Congratulations! If you are moving into a new home in the near future, this is a very exciting time for you. Buying a home is a big deal. You have probably been going through the process of having the home inspected, finalizing all your loan details, and filling out lots and lots of paperwork. Now that things are finally coming to an end, the real fun begins as you are about to move in!

To help make the process a little easier on you, we have put together a checklist of some important things you should address before moving into your new home. Yes – there is more involved than just packing up your clothes and buying some new furniture. There are several details that you must address to have the house ready. Additionally, we have included some items that are easier to tackle while the house is still empty. So, let’s get started!

1. Have all the utilities turned on.

You cannot assume that all the utilities will be fully functional as soon as you get the keys to your new home. In fact, most sellers will arrange for the utilities to go out of their name on the day of closing. To ensure that there is not a lapse in service, you want to go ahead and call all the companies you will be using. Set things up to go into your name with the electric, gas, and water companies. You may be able to do this with the internet and cable service as well, if you plan on using the same provider.

2. Deep clean the entire home.

To start things out on a fresh foot, it is ideal to have the house deep cleaned before you start moving your belongings in. Contractors may have been in and out of the house while getting things ready for closing, and the sellers may not have had time to thoroughly clean as they were moving out. Plus, this will give you peace of mind that every inch of the home has been cleaned. This is also an ideal time to have the carpets cleaned.

3. Replace batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Even if they appear to be working properly, it’s better to play it safe than sorry. Go ahead and replace the batteries to ensure both you and your home are protected.

4. Set up mail forwarding.

You can easily arrange for your mail to be forwarded from your old address through the United States Postal Service website. The post office will continue to forward all your mail for a year, so you have a little time to contact everyone and update your address – credit card companies, banks, insurance companies, healthcare providers, etc.