So, you’re moving into a new home. Not every home is perfect right away— it might need some sprucing up or repairs. While you can easily make many repairs later, you’ll want to make certain repairs before the moving truck comes.
Here are some things to put on your list to take care of before move-in day arrives.
Pests
Bugs and other unwelcome pests are annoying and dangerous to your home and family. Have a pest-control specialist examine the house and, if necessary, treat it as soon as possible. Treating the home may require spraying dangerous chemicals or fumigating. If the home requires fumigating or spraying, you may not be able to live there for several days afterward, so taking care of this before the move is essential.
Cigarette Smell
Cigarette smells can affect indoor air quality. Also, you don’t want your furniture and clothes smelling of cigarette smoke.
If the previous owners were smokers, you will probably want to eliminate the smoke smell. First, open the windows and doors to circulate fresh air. Then have air ducts and carpets professionally cleaned. Wipe down walls and other surfaces with white vinegar. Clean the HVAC’s evaporator coil with detergent and water.
Structural Problems
Major structural problems such as roof damage, water damage, drywall damage, sloping floors, or faulty wiring can threaten your family’s safety or damage your property. Hopefully, the home inspector detected these issues before closing. Call the appropriate experts to repair them as quickly as possible.
Damaged Appliances
Problems with refrigerators, stoves, washers, or dryers will make settling into your home more difficult. Test all the appliances just after closing. If they are broken or damaged, they also should be repaired before you move in. If you need a new appliance, delivering it into an empty house will be much easier than delivering it into a house full of furniture and moving boxes.
Cosmetic Issues
While some smaller cosmetic issues, such as dated light fixtures, can be handled after the move, you may want to deal with larger ones beforehand. One example is painting the interior of the home. If you wait until after you move in, the furniture will need to be shifted and covered, causing added disruption.
Refinishing hardwood floors is another example, as is patching walls and floors. Both of these tasks are difficult, if not impossible, to tackle once your furniture is in the room.
Drafty Windows
Drafty windows will affect your ability to keep warm in winter and may also allow pollutants into the home. Replacing windows is a time-consuming process, so start it at least a week before your move. Contact a window expert as soon as possible after closing on your home to obtain a quote. Replacing windows is a time-consuming process, so start it at least a week before your move.
Drainage Issues
Drainage issues include improperly sloped lawns, poorly graded paved services, improper downspouts, and clogged or deficient gutters. These drainage problems can damage the home’s foundation, lead to water damage in the basement, or mildew in the attic. Fixing drainage problems as soon as possible prevents them from worsening and ultimately costing more to fix. Dealing with them before your move also protects your belongings from being damaged by water or acquiring a mildew smell.
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