The Ultimate New Home Checklist for Your Move

One survey asked 1000 Americans about their experiences moving between homes. 45% of these individuals stated that moving is by far the most stressful event they have had to deal with in their lives.

This means that many Americans find moving to be more stressful than divorce, having children, or starting a new job.

Whether you are buying a new home or renting a new home, one of the best defenses against the stress of moving is being organized and having a plan.

For this reason, we put together a new house checklist to help ensure that your move can go as smoothly as possible.

Before You Move Checklist

Many of the things on our new home checklist can be done before you get the keys. Here are some of the most important things you need to do before moving day.

Transfer Utilities

One of the most important new home essentials is your physical utilities. These include electricity, gas, and water. Depending on the location of your new place, you may or may not be able to select which utility companies you do business with.

Connect Internet and TV

It can be a good idea to make sure your internet and TV are ready to be used before you move-in. It is worth the time to compare the pricing of different companies so that you can choose the service providers that will be best for you. You'll want to schedule insulation roughly 2 to 3 weeks in advance so that you know your services can be activated within a timeframe that works for you.

Update Your Address With The Post Office

Most people don't think about how important their addresses until it comes time to move. Your address is relevant to everything from your driver's license and car registration to your credit cards, banks, and insurance.

You'll want to change your address with the post office and set up mail forwarding. You will then want to manually update your address with your insurance companies, banks, credit cards, and more.

Collect Your Important Documents

One important step on your moving into a new house checklist is ensuring that your most important documents don't get lost in the move. These include things like Social Security cards, birth certificates, insurance policies, medical records, and more.

Put these documents into a fireproof safe or envelope and keep them with you rather than loading them onto a moving truck. This way, you will have the documents you need without having to scramble and search through dozens of boxes.

Photograph Your Valuables

When you are hiring a moving company, it is a good idea to take photographs of your valuable items. No matter how reputable, responsible, and careful moving company is, accidents can always happen. When you have up-to-date photographs of the condition of your valuable items it can ensure that you have proof of the damage that was done.

Research Your New Location

If you are going to be moving to a new city or a different state, you'll want to do some research about local businesses and other amenities in your new location. You'll likely want to find a new hairdresser, a new doctor, a new plumber, new landscapers, and much more.

It can also be a good idea to get a lay of the land in terms of parks, walking trails, or other city amenities that you might make use of. The more you learn about your new location before you move the sooner you will be able to settle into a new regular routine.

Create a Cleaning Checklist

There is no better time to clean your new home than before your furniture and belongings have been moved in. It is common for houses to be sold in "broom clean" condition, meaning that they are clean but not necessarily deep-cleaned.

Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to get your new home in squeaky clean condition before you are due to arrive or create a room-by-room cleaning checklist, complete with a list of necessary cleaning supplies you might need to make this step hassle-free if you decide to DIY.

Schedule Home Improvements

Another important item on our new house essentials checklist is to schedule any home improvements that you might be making. While some repairs might be more of an emergency than others, such as living room windows that don't lock or leaking plumbing, it is owing more convenient to make improvements before you're living in the home.

Take Time Off Work

When you are moving into a new house, there are a lot of moving pieces. Even if you are hiring moving companies, there will be a lot of little tasks for you to take care of.

For the first few days of your move, you will be busy unpacking boxes as well as waiting for insulation, repairs, or deliveries. For this reason, you'll want to tell your employer that you need a few days off in order to deal with moving. The first two days of your move are absolutely crucial for getting settled in, so it's best to focus entirely on getting your new home set up.

Prepare to Pack or Hire Movers

It can be a good idea to start going through your belongings several weeks or months before your move. There are likely a number of items that you no longer use or that will no longer be useful in your new home. You'll want to also have a good sense of the measurements and layout of your new home so you know what you have space for and what should probably get rid of.

You can get rid of your belongings by having a tag sale, donating your items, selling them online, or simply throwing them away.

If you're going to be packing and moving on your own, you can start saving boxes from local retailers and businesses to saving on moving boxes. If you're going to be hiring a moving company, you'll want to schedule this time so that you can move on your preferred day.

It is good to have a suitcase of belongings that you keep with you for the period of time that you are in limbo. This can include toiletries, fresh clothes, extra cash, snacks, water, and any medicine you take daily.

After You Move Into a New House Checklist

Once you have finally made it to the other side, you aren't quite done yet. Here are some of the things that you need to take care of after you move in.

Enlist Friends and Family If You're Unpacking Yourself

If you are not paying a moving company to unpack your boxes for you, it is a good idea to enlist some of your friends and family to help. It is amazing what a few extra pairs of hands can do for your efficiency as well as morale.

Locate the Shut-Off Valves and Circuit-Breaker

One important item on moving checklist is locating where the shutoff valves are in your new home. It is a good idea to learn this information right away so that you know how to turn off your water or electricity if there is an emergency.

Set Up Your Home Security System

One of the things you need for a new house is a home security system that you can trust to help protect your family and your property. At ADT, we specialize in customizing a home security system that meets the safety needs of your family. Whether that's helping you pick out a smoke detector and smart thermostat that connect directly to your smart device or helping you set up a security camera system, we're here to help! Make your new home a smart home!

Test Your Smoke Detectors

Speaking of smoke alarms, testing your existing detectors right away is a good idea when you move into a new house. You can stay a smoke test aerosol or light a few matches in front of the sensors of each detector once a month or once every two months. This way, you know that your loved ones are as protected as possible in the event of a fire.

Come Up With a Lock-Out Solution

Another thing you will want to do soon after moving in is coming up with a solution if someone in your family gets locked out. It's bound to happen eventually, so having a garage code or a hidden key can make sure that you can get inside if you leave your keys at home.

Just as important as making sure that your family can get in is ensuring that unwanted visitors can't. Learn about how much a home security system costs here.

Inspect Your HVAC System

One of the most important new home essentials is a functioning HVAC system. You may choose to have a technician take a look at your system in the weeks following your move to make sure it is in good working order. If it seems that it needs some maintenance, you should schedule the necessary appointments right away.

Create a Home Maintenance Checklist

Every home is different and has different maintenance needs. To help you get settled in your new home, it is a good idea to come up with seasonal maintenance lists so that you can keep your home in the best possible shape. You can also research local service companies so that you know who to call when the time comes.

New Home FAQ

Let's take a look at the answer to some of the most commonly asked questions about moving into a new house. While our new house checklist is thorough, there are always the things that are particular to your home and your circumstance that will need to be addressed on top of these tasks.

What Is the First Thing to Do In a New House?

There are so many things to do when you're moving into a new home they can be hard to know where to start. The very first thing that you want to do is a complete walk-through when a house is empty.

During this time you can double-check that:

• The previous owner made all of the repairs that were requested and agreed upon after the home inspection

• Everything that it was agreed would be included in the sale of the house is present

• Everything is in working order, including circuit breaker, smoke alarms, switches, and outlets (you also might want to make sure the dryer vent is empty)

If you find any issues that violate the contract you had with the seller, you'll want to contact your real estate agent right away. For issues you find that are unrelated to the sales contract, it will be your responsibility to deal with. However, it's better to know right away any issues that you might have to take care of from the get-go.
 

What to Do the Week Before You Move Into a New House?

A lot of your preparation for moving into a new home can be done in the months before you move. However, there is something that you will want to leave to the final week. These include:

• Pack essential boxes with important household items and keep them easily accessible (hand towels, soap, cleaning supplies, toilet brush, toilet paper and kitchen essentials)

• Buy plenty of trash bags to get rid of clutter before you move

• Close safety deposit boxes and transfer bank accounts

• Pay any remaining bills and close the accounts

• Prepare the items you will be moving in your shed and garage

• Confirm the moving date with your moving company

• Figure out a simple meal plan for the week (ideally something that helps keep your microwave and oven clean... Think instant pot!)

• Disassemble remaining furniture

• Finish the majority of packing

• Buy important items that may be missing in your new home. For example: you're probably going to want to purchase a shower curtain and hand soap for your new bathroom

Moving can be stressful, but being organized is the best defense against this. It is important to try and remain calm and collected during this last week before you move, as you will need your energy to set up your new home.

What Is the Best Day to Move?

You are likely to find every possible answer when you Google what is the best day to move?

There are some superstitions around this topic. Some people believe that it is bad luck to move on a Friday or Saturday as well as on a day that it is raining. On the other hand, some people consider moving into a new house on a Thursday to be the luckiest day to move-in.

On the other hand, Friday can be a very popular day to move because people have the weekend to get unpacked, clean the old house and get settled in.

Choosing any day of the week other than Friday, meaning Monday through Thursday, can be convenient because these are the days moving companies are in less demand.

Ultimately, the best day to move is the day that works best for you and your family. Checking into the local traffic in terms of rush-hour traffic as well as weekend traffic can help you understand when the best time to make the trip would be.

Being Organized Can Help Ensure That the Moving Process Is More Exciting and Less Stressful

This new house checklist can help you stay organized amidst the chaos of moving. Keeping an inventory of your belongings as well as a list of things you need for a new house can help you get settled as quickly as possible.

One important aspect of moving into a new home that you don't want to overlook is your home security system.

Is it time for you to set up a home security system at your new home? You can get a free quote today so that you can ensure that what you value most is protected.