Now that you have successfully completed the stressful process of finding and buying a home, it’s time to start the first phase of the moving -in process—house inspection. Safety always comes first when living with your family, so make sure to address the following concerns:
Burglary concerns
The safety of your family and your property from burglary should be one of your top priorities. You definitely don’t want to expose your loved ones to that kind of stress and have strangers snooping around your belongings. So, before you move in, make sure to change the locks around your home and boost your security. Today, there are excellent yet affordable security systems that will keep your most precious things safe. You might also want to invest in motion-activated lighting outdoors that will keep anyone with suspicious intentions away from your house.
Leak inspections
You probably had your new house checked for leaks before you made an investment, but it’s always better to double-check so you can sleep peacefully. Before you and your family move in and before you’re using any water, check your water meter with this trick: read your water meter, wait for two hours without using any water and then read it again. The two readings should be exactly the same. If that’s not the case, you might have a plumbing leak on your hands. It doesn’t matter if you choose to address this right away or wait a little, but at least you’ll know the condition of your pipes. But, it’s better to handle it now when it won’t affect your daily life.
Electrical concerns
Home fires caused by electrical faults are more common than you think. Preventable house fires occur in the home every single day, so before your family moves, it’s smart to check every outlet and every switch. It’s best to do this before you have any furniture in that might block the access. You should also inspect your lighting fixtures and see whether all of them are securely fixed. Some of these things you can handle yourself if you know your way around tools, but if you notice anything more suspicious and unusual like corroded wiring, make sure to instantly call an experienced electrician. You can find an excellent emergency electricianto handle your damage before a fire strikes or anyone in your family gets seriously hurt or worse. This type of damage is best handled right away and by trained professionals.
Breaker box and shutoff valve
Imagine yourself hunting for a breaker box or a shutoff valve in the middle of the night with only a flashlight. It doesn’t sound fun. So, make sure to take some time to search these important features before an emergency occurs. Make sure to memorize where your breaker box and main water and gas shutoff valves and you’ll always be able to react quickly in case of emergency instead of running around your house as the water floods your floors.
Fire safety inspection
If you don’t have a working fire detector and a working carbon monoxide detector, you mustn’t sleep a single night in your new home. Before you bring your family, do a little inspection and test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your place. If you don’t own them, make sure to get them from your local home improvement store. When you’re preparing to set up your equipment, do it outdoors so that it gets a good reading of fresh air to use as a baseline.
Cleanliness concerns
No matter if you’re moving into a new home or an older property, it’s smart to have one final thorough cleaning session. This is especially important if you have younger kids or babies who love to crawl on the floor and put things into their mouths. So, grab all the buckets, brooms, mops, vacuums, cleaners and a good supply of rubber gloves and garbage bags and get to work. Don’t forget to wash the cabinets, counters and plumbing fixtures as well. This big cleaning effort will make you feel especially good about your new house and you’ll be sure your kids won’t find something dangerous on the ground while they play.
Now, you’re completely free to move your furniture, settle down and start a wonderful and safe life with your family in your new home!