As an individual, there are certain stages that you are going to reach in life, and you will need to take a deep breath before decisions are taken. One of such stages is when you need to move into a new home. You have to make sure that everything is in order before you make the big move. In this article, I want to talk about some of the indices you have to consider before moving into a new home. Here are some of the factors you should consider:
#1 Cracks
Before you move, rent, or buy a new house, you need to check the house for cracks. You will not want to be a victim of building collapse. If there are cracks in the house, it is an indication that the soil on which the property is constructed is faulty.
When it comes to cracks, we have three types of cracks. When a house has horizontal cracks, it is an indication that the building is about to collapse. Also, vertical cracks indicate that faulty materials are used to construct the house. Also, widening cracks is an indication that the foundation has shifted and it is no longer reliable.
#2 Wet Floor
As part of the precautions when moving into a new house, you need to be on the lookout for wet floors. Having wet floors also indicates that the soil holding the foundation is not balanced. This will continue to weaken the foundation, and the building will eventually collapse.
#3 Drainage System
As part of your measures to be sure you are renting or buying the right house, you have to check the house’s drainage system. All the water has to be arranged so that water waste does not interact with the house. Also, all piping shouldn’t give room for leakage. This will provide space to leakage that might weaken the house.
#4 Do a Walkthrough 
At this stage, you may not be able to do a complete walkthrough. Before you unpack your loads from the truck, you need to move around the house. You need to double-check if all the requested and agreed-upon repairs have been done by either the caretaker or the previous owners.
If you are purchasing the house, you need to ensure that all listed items are included in the house. You also need to check if every item in the house such as outlets, water and other fixtures, is in good condition.
After you might have checked and noticed that the previous owner actually took along items that they supposed to have left behind, you need to immediately call the Realtor to ensure that the items are retrieved.
#5 Child Proof
Another vital step that you need to consider when moving into a new home is to do child-proofing of the new house. You have to check around for items that can harm your pet or children. Make sure that some of these dangerous items are removed. That is why you need to move around and scrutinize your items.
You need to quickly look through your children’s room and check all Windows to ensure that they are closed and not damaged. You also have to ensure that the blinds are working. It would also help if you made sure that whatever dangerous items that can harm children or pets are moved out of the house.
#6 What goes Where
One of the significant steps you need to take when setting up your new home is to decide on what goes where in your new home. This is also very important for your significant items such as furniture and beddings. You have to know the actual rooms where your major household items will be kept before you start moving them into the house.
#7 Cater For Utilities
There is a need for you to check and double-check your utilities and make sure they are working correctly. You need to check your TV Set, radio, water heater and other electronics and ensure that nothing is damaged in the house while moving the items from one place to another.
After you might have checked that, you need to make sure that you safely dispose of all those items that are not working correctly.
#8 Locate Fuse Boxes
Before you settle down in your new home, you need to search for the fuse box and the water valves in your home. You will not want to settle down before you discover that you cannot find them. Please note that the fuse box will be at the basement of the new house, garage, or the storage room of your house most times. For the water valve, you can always find that around the perimeter of your new home as well.
#9 Deep Cleaning
Also, before you move into your new home, you have to make sure that you have a deep cleaning of your new home. Also, if you don’t have the courage and the boldness to clean the house by yourself, you have to make sure that you call in a professional who will help you do a deep cleaning of your new home.
It would help if you did not look at the price tag for cleaning your new house. You cannot compare the price of starting a new house in a clean environment. It would help if you did that as well.
#10 Prioritize Repairs
Except you are moving to a new home that does not have previous occupiers, you will always have to fix one thing or the other in your new home. You have to move around the house and look at what needs to be fixed in the new house.
The truth of the matter is that you cannot fix all the problems at once except that you are super-rich. It would help if you made sure that the most important things are fixed first. This will give you ample time to settle down before other faulty items in the house are fixed.
#11 Change Your Locks
Another most important step that you need to consider when moving into a new home is to change your locks. You never know who the previous owner was and who has the key to your house. That is why you have to bring in the artisans to assist you in changing the entire keys. This becomes necessary so that you will not be sorry at the end of the day.
#12 Change Your Address
Also, when you are moving into a new location, your residential address will change. You have to find time to notify your bank, your Loan Officer and several other people that used to send you hard copy mails. You also need to pay a visit to the driving license department in your city to order a new card with an updated address. This will ensure that all your previous correspondence will not go into the wrong location.
#13 Meeting Your Neighbour
I want to state it categorically that no man is an island. When you move into a new neighbourhood, no matter how reserved you are, you need to familiarize yourself with the environment. You do not have to move from door to door introducing yourself. You can do that when you are meeting anyone of them for the first time. Doing that will help you find your way around, most especially when you need the service of an artisan. They can assist you in finding your way around. They also have information about what you need to know about your new neighbourhood as well.
Wrapping Up
So far, I have looked at some of the factors you need to consider when moving into your new home. When you consider all the precautions, it will prevent you from moving into the wrong house. This will also ensure that you get value for your investment in your new home as well.
