fresh start and new possibilities. By handling these essentials systematically, you’ll build a solid foundation for years of happiness in your new space.
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