10 Steps You Should Take Immediately After Moving Into A New Home

Moving into a new home is an exciting time — but it can be equally as stressful when you factor in projects such as making repairs, deep cleaning your space and changing the locks. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate some of that stress.

Thumbtack, a home services app used by millions, can connect you with top-rated pros in your area to help check those tedious tasks off your move-in list and allow you to settle into your new home more comfortably.

From hiring a professional cleaning service to finding a handyman who will make any necessary repairs, here are 10 to-do list items to make your new house feel more like home as soon as you move in.

1. Change Your Locks

Changing your locks when moving into a new home is incredibly important, as the previous owners may still have access to your home. Swap all internal and external locks on the property and make sure only you and your family have working keys to your home. This helps ensure previous tenants, along with any guests who may have been given a spare key, can no longer access your property.

Homeowners can change the locks themselves, or hire a professional locksmith to do the work for them. Locksmiths will be able to quickly and efficiently install standard locks and deadbolts, along with smart locks and other home security technology.

Related: How much does it cost to hire a locksmith?

2. Deep Clean Your Home

Moving is the best time to deep clean your new home, as the space is as empty and accessible as it will ever be. Once furniture and your belongings are loaded into the home, it’ll be harder to reach and clean certain areas.

Since you’re likely too busy with the move to get cleaning, hire a professional cleaner to take care of the mess for you. They’ll target any dirty spots and have your new home feeling clean, refreshed, and rid of any messes from the previous owners.

Related: How much does it cost to deep clean your home?

3. Power Wash Your Home

Power washing your home’s exterior is an effective way to remove grime, dirt, mildew and more. While homeowners often look past the years of gunk that has gradually built up on a home’s exterior, power-washing your home when you move in can make the property look new and fresh.

Because power washing is a very involved process that requires advanced skill and the correct equipment, it's best to hire a professional to get the job done. Professionals are trained on how to best set up a job site, including the arrangement of ladders, hoses, scaffolding and proper water drainage. They also know the effects of high-pressure water and how to avoid injury and damage to certain surfaces.

Related: How much does it cost to pressure wash your home?

4. Install Home Security

According to FBI data, a burglary occurs roughly every 30 seconds in the U.S. To protect your home from intruders, consider installing a home security system. System offerings range from standard video recording to live monitoring and smart home capabilities.

Consider hiring a professional from Thumbtack to handle the installation process for you. A home security expert will properly install your system — and recommend the best spots for cameras to be placed — at an affordable price, so your home is protected as soon as you move in.

Related: How much does it cost to hire a home security professional?

5. Clean Your Furniture

During a move — and over time — furniture is bound to get dirty. Couch cushions may have fallen on the ground, bugs may have found a new home in a dresser drawer, or a chair may have been scuffed as it was loaded into the moving truck. Whatever the reason, be sure to clean your furniture when moving into a new house. Hiring a professional furniture cleaner is sure to breathe some life into your furniture.

Related: How much does furniture cleaning cost?

6. Clean Your Carpets

Carpets are a magnet for dust, dirt and other allergens. When you move into a new home, professionally cleaning your carpets can get rid of anything the previous owners — and all their guests and furry friends — may have left behind. The price of having your carpets cleaned professionally will vary based on the size of the job and your location, but the cost of cleaning and maintaining your carpets will be far less than the price of replacing them

Related: How much does it cost to have your carpets cleaned?

7. Refresh The Paint

Chipping, peeling or fading paint can completely change the look and feel of a home. That’s why painting your home when you first move in is a great — and relatively cheap — solution to make it feel more modern and clean. Painting a home immediately before moving in is easier for professional painters, and it allows new homeowners to refresh their space without needing to rearrange belongings.

Hiring a professional painter via Thumbtack is the best way to quickly and effectively refresh your home. Professional painters can ensure that paint is applied properly without damaging your floors, furniture or trim.

Related: How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?

8. Focus On The Flooring

Flooring has a major impact on the appearance of a home. For example, chipped or unfinished wood flooring, broken tiles or stained rugs can leave a home looking and feeling less than clean. If your floors could stand to be replaced or repaired, hire a flooring expert to tackle the task and renew your space.

For those not looking to replace their floor, hiring a professional floor cleaner can have your property feeling pristine and refreshed. Even if the flooring is old, giving it a good clean can have it looking like it did on the day it was installed, so long as it was well taken care of.

Related: How much does it cost to hire a flooring professional?

9. Prioritize Repairs

Whenever you move into a new home, there are bound to be necessary repairs to be made. Many times, when a previous tenant is planning to move out, minor repairs aren’t addressed and are instead left for the next owner to handle.

Don’t let things fall by the wayside — hire a professional handyman to help make your home look and feel as good as new. Thumbtack offers a wide range of affordable home-repair specialists who can target any issue you may encounter, such as damaged pipes and plumbing issues, broken electrical outlets, and more.

Related: How much does it cost to hire a handyman?

10. Unpack Your Boxes

While it may be daunting, unpacking your boxes as soon as possible will help you settle in and feel at home in your new place. By contrast, the longer you let moving boxes sit around, the harder it is to finish the unpacking process. Don’t let boxes collect dust — reconnect with your belongings by hiring a professional to help finish unpacking.

Related: How much does it cost to hire an unpacking service?

Get Started With Thumbtack

Moving into a new home can be stressful — but Thumbtack is here to help. Hiring a professional from Thumbtack to assist with your move-in checklist is as simple as selecting the type of service you want and inputting your ZIP code.

From there, you'll see a list of the top services in your area, their customer ratings and current hourly rates. Each pro has their own profile that gives users an overview of their services, pricing, specialties and all of their reviews from Thumbtack customers. You can contact a pro directly with any questions and book them right through the app.

Looking to check some tasks off your move-in checklist? Hire a professional from Thumbtack to help you get the job done.