Don't Unpack Anything! First, Make These Ten New Home Fixes
By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
However before you carry anything away from the van, unpack a box or hang a picture, are you positive with regards to the safety, security, and cleanliness of your new abode? Did you inspect and assess everything before stating, "I love it! I will get it!" Did you presume because the place is new and you're the original occupant, every little thing was okay without having a second look? Looking into your new residence before the professional movers in Austin get there and while it's empty to fix troubles now, is easier and cheaper than hoping to correct difficulties afterwards, which can entail moving furniture or replacing damaged property.
Listed here are 10 solutions prior to when the moving van pulls in:
Open up wide, now close - when you can
Windows that will not open or close completely, absent locks, busted sashes, are more than only a bother; they're a safety threat. In a fire, your only departure point could be the nearby window, and if you cannot utilize it (or first responders cannot get to you), you have a life and death situation. Broken windows can also be an invitation to thieves to come inside and take what's not theirs. Windows that won't close completely allow heated air to escape in winter and cool air during the warm months, costing you additional money on your electric or gas costs and permitting flying insects in the house.
Lacking, broken doors and locks
Doors locks which do not work tend to be an "Enter here, take the things you want" invite to thieves. Doors which are inadequately installed, warped or leave an excessive amount of space between the door and also the frame likewise permit cold or hot air to get out, increasing your electric or gas costs.
Grimy ductwork
Air ducts need maintaining ahead of a move in, especially for allergy sufferers. Swap all the air filters. Debris, allergens, pet dander, hair, spider webs, and insects collect in these ducts, and professional cleanup is definitely worth the cost of clean air and living allergen-free.
Pest issues (in and out)
Most infestation troubles start outdoors and move in the house, due to openings at your residence (cement cracks, faulty windows or doors, roof leaks) but some, such as German roaches, proliferate in appliances, suitcases, and household furniture as well as resist store-bought treatment. The work of a trustworthy pest management company will not only get rid of the situation, but frequent treatment stops pests from coming back.
That peculiar smoky odor; it's all over the place!
Cigarette smoke is invasive and hard to clean, especially when it comes to fabrics in the home, such as carpets and drapes and window treatments. Open up all windows to air out the house as much as you can. Engage an expert cleanup service to clean carpets and window treatments and wipe down all walls with white vinegar to counteract the smell.
Appliance problems
From stovetop burners that stay cold to washing machines that won't turn on, major appliance issues are a headache. It requires money and time to replace these things and plan delivery and set up; check all the appliances prior to move in, so you understand before hand what you should remedy and what to upgrade.
Structural integrity
Irregular floor surfaces, water-damaged walls, cracked cement, missing roofing shingles, and various other structure troubles tend to be the signs of larger and more expensive problems. Know prior to spending your primary night what demands maintenance at this moment, or you may encounter higher priced fixes down the road.
Serious aesthetic considerations
For those who hate the paint hue within a room, ought to refinish flooring surfaces or patch walls, paint, stain, and repair ahead of when the moving company shows up with your items, preferably, so you are not moving furniture or living with covered furnishings or chemical fumes during the process.
Drainage issues
Check out gutters and downspouts; clean them prior to when you move in, during good weather, so you aren't stuck on a step ladder in a thunderstorm, scraping leaves and branches out.
Electrical and plumbing troubles
Be weary of overflowing toilets or slow-draining sinks or showers; these may be a indication of plumbing in need of cleaning or upgrading. Water pooling for lengthy durations in the yard may indicate a busted or seeping water pipe underground. Assess each electrical socket and every light switch for proper operation. Examine all electrical wires for indications of fraying and change out burned-out lightbulbs with efficient CFL or LED versions.
As a professional moving company in Austin, we've seen residences in all sorts of conditions, and we understand that there are a few issues, including the ones talked about here, which are much better to tackle ahead of moving into your new house.
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