The Ultimate Moving-Into-a-New-House Checklist

Arriving at your new home after an exhausting move can be thrilling, but it can also feel overwhelming. That’s where our moving into a new house checklist comes in handy. 

From cleaning and unpacking to handling important logistical tasks, it’s easy to get lost wondering where to begin. Remember, moving is a process, so take your time and tackle tasks one at a time or hire a local moving service to complete some of the heavy-lifting.. With this moving-into-a-new-house checklist, you'll be well on your way to making your new house feel like home.

What Is the First Thing You Should Do When You Move Into a New House?

As the saying goes, safety first! Before unboxing your essentials and calling the utility companies, start by inspecting the home for any hazards to children and pets. This includes:

• Loose nails and floorboards

• Sharp objects on the floors

• Loose stairs or handrails

• Uneven floors or carpeting

• Signs of leaks and other plumbing issues

• Electrical issues such as exposed wires or faulty outlets

• Sign of mold and mildew

• Broken or malfunctioning appliances

• Overgrown vegetation, tree branches, or potential tripping hazards in the yard

• Burning or natural gas smells

Once you’ve ensured there aren’t any immediate safety hazards, start taking measures to protect your home from burglary, fires, and other potential disasters. It’s a good idea to invest in the cost of a home security system if you don’t have one already. In the meantime, here are the other things to do:

• Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, or test the current ones to ensure they’re working.

• Ensure fire extinguishers are available and within reach.

• Change the locks on all exterior doors.

• Check that all windows are secure and have working locks.

Babyproof Your Home 

If you have little ones moving in with you, start taking the steps to babyproof your home.

• Set up baby gates

• Cover outlets with protective covers

• Remove sharp objects or chemicals from reach

• Unpack a playpen or some toys to keep them occupied 

Set Up Your Utilities

If you haven't already arranged a setup or transfer of your utilities, now is the time to take care of that. It helps to make a list of each company, assign individual utility setups to roommates if you have them, and check everything off as you go. These are your basic utilities to get squared away:

• Gas

• Electric

• Water

• Garbage 

• Internet/Wifi

Update Your Home Address

Next, get your forwarding address set up if you haven’t already. US residents can easily do this online via the official USPS Change of Address website. Also, contact your local DMV office to notify them of your address change, and set up an appointment for an updated license or state I.D. where needed.

Purchase New Cleaning Supplies and Other Necessities

You probably tossed your old toilet brush before the move, and there are a lot of other essentials you may be missing in your new home. As soon as you can, make a quick trip to the store to pick up these must-haves:

• All-purpose cleaner

• Disinfectant cleaner

• Glass cleaner (you can also clean mirrors and glass with vinegar)

• Broom and dustpan

• Duster

• Mop and bucket

• Vacuum cleaner

• Microfiber cloths

• Rubber gloves

• Sponges and scrub brushes

• Toilet Bowl cleaner and brush

• Laundry detergent

• Trash bags

• Paper towels

• Toilet paper

Clean the Home From Top to Bottom

Most sellers don’t front the cost for a professional move-out cleaning service, and if you’re a renter, there was likely less than a day spent cleaning between your moving in and the previous tenants moving out.

Remember, always work from top to bottom. That way, you won’t be knocking any crumbs onto your freshly-mopped kitchen floor and the like. It’s helpful to print out a comprehensive house cleaning checklist if you want a full deep clean, but these are the main cleaning tasks to get done before unpacking:

• Dust every surface from your light fixtures to the floor

• Disinfect and wipe down walls, fixtures, countertops, doorknobs, lightswitch plates, and any other surfaces 

• Clean windows, mirrors, and glass doors

• Scrub and disinfect the toilet

• Clean the bathtub and shower

• Sweep and mop all hard floors

• Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly

• Clean and disinfect air vents and filters

• Clean and disinfect trash cans

• Clean your baseboards

• Clean the oven and refrigerator

To make the process a lot quicker and easier, consider hiring a local house cleaning service to help you get your new home spic and span in no time.

Unpack Your Essentials

If you packed a box of essentials like toiletries, medications, and important documents that you'll need immediately upon arrival, unpack it now. Next, unpack food items (especially if it’s time for a snack or a meal). If you have refrigerated or frozen food items, make sure to get these in the fridge ASAP.

Set Up Your Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Next, unpack essential items to set up your bedrooms and bathrooms. Here’s a quick to-do list to get started: 

• Place towels, soap, toiletries, bath mat, and shower curtains in the bathrooms 

• Assemble and arrange the beds and bedding

• Set up window treatments in the bedroom

• Set up lighting in the bedroom

• Assemble and place bedroom furniture, like dressers and nightstands

Set Up Your Kitchen

These are the kitchen and pantry essentials to prioritize during unpacking:

• Pantry items

• Dishes, glassware, and silverware

• Pots and pans

• Cooking utensils

• Coffee maker

• Toaster, microwave, and other small appliances

• Trash and recycling bins

Unpack the Rest of Your Belongings

Once all the basics are unpacked, you can start tackling the rest of your items to unpack. It helps to prioritize items if you’re not sure where to start.

• Unpack TV

• Set up living room furniture

• Arrange dining room furniture

• Hang art and decor items

Start Planning Future Home Projects

There are a number of post-move home improvement projects to plan for. Maybe you can’t stand the dark paint in the powder room, or you’re looking to update the lighting fixtures. Go room by room and start listing everything you’d like to do, then prioritize and plan your budgets. For more long-term goals, such as redoing your bathroom or renovating the kitchen, consider creating a vision board and creating a budget plan to help you achieve them.