Moving into a new house is exciting, it’s romantic and it’s an adventure. Once you’ve tackled the stress of removals, you can settle down and enjoy the leisurely unpacking, or can you?
New House Checklist – What You Need to Know About Your New House
Our new house checklist highlights the few things you should know about your new home before you move in, things many people overlook as it’s usually been a while since you’ve had to concern yourself.
The Water
Where does the water come from? In extreme cases you could find that your supply also feeds your neighbour if you don’t check it out beforehand. It could feed the troughs in that scenic field next door or it could connect to the local wishing well. Make sure you know exactly where your water goes, where your meter is and who it supplies before you move in or you could be faced with a nasty surprise. If you have any concerns about your water supply, contact the water board who are usually very good at customer care.
While you’re investigating the water situation it’s a good idea to find out where the stopcocks are too. Smaller houses have just one but larger house have more than two. You’ll need to know for a couple of reasons:
- The water may have been turned off while the property was unoccupied
- If you have a burst pipe you’ll need to find the stopcock fast.
Hot Water
Make sure you know how to heat water before you move in, as nothing is worse than looking forward to a nice hot bath and being met with freezing cold water! There may be a hidden emergen switch or you may have to wait for the water to heat. In some cases the hot water may have been turned off at the pipes to stop any electricity being used while the property was empty.
If the previous occupants don’t leave you instructions on how to work the boiler, search online for the make and model. It’s always advised that you do this before you move as problems with internet connections are common when you move into a new home.
Rubbish and Waste Disposal
When you move you’ll have a lot of rubbish and recycling materials. If you miss bin day you could be left with these unwanted items cluttering your home and garden for weeks. Find out when the bin days are and how to recycle locally.
Safety
Your current home will have all the measures you need to keep you and your family safe yet your new home may not be so organised. Are boundaries secure so the family pet doesn’t run away? Are fences high enough? Is the decking treated so toddlers don’t slip and fall and are precautions in place for children such as stair gates and hob covers?
It is difficult enough to unpack with children and pets as it is, nigh on impossible if you have to keep a constant eye on them so they don’t come to any harm!
If you have anything else to add to the list we’d love to hear your thoughts! Alternatively, see our expanded guide here!