House has completed but not moving in for another 2 weeks - what do I need to do?

[DraenorQueen]

Hi all,
I've just bought my first house (Yay!!) but due to my rental contract I won't be moving in until the 1st July.
Can anyone tell me what things I need to do when I finally get over there? (It completed on Friday but I've been really ill all weekend.) I'm guessing reading meters are the first thing... any other suggestions are welcomed.
TIA

Congratulations!

Does it need a clean? It's always easier to do when no furniture etc. the same with any decorating.

Those would be my main suggestions.

If you have two weeks to spare I'd get there and measure for curtains/blinds and buy them and rails for them.

Id check all the lights have working bulbs.

Make sure the ovens clean.

Do carpets need to be ordered?

Find out when bin collections are.

Get the freezer and fridge plugged in and washing machine all hooked up.

And congratulations.

Make sure you have building insurance.

Find the stop tap too. Make sure all windows are secure and doors lock properly. Maybe change the locks? It would make me feel safer anyway.

Jotting all these down on a list, thank you so much! It will def need a good clean as it's been vacant for months. I think it's the only time I'll ever enjoy cleaning!! Buildings insurance - I had to have that in place before they'd let me complete so that's def sorted.
Unfortunately cannot purchase any bits or bobs before i move in as solicitor's fees have wiped me out completely for the rest of the month!!

Declutter so you have less stuff to move in!

Do you have furniture?

Most importantly, do you have a bed?

The best bed-buying advice I got was to order it in advance, so I only had one night sleeping on an air mattress.

Flea spray the whole place.

We didn't and spent months itching. It is worth spending a few pounds on that, even if you don't think there was a dog/cat living there.

Clean the place from top to bottom. You'll get to know loose and wobbly bits, what small things will become annoying.

Measure everything. That way you can window shop for everything you need and get a feel for what you will/won't need.

Garden? Weed it, watch it... take out anything you dislike.

DO NO PLUG IN A FRIDGE / FREEZER. They will get very smelly and / or frozen over... I see them in houses between lets all the time. They should be open and switched off or they take a hell of a lot of cleaning / deodorising. If you are leaving them behind in your rented, do the same - the inventory clerk will love you for it

Read metres, check inside every cupboard and give the place a really deep clean. Personally I'd also spray but we moved into one house and inherited clothes moths.

If you need new furniture like a sofa order now because they take weeks to come.

Do any small diy or decorating jobs. I'd probably paint a room or two unless it's been done to your taste already. Painting freshens things up hugely.

Then start moving things over. It's easier to move out if you've already made a bit of space.

change locks
read meters

the rest is optional

Sort broadband and phone. That can take a while.

Check your insurance allows you to leave it empty - it probably does for three weeks but make sure. I'd also put in a light on a timer and make it look a bit occupied.

definitely change the locks

Personally I'd move in and leave the rental empty but I've always been too excited about new houses.

Gosh yes def the broadband. Ours took ages

Kerberos That's what I did. I was in the very first night. Too excited about the new place! :o

Take loads of pics of all the rooms. You'll then be able to create a 'before' and 'after' record.
Every single time I decorate a room, I kick myself for not having remembered to Take 'before' pics to look back on to feel pleased at what I'd achieved.

Change locks.
Order any furniture with a long lead time, e.g. beds. This is one occasion where a year's interest free credit is really useful.
Book the broadband technician to get connected - we've had to wait weeks for both bt and virgin in the past.
Get any carpets professionally cleaned or hire a rug doctor to do it.

Change your address - inform your bank, credit card company, DVLA, insurance company, etc. Tell your local Post Office to redirect your mail (there is a fee to pay).

You could get quotes for getting all the carpets cleaned - it's usually a lot cheaper if the house is completely empty, plus if you are not moving in the day after you'll know the carpets will be completely dry before you put anything on them. A clean carpet can make the whole house smell, well, clean.

(that said, I tried to do this and was shocked at the quotes I got - £300-400 but it may just be where I live as MN suggested this would be a lot cheaper...)

YY to sorting out the broadband! We had no phone, internet or TV for three weeks when we moved in here, despite choosing to use the same cable provider as the previous occupant."Flicking a switch" takes that long, apparently.

Redecorate anything that needs freshening up. So much easier when rooms are empty.

didireally that IS expensive! How big is your house? We paid about £120 in the midlands for a 4-bed house with carpet in 3 bedrooms, hall, landing, stairs and two reception rooms.

Run 4 bed house, two receptions, upstairs hallway. Three quotes, all around the same mark. £150 a room if furnished. Cambridgeshire .. gotta love it.

Definitely move out of the rented and into your new home. We also had two weeks between completion and giving up our rental flat and we found that it took longer than expected to clean the flat before giving the keys back to letting agent. We could not afford a professional cleaner as we had also spent our last pennies on the move.

As others have said, get broadband set up booked now.

Redirection of mail

Read gas and electricity meters now and let the providers know that you are the new guys.

Council tax

Electoral roll register at new address

OH and I did a little skip throughout the house when we walked through for the first time when we picked up the keys from EA. Congratulations on your purchase!

If you can afford it, it is nice to get the carpets steam cleaned but that is not essential if they are in good nick. I did that before selling and was amazed at the difference it made to the look, and also smelt fresh.

Like others have said, I would go and do a big clean of the new house and then move across, then you can do a big clean of the rented and you're all done with it. Don't stay in your rented when you're lovely new house is waiting for you!

you are not obliged to stay in the rental property so clean new house and move in get a feel for it and see what works/doesn't work. clean rental and see if new tenants can move in earlier and you get something off last week#s rent.