Ask the Moving Company: How to Make Your New Home Move in Ready

You’ve closed on your new home and made it official by posting a photo of your keys on social media. Now what? In addition to enjoying the excitement, you’ll also want to take care of some practical matters related to security, safety and comfort. Before you hire a moving company to pack up your belongings, be sure to accomplish these five tasks to make your new home ready for your arrival.

Re-key all the doors

You never know how many people have the key to your new home. The previous owners could have given a spare set to the neighbors, their dog walker or their friends across town. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so call a locksmith to secure the home before you move any of your belongings. Be sure to have all of the entry doors re-keyed, including the one between the garage and the house.

Install closet organizers

Closet systems are more affordable than you might think. Depending on the size of your closet, you may be able to find one for less than $1,000. Be sure to install the organizing system when the closet is empty, which will make your life a lot easier. If you wait until you move in to figure out how you want to accomplish the task, you may end up with a bed piled to the ceiling with clothes and shoes.

Clean out the vents

Prone to allergies? Cleaning out the HVAC system before you spend the first night in your new home should be at the top of your to-do list. Even if you aren’t overly sensitive to allergens and dust, you never know when the last owners changed the filters—and air vent filters accumulate all manner of dirt that you don’t want your air to be filtered through. While you’re at it, have an HVAC specialist come out to assess your system for energy efficiency.

Upgrade your windows

Even if you do several walk-throughs before you move in, you don’t really know how your windows will perform in different lighting conditions or temperatures. On top of addressing any inefficiencies noticed by your inspector, you may also want to apply UV film on your windows. UV film protects carpet and furnishings from sun fading, and you won’t even notice it’s there. You may also be able to recover the cost of the upgrade through lower heating and cooling costs.

Install new technology

If you want new speakers or a smart thermostat, install them before you move in. Upgrading the tech in your home often involves going into the walls and running new wires, which is much easier to do without furniture and wall accessories in the way. Also, you don’t want to ruin a fresh paint job, so wait to do any repainting until your tech upgrades are complete. Even better, if you’re planning any renovations involving floors and walls, that can be the perfect time to run wires for new tech systems.

Moving into your new home is a major milestone, and you can make it even better by preparing your home to be move-in ready. Not sure where to begin finding vendors? Pick the brain of your real estate agent, who is sure to have a list of reliable companies ready to help.