When you first move in to your new house, there are a myriad of different things to sort out. Paperwork seems to be never-ending as you get your bills and finances in order; there are some boxes which won’t be unpacked for weeks (or months, years - you know the ones) and the last thing you want to be thinking about are other things that need doing while you’re trying to get everything sorted. 

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You need to ensure that you are happy, healthy and safe in your new abode. With that, here are some essential things that most people don’t give a second thought to before it’s too late to do so. 

Make sure your alarm is working

If you don’t have an alarm or any sort of alert to an intruder, consider getting one as soon as possible. Technology has come a long way, and so installing it yourself should be no big deal. Information on alarm-reviews DIY can help with the process from start to finish, and don’t hesitate to call on neighbours to lend a hand too; it’s a great way of making friends. If you do already have an alarm installed, get as much detail about it as you can - the manufacturer, the date it was fitted, even the person who installed it if this information is available to you. It will always beneficial to keep a note of this just in case it needs a bit of a tweak to get it back into top working order again. 

Ask away

Unless you’re psychic, a mind reader and a really good guesser all in one, chances are that you won’t automatically be able to find half of the things in the house that you need to. Get hold of the seller while you still can and ask about where you can find things like the stop-tap, the thermostat and gas and electricity meters. It may be second-nature to them and it’s easy to assume that everybody knows where something is if you have been living with it for the past ten years or so, but these are essential things to know about for the general upkeep of your house. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question - you are asking because you genuinely need to know! 

Take a look at the floor and walls


If you are planning on redecorating as soon as you move in, then you can skip this step. However, if you have taken a fancy to whatever tiles are on the wall or slats on the floor, ask if you can have details about where they were purchased (there might even be spares lurking around somewhere!). It’ll help in case one cracks or needs replacing, or even just if you wanted to brighten the place up a bit and redo it all, at least you’ll have the resources to be able to do so. 

My Say

New homeowners will have so much in mind that committing some mistakes might be inevitable. Just make sure that they are not about major issues that will compromise security, efficiency, and maintenance. Avoiding mistakes related to these three areas of concern will ensure that you will get to enjoy your new home more. 

That said, after essentials have been taken cared of, relax. You have you whole life to take care of the other details  that needs to be addressed.