Moving tends to get a bad rap, but that’s only because most of us are so painfully unprepared. Relocating to a new home can actually be an exciting and refreshing time, especially if you finish important upgrades before moving in.
Just imagine: you’re all moved out of your old space and you’ve packed up your belongings securely. Your new space is move move-in perfect! The possibilities for setting up, organizing, and making your new house a home seem endless, because you don’t have to sit around waiting for all sorts of things to get done.
To set yourself up for a truly enjoyable and moving experience, check out these home improvements to complete before you move in. You’ll thank us later.
5 Essential Home Improvements To Complete Before You Move In
Change the Locks
You may feel uneasy during the first few days and nights in your new home. You must get used to a lot of new noises from neighbors, pipes, the HVAC system — maybe even critters skittering across the roof, or birds singing at night. In addition to calming self-talk and perhaps earplugs, changing the locks is one important step you can take to put yourself at ease. After all, you don’t know who may have a spare key to the old locks.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to change the locks on the back or side door, garage door, shed, or cellar.
Check or Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
With so many big-ticket items on their improvement lists, most people tend to overlook smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. In addition to replacing the locks, you should check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries and test all detectors, and if you’re missing some, install new ones.
Replace the Lighting
The previous homeowners may have had “interesting” taste in light fixtures. Take the time to swap out outdated, broken, or ugly fixtures with beautiful new fixtures before you move in.
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels
If you know you’ll have to remodel your kitchen or bathrooms, consider doing so before you move in. You can make valuable upgrades and customize your new home, and you won’t have to stress about it later. Everything will be done by moving day.
Deep Clean
There’s nothing like walking into your new home on moving day and not having to worry about cleaning. Once renovations are complete, use a little elbow grease and deep clean every room, or hire a professional. This is a great time to have your flooring professionally cleaned, refinished, or replaced.
Paint, Paint, Paint
Painting is one of the best home improvements to complete before you move in. Many people tend to just paint the walls, but for a complete refresh, paint as much as possible. This includes walls, ceilings, and trim. If the kitchen and bathroom cabinets aren’t to your taste and you can’t afford to replace them, paint them, too!
Make relocation a breeze by preparing your new home ahead of time. From cleaning to remodeling, here are five essential home improvements to complete before you move in.