The First Few Hours in Your New Home

It's here, it's here……the day you move into your new home.  The next few days will be filled with the excitement of exploring your new kingdom and learning it's secrets… Whose room is this? Where is that light switch? What was that noise? Anyone find the box with the cups?

As a new homeowner, there are a few things the Ask Cathy Marketing Groups recommends you do the first few hours in your new home.

• Do a walk through.  You should have already completed a walk through with your agent, but do another quick look.  Make sure the previous owners did not leave a bunch of trash or forgot a few items. A common place that is forgotten is the attic.

• Check that all basic utilities are on — water, electricity, gas.

• Change the locks and rekey any keypads within the first few hours.  Remember, the owners before you may have extra keys out there somewhere.  Maybe even the neighbors! Changing the locks will give you peace of mind.

• Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.  Change all batteries. 

• Locate shut-off valves and find your circuit breakers.  If you trip a circuit breaker, you don't want to be crawling around your basement in the pitch dark trying to find your breaker box.

• Change your HVAC filters.  Depending on how long your house was empty, you want to have clean filters for quality air.

• Deep clean. This will be the easiest time with the house empty to do a quick deep cleaning. Give everyone a room and a container of wipes.  Ready…. set…. go!

• Set up everyone's bed.  If you can't get everyone's bed set up in their rooms, set up an alternative space for the night.  It's been a very long and exciting day and you will crash soon!

• Move boxes to their correct location before unpacking.

• If you have pets, make sure they have a comfortable, safe spot to rest. No one wants a grumpy cat!

Be realistic! It's your first day.  Soak in the excitement and relax- you did it! There is always tomorrow to finish setting up your home.