Being a home owner now for almost 2 weeks, I've come discovered a few important tasks that should be taken care of ASAP. NOw, these tasks are all probably a no brainer, but sometimes you don't think of these things until it's too late or someone points out the obvious.

The firsts of these tasks: put up curtains or blinds!

This was one area that my wife mentioned to me days before we moved in, but both of us forgot about it until we moved into our house and painted...then we realized that the whole world could, and was, watching in on us. I guess it's just human nature to be curious, but people were watching and staring in all throughout the day.

I wish I could have gotten curtains up sooner, but painting and moving in was the first priority. Luckily enough I was able to get all of the windows done by the first full week.

Second important task that should be taken care of: Change the locks!

Who knows how many keys for the current locks are floating around. Especially when the seller doesn't show up to settlement and doesn't give you the keys! It'll definitely help you sleep better at night.


This one isn't as important, but should still be something to consider: Change the air filter!

Who knows when the last time the previous owners changed it, if they ever did. You'd be surprised. Maybe they even put it in backwards. Hopefully they've at least used one.

This one was definitely a wake up call: Find out your trash schedule!

Without even doing major unpacking, we've had at least 10-15 bags of trash just from doing the main move, painting, and unpacking essentials. Luckily one of our neighbors was nice enough to let us know when our trash pick-up was, if not our back yard would have looked like a mini landfill!

Anyways, these were just a few items off of a very long list of things that needed to be done during our first couple of weeks of owning a home. One things for sure, there's always small and large projects to be done...

So if you can think of anything else that should be looked at or taken care of within the first few days of owning a home please feel free to share it!

Quote: Originally Posted by IronSerif So if you can think of anything else that should be looked at or taken care of within the first few days of owning a home please feel free to share it!

I'd highly suggest the following:

1. Whilst packing, making sure you make a box for your first few days in the house where you can't find anything.

This should include a pot, cleaning supplies, a phone book (especially if moving to a new area, as if you're hungry and don't want to stop working on the place, you can order out), a phone (so you can call... found this out the hard way), a flashlight and a few utensils.

2. Make sure the first thing you do is set up your bed... nothing like feeling like death incarnate and having to try to drag a mattress upstairs...

3. Make sure pets have a safe place to hide. Our cats comprise one explorer who's underfoot and one who isn't seen for three days everytime we move...

4. Know where the electrical box is... I wired new outlets in my current place and I accidentally popped the breaker. I then found out the breaker box was in the house below us... I had to wait for a few days while the property manager found a key to the place.

5. Also might want to make sure all the drains are working properly... I've moved into several places where I had to stop and run to the hardware store for some drain cleaner!

Congrats and welcome to world of endless to do lists and never enough time or cash!

If you haven't gotten the blinds yet, sheets do a good job of keeping out the prying eyes. They may not look the greatest, but they are effective.

Hopefully your neighbor also told you the recycling schedule along with what is acceptable to put out for regular pickup and what requires special pickup. One bit of advice I will give you here is make sure you tip your trash collectors generously. Here on Long Island there are some very specific rules as to what they can and can't take in regards to size and weight. Well, I tip my guys very well every year during the holidays and they will take ANYTHING that will fit in the truck, even if they shouldn't. Some examples of things I should have called the town for special pickup but didn't need to: cast iron railing, love seat, entertainment center, old windows I replaced. Take care of those guys and they will take care of you.

Also see if your town/city has a web site. They usually have all kinds of information regarding sanitation rules, parking, and other local ordinances that you might want to be aware of.

Some of the more obvious things that are easy to forget...

-- Utilities: Make sure the local utilities don't cut you off because the previous owner didn't close out their account or didn't pay. This goes for the electric, gas, and water. If you have oil heat start shopping around for a good deal that includes service and price locking.

-- You have time for this, but if you do not intend to do the yard work yourself, ask you neighbors who they use. Or come spring, keep an eye out for the lawn service trucks.

-- Clean the gutters

-- Check the insulation in the attic/walls. One way to check is take the faceplate off an outlet and see if there is a breeze coming out. If there is, you need to address it. It is amazing how cold those little breezes can make a house.

-- Since it is winter, it should be easy to check for drafty windows/doors that need to be dealt with.

But the most important thing is to enjoy the new house. Oh, and make sure you and the wife, um, 'christen' all the rooms appropriately.

And remember, just like a good mod project, the tasks around the house are never "done".

Youre in so its now too late to do the following:

1} Bring in the Orkin man - you'd like to do this a week before move in so the stinky and the bugs go away.

2} Mini-maids - should scrub like their Mamas were doing the inspection.

3} Stanley Steemer - no furniture to move so they can do the WHOLE carpet.

Now I was in a unique situation when I moved in. The previous owners were long gone to the nursing home. I was renting from Grandma and her house was going on the market WHENEVER I was out. So I had no *hard* move-in or move-out date.

This gives you certain luxeries. I'd pack a few boxes, move 'em myself, put 'em where they went. Use those empty boxes again to move a few more things. Only REALLY heavy stuff did the movers have to F with. And no going "What box is the thermstratos in?"

And speaking of boxes, people are ALWAYS looking for moving boxes on CRAIGSLIST because people are always moving. It's better to reuse the boxes than recycle if you can.

-MF

This is getting to be a pretty cool list - somebody call Rachael Ray [who is WAY hotter than Martha!]

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut Bring in the Orkin man - you'd like to do this a week before move in so the stinky and the bugs go away.

Up above the Mason-Dixon line, this isn't that much of a priority (unless the previous tenants were complete slobs). Yankee palmetto bugs and temites tend to be smaller and not as much of a problem.

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut Stanley Steemer - no furniture to move so they can do the WHOLE carpet.

Still a good idea... or rent one at a local store. Nothing quite as gross as the dirty water you get from even a clean carpet. Bissell little green machines are nice too for the occasional spot clean.

Quote: Originally Posted by DarkSamurai I've moved into several places where I had to stop and run to the hardware store for some drain cleaner!

Along those lines, find the nearest grocery store, convenience store, drug store, hardware store, liquor store, Best Buy, pizza & chinese delivery restaurants, and Blockbuster.

In fact, drive around in an outward spiral from your new house to familiarize yourself with the new neighborhood.

Quote: Originally Posted by DickNervous Also see if your town/city has a web site. They usually have all kinds of information regarding sanitation rules, parking, and other local ordinances that you might want to be aware of.

Specifically check out parking. You may have to alternate sides of the street you park on during winter for snowfall (if you don't have a garage). You don't want to get plowed in or towed.

Quote: Originally Posted by DickNervous But the most important thing is to enjoy the new house. Oh, and make sure you and the wife, um, 'christen' all the rooms appropriately.

That's the best part of a moving into new house!

The blue things in the toilets.