Make the Move Into Your New Home As Painless As Possible

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Finally.

You put your signature on the closing paperwork. You’re happy with your loan … well, as happy as you can be, considering the magnitude of the debt you just accepted. Stress dreams have mostly subsided, barring the occasional vision of some movers dropping your grandmother’s curio cabinet, shattering this priceless antique while they run off with your money.

Moving can be a pain in the you-know-what. That’s why we’ll share some expert tips and tricks to make the process as easy and pain-free possible.

Do repairs and painting first

Before moving in, take a trip through your new home with a critical eye. Look for any necessary improvements that can be completed before you bring your stuff in. Is the bedroom wall a nasty shade of taupe? Is the hardwood floor scuffed and dirty? Before your movers start lugging in boxes and placing heavy furniture, get it done.

“If you plan on painting or doing any light repairs, it’s easier to do those things before moving your stuff into the house,” says Kellie Tinnin, a Realtor® in Albuquerque, NM.

Skipping this step now can mean a headache later, when you’re forced to shove furniture into the center of the room just to paint the walls—or even take everything out of the space so you can access those scratched floors.

Hire a cleaning service

For the same reason, there’s no better time to thoroughly clean your home than when there’s nothing in it.

“The best gift to yourself is to hire a professional cleaner to give it the once-over before you start to move your personal items in,” says Kinnaird Fox, a Realtor with Sotheby’s in New York City.

Yes, it’s an added expense, but moving into a spotless home is guaranteed to make a stressful transition much happier. After all, wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to scrub out the soot and ash from the fireplace yourself—or spend two days on hands and knees polishing the baseboards?

Change the locks

As soon as you get the chance, hire a locksmith to change all the locks on your house (don’t forget the back entrance or any other access points). While we’re certain the seller is trustworthy, you never know who else might have keys to your new home. Better to be safe than sorry.

Doors aren’t the only locks that need changing: Buyers who use a community mailbox should make sure to have it rekeyed by the local post office, which should cost about $40 or $50. That’s not much at all for peace of mind that no one is digging through your mail.

Don’t forget the utilities

You don’t want a sudden power outage one month after your move. Even worse is when it’s your own darn fault.

“Many sellers are focused on their new move, and sometimes utilities are forgotten in the mix,” says Fox. By the time you move in, you should get in touch with all of your new providers to switch services to your name. If you’re moving into a standalone house from an apartment, you might be surprised by the variety of utilities you need to set up.

Check with the former owners to determine specifically what you’re paying for and what you need to set up, but expect to pay for water, gas, electricity, and trash—as well as any internet service.

Check in with the HOA

Does your new home have a homeowners association? If so, contact the HOA to make sure everything is up to date. You’ll likely need to fill out transfer paperwork so it has a record of the new ownership. Even great HOAs can be difficult to deal with, requiring meticulous paperwork and cumbersome restrictions, so make sure you understand the bylaws and neighborhood restrictions of your HOA. You don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with your new neighbors, so full knowledge of how the association works is absolutely necessary.

Make a detailed list of your belongings

Moving is a complicated, messy affair—so take the opportunity to make an inventory of your belongings during packing, labeling each box with what’s in it.

“You’ll be grateful for the detailed description of contents stored within the myriad packing boxes that now surround you,” says Fox. There’s a bonus: A home inventory is worth its weight in gold if you have any sort of accident such as a fire, or a natural disaster leaves your home a wreck.

Figure out the best nearby takeout

All done? Boxes in place, furniture in your house—if not in the right spot? Movers gone? The proper way to celebrate is with takeout and beer, eaten on the floor. Do your research ahead of time so you know what you want to eat, and aren’t left scrambling an hour before closing time.

“Know where the best pizza place or takeout is nearby,” says Eileen O’Reilly, a Realtor in Burlingame, CA. “When you are crazy busy with moving in, you don’t want to get hangry.”

Congratulations! You’re finished … until it’s time to sell, that is. In the meantime, though, it’s time to resume doing what this whole journey is all about: enjoying your amazing new digs!

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