Congratulations on buying your first home! Getting on the property ladder is no mean feat and has become increasingly more difficult over the decades, but the months of saving have paid off. Once all the paperwork has been filled out and the keys handed over, you’re ready to schedule your move-in day and book a removal company to transport your furniture and belongings to your new home.
As a first-time buyer, moving into your first property is an exciting but somewhat daunting time. From taking meter readings to changing the locks, there are many tasks to complete that you might not have considered. That’s why we’ve put together a checklist to help you get set up in your new home.
Keep reading to find out 12 things you need to do as a first-time buyer moving into your first home.
Quick Tasks
1. Check For Damage
The first thing you should do when you’re given the keys to your new home is to give it a once-over. Is the house in the same condition as when you last visited? Check if any damages need urgent attention such as damp or mould, which may prevent you from moving your belongings in.
2. Take Meter Readings
Once you’ve moved in, locate the energy meter and water meter and take a picture of the current readings. You’ll need to give these numbers to the provider to set up a new energy plan, so it’s best to have a quick look right away.
3. Find The Fuse Box
Familiarise yourself with the fuse box, often found under the stairs in older houses or in the utility room. The fuse box can turn on or off the electricity in a particular room or the whole house at the mains, with individual switches responsible for specific rooms or areas of the property.
If the property has been unoccupied for a while, the electrics may be turned off at the fuse box. Likewise, when you install all your appliances for the first time, the electricity may trip, so it’s essential to know where to find the fuse box.
4. Bin Collection Day
Find out the recycling bin and general waste collection schedule for your new area. Particularly on moving day, if you’re moving independently without the help of a removal company, you may be left with many packing boxes or packaging from newly purchased items that need recycling or disposal.
Hiring
a man with a van streamlines the home removal process and ensures your belongings arrive safely and promptly. Removal staff will also assist with the move by carrying your items onto the property and putting them in their designated place. Removal professionals are trained to lift heavy items of furniture safely, so you don’t have to risk injuring yourself when carrying sofas upstairs. Rose Removals also provides
packing materials and services and will prepare your items for transportation, if you’re strapped for time.
5. Meet Your Neighbours
Finally, meet your neighbours! You may have already met your neighbours during the move-in process and introduced yourself to them, but if not, don’t forget to pop around and say hello! Having welcoming neighbours can help you settle into the neighbourhood and make new friends. Also, you never know when you might need to ask your neighbours a favour!
Longer Tasks
6. Change The Locks
Call out a locksmith to change the locks as soon as possible. It’s important to get the locks changed promptly because you can’t be sure how many people have existing keys to the property. This way, you can rest assured that no one can enter the property without a new key.
It’s also advised to get a few spare keys made and give them to people you trust like close friends or family to look after. In case of emergency, when you aren’t around, someone you trust can let themself in the property. Or if you find yourself locked out of your property, which happens to all of us at some point, you can pick up the key from them instead of having to pay for the locks to be changed.
7. Get A Security System Installed
Check whether your property is already fitted with a security system, as one may already be installed. In this case, take the time to figure out how it works - find out how to set the alarm, how to change the security code and how to turn off the alarm.
If your property is not already equipped with a security system, getting one installed is a high priority to ensure the safety of you and your property. Particularly during the moving process, which may put you at risk for opportunity theft.
8. Update Your Address
Think of all the organisations where your previous address is still listed, including your employer, banks, national insurance and inland revenue - which your address is used to calculate your tax payments. You should change these over as soon as possible to prevent any post from being sent to your previous address or receiving any miscalculated tax payments.
9. Deep Clean
A deep clean is always recommended when you move into a new place. The moving process can bring a lot of dirt and dust into the house so once all your furniture is in place and all your belongings are organised, it’s time for a deep clean.
Moving day often has to fit around other commitments like work so if you don’t have time to do it on the first day, you could wait until the weekend to do a thorough clean, tackling the whole house all in one go. Alternatively, to fit around your work schedule, you could pick one room to clean a day until you’re satisfied with how your place looks.
10. Transfer Utilities
Since utility bill prices are on the rise, moving home is a good time to check your utility provider's tariffs - are there any better deals since the last time you looked?
When you move into your home, you are put onto an initial deemed contract, so you will be able to use all of the public services immediately. But you are free to change suppliers as soon as you become responsible for the property and won’t have to pay an exit fee.
11. Home And Contents Insurance
Insure your home and valuable items against unforeseen problems like water damage, theft, or fire. Hopefully, you won’t need to claim on your insurance, but you never know when an emergency might occur and you don’t want to get caught out.
12. TV And Broadband
Broadband deals are often advertised for new clients at a better rate than existing customers, so you might want to consider comparing the broadband options available. Bear in mind that it may take a week for broadband to be installed in your home. If you work at home, you may need to work at the office in the meantime. Alternatively, arranging your broadband ahead of your move and scheduling a date for broadband installation will mean you shouldn’t have to wait long for your broadband to be up and running.
If you’ve reached the end of this checklist, rest assured that you have completed all your to-do tasks so you can settle into your new home.
Rose Removals
If you have an upcoming move in Devon why not consider hiring a removal company? At Rose Removals, we are a removal company offering all types of removal services from home removals, and furniture removals to self-storage solutions across Devon.
As experienced removal specialists, we understand that moving into your first home takes a lot of time and preparation. Although we can’t help you with the administrative tasks involved with setting up a new home, we can schedule and organise the removal process to get you moved in as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Get in touch today to discuss how you could benefit from a home removal service with Rose Removals.
