Moving to a new home on the outskirts of downtown Dallas? So did 97,000 people in 2021. Relocating is an exciting time, but it is equally stressful too, especially if you are moving a long distance. Dallas is a warm and welcoming city with friendly neighborhoods and amazing attractions. Still, moving into a new home here requires careful planning and effort. This article will help you make the move into your new residence as smooth as possible.
In case you’ve relocated before, you’ll know that unpacking is just one extensive task you’ll have to do after moving. Your new abode will require much more effort in terms of cleaning, getting any repairs done, and having the place set up exactly how you need it. You’ll need to constantly communicate with the previous homeowner or the landlord in case you are renting a place to live. At the same time, you’ll need professional help like cleaning services, maintenance specialists, and a host of other people to prep the place for you and your family.
Here are some of the things you’ll need to do when moving into a new place:
1. Start with a thorough walk around
Once all the furniture and other personal belongings land in your new home, you miss the chance to examine it carefully. When you’re working with professional and reliable Dallas long distance moving companies, you can easily coordinate with them to ensure you can arrive at the house before the movers start unloading your belongings. It is important that you check if the owner has made all the repairs that were agreed upon, the items that were included with the sale are not missing, there are no signs of mold or pests or dirt, your furniture is duly measured, and in case there is a garden, it is well-maintained or overgrown. Before moving is the appropriate time to get these items checked and talk with the owners about anything that may have been missed.
2. Child and pet-proofing beforehand is essential
Having children or pets is sometimes one in the same thing. For both these bundles of joy, you’ll need to take extra precautionary steps before moving in. Start by sealing off any areas you think your young kids or pets can enter, putting themselves in danger while you unpack. Secure all the windows and put low-hanging blind chords at a safe height. Also, place knob protectors on stove handles and lock the oven door along with the lower cabinets.
During unpacking, have a secure place to put discarded packing material that your kids or pets can’t reach. Rather than stacking boxes into huge towers, spread them out, and also be extra careful about boxes with sharp or delicate objects.
3. Make sure the utilities are all working
It is common practice to shut off essential utilities when a home is vacant so that there are no pending bills for new owners to foot. Before you move in, ensure the utilities have been set up and transferred. Go through the entire place and review the HVAC system, the gas supply, water, phone, electricity, and internet service. During this process, you can also assess the faucets, stove, and other systems to ensure that they are functioning properly as well.
Doing this before you move in gives you ample time to call in for a fix in case something is not working as it should.
4. Perform a deep clean
Whether you do it on your own or have a professional service provider get the cleaning done for you, it is important that the process is thorough. When you are doing it on your own, here are a few tips that will help:
- Clean objects on the walls and the ceilings first. This includes fans, high shelves, and lightning fixtures. Doing these items first means dust from them falls down and you can collect it from the floor.
- When you get to the new home, you’ll need to use some things before others. For instance, the fridge is something you’ll need to store perishable items in, especially during the unpacking process when you aren’t cooking and are mostly ordering takeout. So, get to cleaning the refrigerator first.
- With the fridge done, you can move on to the rest of the kitchen. Since this is the first place you’ll need after moving, get it cleaned before the other parts of the home.
- After the kitchen, move on to the bathrooms. Give it a good scrub using an antibacterial agent. Also, it is best to just replace the toilet seats. Also, make sure everything else is clean and disinfected.
- When cleaning the rest of the house, pay excessive attention to the floor, especially hard-to-reach corners and places that will get hidden under heavy furniture.
5. Don’t forget these that are often overlooked
When you are moving home, you want to make sure that everything has been left exactly how you would expect to find it. For this to be fulfilled properly, you need to make sure that some of the jobs you might not even think about are done, even if it means hiring outside help. One job that is often overlooked is removing of any unwanted pests or animals. By contacting a local squirrel removal in Texas (or wherever it is you are living) you can be sure that if there are any form of animal pests around they will be dealt with in a humane manner, and they will make sure to prevent them coming back. Other jobs that are often forgotten are servicing the boiler and making sure that all bins and recycling boxes are all empty and ready to be used when checking out if there is a new bin rota for your area.
6. Focus on essential repairs
If you are moving into a freshly built home, this is not something you’ll have to worry about, but when you are not, there are definitely a few repairs that need your attention. If these were not part of the previous owner’s responsibility, you’ll need to complete them before moving in. You don’t want your family in a home with a clogged drain or mold in the walls. Therefore, it is essential to make these repairs in advance.
7. Get the locks changed
Now that you will be living in the house, it is time to make it your own. For your safety and that of your loved ones, get the locks changed as early as possible. You don’t want to risk the fact that someone has a spare set of keys that they can use to access your home while your family is there. It is always better to play safe rather than sorry. It also gives you peace of mind and a level of comfort knowing that your residence is secure.
Conclusion
Moving into a new home, especially in the suburbs of Dallas, is the beginning of something fresh. It is important to let the experience stay amazing from the time you set foot in the state. Although the community will play its part to make you feel welcome, you’ll need to get your own home ready before you move in. This includes performing comprehensive inspections beforehand, deep cleaning the entire place, and handling any necessary repairs.
