Moving into your new house? Check these things

When moving into a new house, it’s normal to be super excited about your new space. However, you should remember that this is where you will be living for some time. You, therefore, want to have a checklist of things you should do before you move into your new home.

Change the locks

You don’t want to find out someone else has the keys to your home. So, the first thing you want to do before you move your things in is to change all the locks on the doors that lead into the house.

Doing this helps you feel more at peace knowing no one else has the keys to your apartment. There are a variety of locks you can go for within a range of between N15,000 and N85,000 depending on what your budget is for this.

You should also consider using a deadbolt (a lock bolt that is moved by turning a knob or key without the action of a spring). The three types of deadbolts available are:

• The single cylinder deadbolt
• The double cylinder deadbolt
• The keyless cylinder deadbolt

Please note that while standard locks may be forcibly unlocked using crowbars, a deadbolt lock requires a lot of time to break in and is tougher to open. This narrows the options for potential intruders.

Clean the house

Regardless of whether the floor of the house is rugged, carpeted or tiled, you should dedicate time to cleaning the whole house thoroughly. Clean the floors of all the rooms, windows, storage spaces, and the walls.

If the home is newly constructed, then you might not have to clean as much as you would if the house was previously occupied by someone else. It is easier to clean the whole house before moving in because there are no furniture or items in your way.

This should be done before you move your furniture in. Note that you don’t have to do this yourself. You can hire professional cleaners to clean your house. This service costs a minimum of N20,000 in Nigeria and you can always negotiate.

Don’t forget to fumigate

The fact that your home looks clean does not mean it is devoid of insects and rodents that can transform your house into a living nightmare for you. If you plan to use professionals for this, you should set aside a budget of between N15,000 and N150,000 depending on the size of your house.

Familiarise yourself with your circuit breaker box

If your house is really big and has a circuit breaker box, which houses all the switches to power different compartments of your home, you will want to get familiar with it.

It is always best if you label a circuit breaker box with the name of the parts of the house that they power accordingly.

For the labelling, you need a partner who will be around the house while you check the switches and fuses on the circuit breaker one after the other until they all get labelled.

Find out where the main water valve is

Plumbing emergencies never give notifications before they happen and this is exactly why you should know where the main water valve is; to turn it off.

If you have a water valve in your house and you live alone, it is advisable that you turn it off when you’re travelling. Your water valve could be inside or outside your home, but they are predominantly outside the apartment. When you have turned it off, you should test it by going back into the house to turn on the taps.

Check out the cabinets

Before moving into a new house, you should check the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Leave no stone unturned when checking the cabinets to ensure that they are clean and ready for use when once you move in.

Check for repair issues

Never assume that the house is in perfect condition or assume that what the house owner told you is the truth. Check out the house for yourself to see if everything is okay. Check to see if there are plumbing leaks. Check to see all doors and windows lock and open freely and that all glass panes are well-fitted. Don’t be in a hurry with this exercise and make sure you check everything. If you discover any issues have them fixed before you move in.

Paint the ceiling and walls

Painting the interior of your new house can be very time consuming and it is recommended that you hire a professional to get this done for you. Also, if the walls and ceiling have cracks and holes, you should get those worked on first and then paint later.

Get new switch plates

If your house has just been constructed, you will not need to change the cover plates for the wall switches because they would all be new. However, if the house was previously occupied, you will want to ensure you change them especially if they are in bad condition or broken.

It is not advisable that you do the electrical work yourself. You should get an electrician to get this done. You want to ensure your switch plates have uniformity and newness to them, and at the same time, you want to be safe.

Connect your internet

There are some spots in Nigeria that experience poor internet connection depending on which service provider you use. Therefore, before you move in, you should test the internet connection from your service provider in different rooms in the house to confirm if the connection will be strong enough to meet your internet needs.

Tell those who matter about your new address

Save your friends and family the stress of going to your old apartment only to be told you no longer live there. You could send a message to them to notify them about when you intend to move. You should do this before you move into your new house.

Notify your bank

Before you move into your new house, you should notify your bank to update your account details. This is vital in cases of verifications that have to do with your bank accounts in Nigeria. Also, if you have running subscriptions with vendors or other companies, it is best to update them with details of your new address as well as when you plan to move.

Peace of mind when moving

There’s no point in hurrying to move into your new house. Set aside enough time to do what is important by checking all the things we have discussed in this article.

Have you had any experience moving into a new apartment? What were the things you did or failed to do before moving in?