New Home in Alexandria? 7 Handyman Tasks to Handle in the First 30 Days
Move-in punch lists look different for every home, but these seven items come up on almost every first visit.
The first month in a new home is the best time to handle small repairs and installs before furniture and routines lock everything in place.
- 1
Replace deteriorating caulk in bathrooms and kitchen
Caulk around tubs, showers, and sinks degrades over time. Dark lines or gaps let water in. Fresh caulk takes an hour and prevents expensive tile and subfloor damage.
- 2
Mount your TV before you arrange the room around the wrong spot
TV placement is hard to undo once the furniture is in. Mount first, then position the couch — not the other way around.
- 3
Install door stops on every door that swings into a wall
One trip into a wall leaves a door-knob-sized hole. Door stops cost almost nothing to install and prevent an easy-to-avoid drywall repair.
- 4
Assemble all flat-pack furniture before you unpack around it
Cardboard and packing material needs somewhere to go. Assembly before unpacking keeps the room manageable and lets pieces land in the right spot.
- 5
Swap light fixtures that don't match
New builds and rentals often have builder-grade fixtures. If you bought a replacement, Eimaan Services swaps it in during the same visit as other items on the list.
- 6
Install your video doorbell while the walls are clear
Before pictures go up and shelving goes in around the chime box, it's much easier to run wires and access the transformer.
- 7
Patch any holes left by the previous owner
Nail holes, anchor holes, and the occasional mystery damage are common in Alexandria rental turnovers. Patch before you paint, paint before you hang.
Saifullah Ghazi serves Alexandria and surrounding neighborhoods. Same-week scheduling available.