When you’ve just moved into a home, you might want to take a moment to rest and acclimate to your surroundings. However, before you do that, it’s worth taking a look around to make sure that there isn’t anything that needs a little attention now rather than later. Here, we’re going to look at some of the changes you should make when moving into a new home, or at least some checks you should make.
Check and Change Your Alarms
It’s a very simple matter, but it is necessary. Take the opportunity to test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarms. If any are in need of new batteries take the time to change them. However, if those alarms look particularly old, then you might want to look at replacing them altogether. They might not need a lot of maintenance, but alarms can suffer from wear, tear, and time just like anything else, so check if they need a replacement.
Changing The Locks
You never know who has a copy of the keys to the original locks of the home that you’re moving into. Even if the seller is the most trustworthy person in the world, you should change it just for peace of mind. You can take the opportunity to update to high security locks if the door locks haven’t been changed in a while, too. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of additional security for the home, after all.
Childproofing and Pet-Proofing
Of course, this tip only applies if you have any children or pets to be concerned with. However, while you might have been well aware of the potential risks of the old home, now you need to take the time to consider the new home from the perspective of someone much smaller and to make changes where you can see any potential for danger. Child gates, cupboard locks, and garden fences might be necessary to make your new home as safe as possible.
Get Down with the Driveway
It’s easy to miss when you’re not paying as much attention to it, but once you’re in the home, it’s worth taking the time to get down and inspect your driveway. You might need a new driveway if there are visible cracks or signs of potholes forming. The sooner you fix up your driveway, the less likely you are to incur damages to your vehicles.
Check the HVAC
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of the home are some of the most vital for your comfort, as well as being some of the most frequently and heavily used. You want to make sure they’re going to work just fine before the stronger weather comes in, so get a professional out to service them ASAP and make it an annual routine for the household.
Don’t forget the other essentials like taking readings of your utility meters and connecting your internet and TV, not to mention updating anyone who needs to know about your new address.
