Moving into a new home is an exciting time! You look through the pictures of your soon to be new home over and over again, daydreaming about decor and paint schemes, planning out all you want to do. Maybe you even get to do things such as buy new furniture, put in new floors, or do some immediate updating to a few rooms.
But, before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics things you should consider doing first before you start moving into the home and fully making it your own.
Change the locks
Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your home. Changing the locks can be a DIY project, or you can call in a locksmith for a little extra money if it’s something you just don’t have the time to do yourself.
Steam clean the carpets
If you aren’t replacing the carpets, it might be a good idea to get a fresh start with your floors and have them cleaned before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. The point is, you can never be certain, and wouldn’t you rather KNOW the carpets are clean of as much dander, hair, and dirt they possibly can be? Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery store may have them available – or there is most likely a professional carpet cleaning company in your area.
Call an exterminator
If you didn’t get a Pest Inspection prior to move-in, you probably haven’t spent enough time in or around the house to get a view of any pests or rodent issues there may be. Pest and rodents are fairly common in Prescott, Arizona, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them in your house! Call an exterminator to take care of any mice, insects, and other critters that may be lurking about.
Clean out the kitchen
If the previous occupants wanted to skimp on some of their cleaning duties when they moved out, the kitchen is where they probably cut corners. Think about it, in your own home, how often did you really wipe down the inside of cabinets or clean out the refrigerator? Things like this as well as things like cleaning out the oven and cleaning in the nooks and crannies underneath the appliances are projects that maybe make your yearly spring-cleaning list, but generally aren’t a part of your general weekly house cleaning. Take the time to clean these things before you move in. It’s a lot easier to do them right off the bat than to say “I’ll do that later” and then the project becomes twice as time consuming because you have to empty cabinets and pull everything out of your fridge, etc.
These are just a few things that – after years of experience in the Real Estate business – we’ve learned make your new move in that much smoother! After these tasks are complete, paint and decorate to your hearts content!