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Whenever you move into a new house there is a lot that you have to do. Your to-do list is probably blowing up and you don't even know where to start.
While we typically think of packing and moving as the only significant roadblocks to moving house, it is really the activities you should do when settling in that make the greatest impact. It's preferable to do it all once you move in, rather than hoping and presuming you'll figure it out afterward.
Getting acquainted with your new house and emphasising what activities you would like to confront first is your responsibility as a new house owner. It's better to do it all right after the move.
This article will discuss the first few things that you should do whenever you move into your new house. Depending on the type of home, there might be more or less to do. The focus here is to guide you on what to do once you move into a new house.
Cleaning
Start by cleaning the entire house including the floor, windows, kitchen, bathroom, and fridge. How soon you get these done depends on the size of your new house. So, don’t expect such a project to be complete in just a few hours. It can take a couple of days to clean your new home.
Think of it this way, this is a house that had other people living in it, so there’s bound to be a lot of dirt. Get a rag or sponge and clean the entire house. This is particularly important if you are allergic to dust.
It is not possible to know how well the previous owner cleaned the house before selling it to you. A question you might ask yourself is did they just wipe down the countertops with only a wet rag or some soap and sanitiser? This will get you motivated to give it a thorough cleaning.
Even if the seller cleaned the house very well before you moved in, cleaning it yourself guarantees that it is twice as clean and you can sleep better knowing that your entire house has no dirt left behind by its previous owner.
Clean all the areas in your house that you typically don’t clean such as tops of the kitchen cabinets. Chances are the seller did not clean these areas and there might be a very thick layer of dust that has accumulated over time. If it’s not cleaned, the dirt will get circulated. Clean all doors as thoroughly as you can making sure to wipe the knobs to get rid of grease and bacteria.
Painting
Next is painting. It might seem obvious to most people, but it is very important to emphasise it here, and remind you that painting can be a messy affair. You need a lot of space and time depending on what you're painting. It could be just the walls, the ceiling or both, but this needs to be done as soon as possible.
It is much easier to do it without any furniture around. That allows you to be as messy as you want in the new house without spilling paint on any of your valuables. Have this task done right away as soon as you get the keys. It’s better to have it out of the way so that you won’t have to think about it for a while. If you have already moved your possessions before painting, leave them in the moving boxes, and unpack once the entire house is painted.
Painting can be such a pain for most people, but some actually enjoy it. When it comes to painting the entire house, most people get tired of it and some stop the project completely. Do it as soon as you can, and be sure to complete the work even when you feel like quitting. You'll be so much happy when everything is done, and the big part is out of the way.
Maintenance
Do you really want to live in a house where dirt is circled around? If you have air conditioning or a furnace in your new house, change the filters. Typically, this is done every single year. The previous owner might not have done it as often as you would like, and chances are there's a lot of stuff such as dirt in there that came from them.
Take a look at your furnace. Remove the filter and look at it. If it is dirty, and looks like it should be replaced, get a new one because you're supposed to change them every year from the moment you move in. Note the exact date when you changed the filter. Do it the following year around the same time.
Scenting
If you have just moved into a new house and you find that it has some odd smell, the easiest way to get rid of it is by using scents you like. Obviously when you move into your new house, it won’t smell that well, and that can get overwhelming and might take time for it to feel like a home. The seller, for instance, may have had a dog and it is very likely that you will smell it a little bit. It might not be that crazy, but you will definitely be able to tell that a dog was living in the house.
If ventilating the house does not get rid of all the smell, the next best option is to use scents. Put up your own scent if you have a favourite candle that you like or have some air fresheners running that will make the space smell like home. Note that it might take some time before the house starts carrying your smell. With some patience, it will slowly start feeling like home. It does take a while, but you will get there.
Replace the Toilet Seats
It does not matter whether it is a rented or owned house, whenever you move into a new house, the first thing you should do is replace the toilet seat. Of course, you could clean it and really rub it down to sanitise it so there's no dirt anymore but let's be real, there are nooks that you cannot really get to. They are a little bit harder to clean so you might not get them completely sanitised. Just change them out. It's not a big investment. However, if you would rather not buy a new seat, you could take off of the toilet seat and have it cleaned properly.
Check the Smoke Detectors
Check if there are enough smoke detectors in the house. Most people forget these because it's not something that we see, think of right away, or actively utilise every single day, but it is very important. Check to see whether the new house has any, as the previous owner may have taken them away.
If there are, do they have batteries? Are the batteries still functional? If the detector was recently installed, then chances are the batteries are still new. You should have a smoke detector in all bedrooms, in the kitchen, in the living room, and the hallway.
For even more safety for your new house, consider changing the locks too.
