Easy Home Improvement To-Dos Before You Unpack


Moving into a new home can be equal parts excitement and stress. To keep your eye on the prize, get started early! There are a handful of house projects you can take on before you even move in, so when your new home is a sea of boxes, you’ll still feel accomplished.
Once your movers are booked and the packing has started, schedule yourself a housewarming party. Seriously! Having something fun to look forward to is good for everyone in the family and will motivate you to get the last of those boxes broken down and out of the garage.
Make Your New Home Safe & Secure
First things first: do a whole-house safety check. Change all the exterior door locks, and hide a key for emergency use. Get a stockpile of 9v batteries. Your future self will thank you when you’re not driven mad in the middle of the night trying to find which smoke detector is beeping incessantly. Please take a few minutes before you move in to change all the batteries and mark your calendar to swap them out again in six months. Are you bringing your old fridge or your washer and dryer with you? Are you keeping the ones that came with the house? Either way, this is a good time to do a thorough clean out of the back of your dryer and refrigerator. It will keep them running well and removes often-overlooked fire hazards.
Review the inspector’s findings. If they mentioned water damage anywhere, but you didn’t get it looked at before closing, there’s no time like the present. Leaks can cause huge disruptions, so get it scoped out by a professional you trust. (Your real estate agent or inspector may be able to recommend someone if you’re new to the area.) It’s also a good idea to have a professional do a check and tune up on your HVAC system, a common big-ticket item that too many new homeowners overlook. Once it’s in good shape, mark your calendar to hose down the outdoor A/C unit at least twice a year.