First-Time Homeowners
10 Things to Set Up in Your New Home Before Moving In
Moving into a new home is exciting — and overwhelming. Here's a practical checklist of the setup tasks that are easiest to handle before furniture arrives and life gets busy.
The window between closing and moving day is golden. Here's how to use it wisely.
Before furniture arrives
- Change the locks. You don't know who has keys to your new home. Re-keying all exterior locks costs under $100 and is essential.
- Deep clean empty rooms. Much easier before furniture is in the way.
- Locate all shutoffs. Know where the main water shutoff, gas shutoff, and electrical panel are before you need them urgently.
- Test smoke and CO detectors. Replace batteries and verify every detector is working.
- Photograph all walls and floors. Document pre-existing damage before moving in — useful for security deposits and insurance claims.
Setup tasks to book before move-in
- Mount TVs. Much easier to run in-wall cables before furniture blocks the walls.
- Install curtain rods and window treatments. Privacy and light control are important from day one.
- Mount floating shelves and artwork. Easier when rooms are empty and you can freely position things.
- Set up your WiFi network. You'll want internet connectivity from the moment you move in.
- Assemble large furniture in place. Getting a wardrobe or bookshelf through a doorway after assembly is much harder than carrying the flat-pack boxes in and assembling inside the room.