When you step into your new home for the first time, it is a big moment. You’ve put in the work – persevered through paperwork and negotiations, held your breath and crossed your fingers – and here you are. ...But now what? What is important to do right away? You can start with our handy checklist.
Charles runs the Foxtons Concierge Desk, connecting our customers with the tools and services they need for a smooth transition into their new home. He provided a checklist of things you should do right away. So (carefully) set down that moving box, and do these things first:
□ Take your meter readings for your gas and electric
□ Find your fuse board and water stopcock. Be sure you know how to use them, so you can switch off the water and electrics in an emergency.
□ Make sure you know where your boiler is, and check when your boiler and fuse board were last serviced.
□ Check all the locks are in working order, and that you have all the right keys and combinations to open them. This is important for your contents insurance as well.
□ Test your smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors.
□ Try your light switches.
□ Check against your inventory list that you’ve got everything in the property that’s meant to be there, and nothing that isn’t.
□ Check your thermostat, and ensure your heat, electricity, gas and water are all working correctly.
Get out the good pen
It's a wonderful feeling, ticking the final box on your list. And as moving is such an involved process, there are a lot of bits and pieces to organise. Here are two more lists that may help you stay on track with your move in.
What do you need on your first night in a new home?
If you’re moving straight in, you might want to pack an essentials bag:
□ Kettle, mug, tea, sugar, milk… nothing beats that first cup of tea in your new home!
□ Toothbrush/toothpaste, and toiletries
□ Kitchen and toilet roll
□ Bin bags
□ Hand soap and washing up liquid
□ Phone charger (and power bank if you have one!)
□ Hot water bottle if you haven’t fully figured out the heating
□ A few cleaning essentials
□ Toolbox, torch and tape measure
□ First aid kit
□ Solo and family games, especially if you have any children, and especially games that don’t require electricity if there’s any hiccups in the power supply.
Even if you’re not moving in right away – if you’re getting work done, the essentials for a cup of tea, hand soap and a hand towel, kitchen and toilet roll will all be appreciated by the tradespeople coming in your home.
Services you’ll need when (or before) you first move in:
□ Bills: connect with the gas, electricity, water, council tax, TV license and internet providers for your home.
□ Insurance: do you have buildings and contents insurance? If you’ve got a mortgage, you may want to talk to an expert on life insurance, income protection and critical illness cover.
□ Address change: get in touch with Royal Mail, your bank and anywhere you have a subscription to get your address changed.
□ Locksmith: if you've bought this home, it is recommended to change the locks, so you can be certain you know where every key to your home is.
□ Servicing: if you are a tenant, you'll want to check your landlord has shared the Gas Safety Certificate. If you're a tenant with Foxtons, you'll be able to find all your important documents on your My Foxtons account. If you're the owner, it is a great idea to get the boiler serviced when you move in, to start your journey as a homeowner with confidence.
