Home Improvements to Complete Before You Move In

The idea of moving into your new home is incredibly exciting for many homebuyers. With the mountains of paperwork finally signed and the long, arduous process over, you’re ready to get on with your life. However, you might get more benefit out of waiting to move your belongings in—despite how badly you want to get it over with. There are a lot of things to do when moving to a new environment, and performing some of these tasks before changing residences can make things go significantly smoother. Here are a few home improvements to complete before you move in to ensure optimum safety, security, and timeliness.

Change Locks or Replace Exterior Doors

When a home comes under new ownership, exterior locks are one of the first and most important things to change. This is the best way to guarantee that everyone who previously had access to the property no longer does and that the home is now exclusive to your family. But, if it’s an older home with some exterior damage, simply switching out the locking mechanisms might not be enough. There are ample benefits to getting new exterior doors installed on your home, such as increased security, refined appearance, and improved privacy. Performing these tasks ahead of time will keep you and your belongings safe from the very beginning.

Paint the Home’s Interior

You can also take this opportunity to paint your new home’s interior before your possessions are there to get in the way. Many homeowners paint walls with neutral colors, such as gray, white, and tan, before placing them on the market because they appear less personalized and are, therefore, easier to sell. But most new homeowners prefer to change this color scheme to match their own personalities and style preferences once they’re living in that space. Painting your new home to your liking before moving your things will make the process significantly easier in the long run.

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Another crucial home improvement to complete before you move in is to check, test, and possibly replace the home’s old emergency detectors. Though these devices are mandatory in every home, they often go overlooked and are frequently out of date. This can prevent them from working effectively when you need them to the most, and you definitely don’t want to be caught unawares in a new living environment. Before you’re officially living in the home, make sure your detectors are all working properly so that you’re ready for an emergency.