The First 5 Things all New Homeowners Should do

A couple looking at a tablet surrounded by moving boxes.

Moving into a new home is both exciting and exhausting – especially once you’ve moved all the boxes into the living room only to realize you now have to put everything away. With boxes stacked in every corner of your new house, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Instead of running aimlessly through an imaginary to-do list, check out these five things that new homeowners should take care of first and foremost.

Make your home safe

No matter how safe and secure you think your little neighborhood is, you should always take extra precaution when in a new environment. Since most of your stuff is in boxes for the first few weeks after you move in, anybody who breaks into your home could easily grab a box and go unnoticed. Take the first week or two of being in your new home to switch out any locks and deadbolts. Plus, with all of the new security technology out there, the possibilities are endless.

Improve the air quality of your home

No matter what the previous owners told you, it’s always a good idea to change the air filter when you first move into your new home. This simple, three-minute task could help improve your air conditioning and furnace units while helping cut out any nasty allergens hiding in your home. When you change out the filter, it’s a good idea to write the date directly on it so you can be sure to know how long it’s been since its last change.

Test your smoke alarms

Even though smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are often tested during inspections, the batteries can die or be tampered with if a house is left vacant for a while. Take some time to get acquainted with where all of your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and even fire extinguishers are. These devices could save your family members’ lives, so you want to regularly check that they’re in tip-top shape.

Change the toilet seats

It may sound silly, especially since you just moved in, but by removing your toilet seats you’ll be able to really deep clean one of the dirtiest spots in your home. The bolts and hinges of toilet seats almost never get the proper scrubbing they deserve. Whether you decide to use the same seat or shop for a new one after a thorough scrubbing is completely up to you. Just make sure you secure the lid on tight – you don’t want to fall in!

Freshen up your new front door

Let your neighbors know you’ve arrived by adding a personal touch to your exterior. Painting your front door, or at least freshening it up a bit, is a great way to show off your personal style. Make sure you use exterior grade paint and a high-quality brush so the paint doesn’t rub off or smear. Now every time you walk through your door, you’ll feel inspired to keep creating a space you love.

The best part about moving into a new house is turning it into a home. Now that you have the most important tasks complete, you can focus on unpacking the rest of your boxes and letting your creativity soar. If you need a place to store some of your stuff in the meantime, we’d love to help you out. Check out our storage plans and locations here.

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