New Home Checklist: Your Guide To A Successful Move

Getting settled into a new house is no easy task. Besides moving boxes and furniture, you most likely need to purchase new items, clean and maybe even do some painting among many other chores.

While moving into a new house can be stressful, you can make your transition a smoother one by keeping an organized moving-into-a-new-house checklist. Prepare for your big move by leaning on our new home checklist below

Before Moving Into A New House: 8 Tips

This moving checklist contains common items you may need to purchase and tasks you should complete before unpacking at your new home. Every home is different, so don’t forget to tailor this list to your specific needs.

1. Set Up Utilities

Setting up utilities in a new home should be at the top of a new homeowner’s checklist. Generally, utilities should be set up at least 2 – 3 weeks in advance of your move. It’s advised to give utility providers ample time to get your house up and running, especially if they manually launch each service by appointment.

If you’re a first-time homeowner, it may be unclear how to start the process of adding utilities to your new home. But the first step is determining your utility company. Depending on where you move, you may need to work with a new utility company. Search your county utility provider to see which company you need to connect with to get your utilities up and running.

Transfer Utilities

When the utility provider isn’t going to change between your old address and your new house, your utilities can be transferred. If this is you, contact your provider to make sure they’re aware of the transfer. You’ll need to shut down service at your previous address, but you can give your provider the exact date you no longer need services to ensure you still have utilities until moving day.

Open A New Account Or Cancel Utilities

If you’re moving to a different city or state, you’ll need a new provider for your services. Once you’ve found them on your county’s website, reach out. Depending on your provider, you may need to create a new account online or call your provider to set up your utilities. At the time of the call, provide your service provider with your new address and the date you need your utilities to be turned on. During the call, some providers may require credit card or bank account information for payment, so keep that information handy.

Ensure The Utilities Were Successfully Turned On

Throughout this process, slipups may occur when transferring, canceling or setting up services with a provider. Plus, paying for services you thought were canceled can lead to unexpected expenses. To make sure your new house is up and running, give your home a quick inspection.

• Flip the light switch on.
• Turn on the stove.
• Flush the toilet.
• Connect your device to the internet.

For a service you shut down, you can check your online account to see the date when the service was terminated. If this information isn’t visible, give your utility provider a call to verify the service was successfully turned off.

2. Take Room Measurements

Another important task on your checklist is taking room measurements before items are fully unpacked. You don’t want to arrive at your new home and discover important furnishings like your bed frame are too large or too small for your living space.

For that reason, homeowners should have a tape measure on hand to record true measurements of every room for new and current furniture items. If you decide to replace some of your belongings, you can search for furnishings in a few ways that are easy on the wallet. For example, you can stop at thrift stores, community yard sales or reputable websites to discover quality items at a low cost.

3. Check All Home Appliances

Sometimes when you purchase a new home, the previous owners’ appliances aren’t always included. If you’re a renter turning into a first-time home buyer, you may be faced with buying big-ticket items, such as a stove or dishwasher. Asking about which appliances will remain in the home is critical before buying a house.

And, if appliances came with your new house, it’s important to make sure they’re all still working properly. Try turning on the oven and stove, check the temperature of the fridge and freezer, and see how well the washer and dryer complete a cycle.

If a moving company prepared and moved your appliances, such as a washer, dryer or refrigerator, assess your devices to confirm whether anything was damaged during transport. If anything was damaged or broken, you should file an insurance claim as quickly as possible – assuming you purchased moving insurance. Most moving insurances will reimburse you for any damages.

4. Complete Any Home Improvements

Your new house may have some home improvements or repairs you want finished before moving in. These could include DIY tasks like fixing leaks, installing new floors, repainting the walls or any combination of the above. It can be easier to complete these improvements while the house is still empty.

If you’re hiring a contractor for the work, make sure to schedule them to come before your moving day.

5. Perform A Deep Clean Of Your New House

Whether you’re moving into a newly constructed house or an old one, you’ll be wise to give your new space a thorough cleaning so you can feel like your new home is truly yours. It’s usually proper etiquette for the previous homeowner to sanitize the home before you move, but this step is frequently missed. Wipe down everything before you unpack, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. A few cleaning supplies you may want to consider buying include:

• Multipurpose cleaning sprays
• Disinfectant wipes
• Dish soap and laundry detergent
• Bleach
• Sponges
• Paper towels
• Mop, broom and dustpan
• Vacuum

6. Stock Your New House

Moving into a new house can take several days or even weeks, making it tough to have enough time to grocery shop or grab other home essentials. When you finally have time, take inventory of what you already have, so you don’t overbuy during your shopping trip.

New homeowners should grab quite a few items at the store before unpacking items and settling into their new home. These may include toilet paper, trash bags, closet hangers, paper plates and water.

However, grocery shopping is an individualized and unique experience for everyone. Depending on your diet, you may need to add the following to your list:

• Meat
• Dairy: cheese, eggs, yogurt and milk
• Produce
• Grains: cereal, pasta, bread, oatmeal and rice
• Condiments: spices, salad dressing, sauces and sugar

7. Update Your Mailing Address

To avoid any inconveniences, it’s best to update your mailing address before moving in. Start with the U.S. Postal Service so you can be guaranteed that the mail at your old address will make its way to your new home.

You can change your address online by visiting the USPS Change-of-Address page where you’ll provide information such as your contact info, your old address and your new address. You even have the option to select whether your residence is temporary or permanent. Keep in mind, you’ll also need to:

• Transfer subscription services
• Update your ID or driver’s license
• Update your car registration and insurance
• Register your kids to a school within your area
• Update your food delivery accounts

8. Prepare For Moving Day

Moving day may require its own checklist to make sure everything is in order. Moving out isn’t just about packing up your belongings and bringing them somewhere else. You’ll want to do the following before the big day arrives:

• Take stock of your inventory
• Sell, give away or put into storage any items you don’t need
• Buy packing materials (boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc.)
• Research and hire movers
• Take time off work

Naturally, you should pack up all your belongings, too. You should also pack a bag of essentials for the moving day so you’ll have clothes, chargers, a toothbrush, small toiletries, important documents and other necessities close by without needing to rummage through packed boxes to get what you need.

On Moving Day: 5 Tips

With your pre-move checklist complete, let’s look at your tasks for the actual move-in date.

1. Pay Your Movers/Moving Company

Moving in can be just as difficult as moving out, so hiring a moving company to pack your old home and unpack your new one may be the best resolution. Once the appliances and boxes have safely arrived, it’s time for homeowners to pay for these moving services.

One note worth mentioning here: It’s common courtesy for new homeowners to give movers some tip money when they’re done moving you, so you might need to keep some extra cash close by to tip your movers appropriately.

2. Keep Track Of All Moving Expenses

After move-in, you might be able to deduct your moving expenses on your income tax return, even if you’re receiving relocation assistance through your employer. Instead of waiting until the last minute, gather all your receipts and any other information that might help you out during tax season.

Moving expenses may include the cost of hiring professionals, renting moving trucks, buying packing supplies and securing a storage space.

3. Unpack Items Room By Room

Unpacking boxes can be a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. If done the proper way, packing can be a smooth process.

Consider placing boxes in the rooms they belong in based on how they’re labeled. You can create a color-coded or number system for your boxes to help you separate them. By doing this, you’re also keeping the clutter out of one central room like the living room or kitchen.

Homeowners should also create a running list of other furniture items they need to fully furnish their new home. For example, if your new home has more space, you may want an extra bedroom set for the guest room.

4. Baby-Proof And Pet-Proof Your Space

If your household includes children, pets or both, you might want to immediately start baby-proofing to ensure your furry friends and little ones are safe in an unfamiliar setting.

As you’re walking through their new home, carefully consider where to put up baby gates and how many cupboard locks you’ll need, and check for loose nails and other potentially hazardous items.

Other important steps in baby- and pet-proofing your home may include:

• Installing toilet seat covers
• Mounting bookshelves and other heavy objects
• Installing corner guards
• Covering your outlets
• Keeping wires out of sight

5. Find A Nearby Dumpster

During the moving process, you may underestimate how quickly empty boxes and trash can pile up. Usually, a standard trash bin is too small for all our packing materials and detritus.

Finding a nearby dumpster or landfill where you can dispose of your empty boxes and trash once a day can make the unpacking process a little easier. Be aware that some landfills may charge a fee if you have bulk items, depending on the weight of your trash.

To stay organized while moving in, consider:

• Breaking down cardboard boxes
• Collecting packing paper into a bag for recycling
• Carefully wrapping any broken items with leftover bubble wrap

After The Move: 4 Tips

A day or two after the hustle and bustle of moving day, new homeowners should take the time to cross these important post-move tasks off their checklist.

1. Familiarize Yourself With Your New House

Since you’re in a whole new space now, you should locate important appliances as soon as possible in case of an emergency. Identify the following items in your new house before getting too comfortable:

• The circuit breaker: If the power goes out, you should know where the circuit breaker is located so you can reset it.
• Shut-off valves: If there’s a leak or repairs are being done, you’ll need to know how and where you can shut off your new house’s water supply.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Know where your smoke detectors are located and test them to make sure they work.

Speaking of emergencies, make sure all residents of the home are familiar enough with the home’s layout to know the escape route in case of a fire or another situation that necessitates a quick escape.

2. Purchase A Home Security System

Although you may not find the right security system for your home at first, you can still take steps to feel protected in the meantime.

Homeowners can enhance their home security by purchasing motion cameras, lock keypads or a video-wired doorbell.

However, the first order of business should be changing your locks, since you can’t be certain who has keys to your new home. Installing new locks for your front, back and garage door can give you a sense of security and safety.

3. Set Up Autopay For Monthly New Home Payments

Becoming a homeowner comes with a plethora of new expenses that often include homeowners association (HOA) fees, a mortgage, homeowners insurance and property taxes. However, you can sign up for automated payments to ensure you avoid late fees, which will help your credit in the long run.

Autopay is simple to set up on a credit card, as all you have to do is provide the biller with your credit card information. This will include your card number, expiration date and CVV. Once autopay is set, you can expect a charge each month.

It may also be possible to arrange autopay through your bank. This may require logging into your online bank account or using your mobile banking app to tell your bank which entity to pay and how much.

4. Seek Out Reliable Professionals

If you’re not within the general area of your old address, moving to a new neighborhood means you’ll have to find one or multiple new primary care doctors, a new mechanic, a new dentist and perhaps a new veterinarian or therapist.

You can start by introducing yourself to your neighbors, who may know the area well and be able to offer good recommendations. If you’d rather search for experts on your own, you can use social media or reputable websites.

Be sure to search for doctors that are in-network. When you find a clinic, you can contact your old physician to transfer medical documents to your new one.

Printable Checklist

Download or copy/paste this simple checklist to make sure you’ve ticked all the boxes come move-in day.

Before The Move

• Set up utilities
• Take room measurements
• Check all home appliances
• Complete any home improvements
• Perform a deep clean of your new house
• Stock your new house
• Update your mailing address
• Prepare for moving day

Moving Day

• Pay your movers
• Keep track of moving expenses
• Unpack items room by room
• Baby-proof and pet-proof your space
• Find a nearby dumpster

After The Move

• Familiarize yourself with your new house
• Purchase a home security system
• Set up autopay for monthly home payments
• Seek out reliable professionals (doctor, mechanic, etc.)

The Bottom Line

Having a detailed new home checklist can ensure a successful move into a new house. By organizing the before, during and after tasks you need to complete, you can spare yourself some frustrating – and perhaps expensive – oversights. You can also begin enjoying your new life in your new house as soon as possible.

Ready to start your home buying journey? Connect with one of our agents today and find your dream home.