Things to Do In Your New Home

When moving into a new space, you will want to take some steps to freshen the space and make it truly yours. Below are several steps that you can put in place to make your new home move-in ready and fresh for you and your loved ones.

Clean Before Moving In

Inside each room, turn to the right and start cleaning from the top down. Sweep the corner where the ceiling meets the walls and brush down the walls to the floor. If you're planning to paint, pull outlet and light switch covers and wash them in mild soapy water. Put the screws back in the fixture; they may rust in the water. Sweep ceiling fan blades, clean the globes and mask the floors for painting unless you're planning to replace the carpet.

Refresh With New Paint

As you clean, keep a note of holes or cracks in the wall so you can patch them on the next pass. For small holes, consider a fast-drying spackle and use a light touch. Sand patches when they're dry and be sure to use a quality primer before applying your topcoat.

Address the Flooring

If you were planning to save the carpet or flooring, make sure to get everything thoroughly cleaned before you move in. Use fans to keep the air moving until the carpets are completely dry, then vacuum one more time for softness and consistency.

Carpet and flooring are one of those projects that are best addressed before you move in. Once there's furniture in place, a new carpet becomes much more of a challenge. If your kids are small and you don't mind the current wear and tear, wait to put down a new carpet until your family is a bit older. If your current carpet is discolored from a crushed nap, be aware that cleaning it won't make much difference.

Boost the Security

Walk around the house and look for spots where objects or plants are close to the foundation; these could serve as hiding spots. Add solar powered motion security lights to areas that tend to be dim. Before you make any changes to the house, change or rekey your locks and make sure the numerical code on the garage door and security system, if applicable, are updated.

Check the Physicals

Get the furnace and AC units cleaned and checked out. Make sure you have CO2 detectors, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in the right rooms. Get the water heater checked out, and replace it if it's loaded with sediment. Change all filters on the HVAC system.

Windows and Screens

Now is the time to wash the windows, inside and out, and check the condition of the screens and storms if applicable. Being able to open the windows and let in fresh air, especially if you're painting or putting in new carpet, will allow you to make the space feel and smell as if it's really yours.

Making your new home feel like your space can be done fairly quickly. New paint is a great way to freshen the space, and updating the flooring will be much simpler with no furniture in the space. The first step is to change the locks and update the security codes. Enjoy your new home!

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