Moving from your home involves many tasks, including packing, scheduling services, and saying good-bye. The busyness of leaving one home may tempt you to avoid thinking about tasks to be accomplished in your new home once you arrive. While many repair tasks can wait until you move in, several should be done before you make the move.

Here are some areas to take care of before you make your household move.

Structural Issues

Structural problems can make the home unsafe for occupancy. Examples of structural problems are roof damage, drywall damage, water damage, faulty wiring, or sloping floors. They should be repaired before you move to avoid injury or damage to your furnishings and other property.

Pests

If you are buying a new home, a pest inspection likely is required before closing. If not, order one as early as possible. Not only is pest exposure unhealthy, but exterminating the home may require you to spray or fumigate, which may require that you leave home for as much as three or four days.

Cigarette Smoke

If your home smells like smoke and you move your furniture and clothes into it, they soon will smell of smoke as well. Cigarette smoke also affects indoor air quality.

To rid the home of this smell, first, open the windows to air it out. Then have carpets and air ducts professionally cleaned. Wipe walls and surfaces with white vinegar. Then, clean the HVAC’s evaporator coil with detergent and water.

Major Cosmetic Problems

Some homes need major cosmetic repairs such as interior painting, floor refinishing, and patching holes in the walls. These problems are also more easily handled before moving yourself, your family, and furniture and other belongings into the home.

Malfunctioning Appliances

While technically appliances such as washers and dryers and mounted microwaves can be fixed after you move in, fixing them beforehand will make settling in easier. After all, your first meals in the home are likely to be microwaved ones. You also may want to wash curtains and linens when you take them out of the box, and if the machines don’t work, you’ll end up using precious time going to the laundry. Try to repair or replace them before you move in.

Drafty Windows

Crippled or drafty windows can seriously affect the temperature and energy-efficiency of the home. New, energy-efficient windows, on the other hand, can save you money as well as keeping you comfortable.

Many homeowners are tempted to wait to replace windows until after they are in their new home. However, replacing these windows requires considerable time and involves removing blinds and curtains. If you can measure, order, and have windows installed before you move, you save time, money, and inconvenience later.

Drainage Issues

Drainage issues left unresolved can erode the foundation and cause walls to spall. They also can cause water to collect in the basement or mildew in the attic. If you’ve placed belongings in these places, the water and mildew will damage them. It’s better to fix these issues before you move, as well.

Moving Done Right

Are you still planning your move? Contact us for a free quote. We can help ease the moving process.