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New Home Checklist 2025: Everything You Need for Your Move

Alicia1/27/2025
new home checklist

Moving into a new home is an exciting but stressful thing to go through. A complete checklist ensures you don't miss any of the critical steps in this biggest life transition. In this article, we will create a buying a new home checklist for everything you need to do before, during, and after moving in 2025.

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New Home Checklist - Pre-Move

Doing these furnishing a new home checklist things before moving day makes the moving day itself easier.

1. Gather All Your Stuff

Walk through every room and storage area and determine what is going to stay in the new house. Get selling, donate, recycle, or trash the goods you no longer need. If you’re keeping anything, organize it so it’s ready for packing.

2. Prepare Moving Boxes and Supplies

You need to get sturdy boxes in all different sizes and packing supplies like bubble wrap, tissue paper, and permanent markers to label your boxes. For easier unpacking, mark packed boxes by room.

3. Decide How You're Going to Move

Decide if you’re going to pay to have professionals move you or if you are going to rent a truck and do it yourself. On the other hand, movers handle the heavy lifting, but will cost you more. Rental trucks take more work but are cheaper.

4. Notify Your Landlord

Look over your rental agreement with regard to its move-out notice requirements. It's typically 30 days, but it may differ. Perform a pre-movement inspection to learn about several security deposit deductions.

5. Set Up Utilities

Turn off service with your utility companies at your old place and transfer or turn it on at your new home. Electricity, gas, internet, cable, trash pickup, and phone are included. Schedule service start dates as close to your move-in date as possible.

6. Update Your Address

Use official USPS change of address forms and inform the post office and banks, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and any other service that you are changing address. It forwards your mail to your new address.

7. Arrange and Clean Your New House

Hire a professional cleaner or decide to clean a new home yourself. Your regular chores may include decluttering your rooms, wiping down surfaces, scrubbing floors, and dusting. Paint and lay new flooring before even moving in, if you can.

New Homeowner Checklist - When Moving

Check off these tasks as you're moving to keep things as organized as possible.

1. Reserve Storage Unit

If your new home isn't fully ready to move into yet, reserve a storage unit to temporarily hold belongings. Make sure it's climate-controlled with enough room for everything.

2. Pack Your Stuff

Fill boxes completely before sealing. Label contents and destination room on all sides. Mark items like TVs and lamps as fragile. Pack an essentials box with items you’ll need first at the new house.

3. Turn On Climate Control

Program the thermostat at your new place so it reaches a comfortable temperature by the time you arrive. It ensures entering a nice environment.

4. Remember the Keys

When meeting agents to collect or drop off keys, don't forget to pick up new house keys, mailbox keys, garage openers, and any community amenities passes.

5. Meet Your Movers

Provide exact addresses of old and new homes. Walk them through, pointing out what goes and what stays. Answer questions. Exchange phone numbers in case issues arise during the move.

6. Have Cash On-Hand to Tip Movers

Although tipping movers is optional, it's a nice way to show appreciation for good service. $20-50 per mover is average. Pay each individually in cash rather than splitting between everyone.

7. Clean Surfaces

After unloading the moving truck, thoroughly wipe down entryways, floors, walls, cabinets, and counters. It picks up dirt and debris tracked inside. It is better to thoroughly sweep and mop hard floors, too.

New Home Inspection Checklist - Post-Move

Moving in is exciting, but don’t overlook evaluating important functions and details first.

1. Identify Circuit Breakers and Shut-Off Valves

Locate the electrical panel and water shut-offs and familiarize yourself with how to switch them off. It prevents needing to scramble during an emergency electrical or plumbing problem.

2. Change Locks

Even if you get all keys from the prior owner, changing exterior door locks provides peace of mind regarding security. Just be sure to make extra copies for family members needing access.

3. Make a Spare Key

Speaking of extra keys, have an additional house key made right away in case the original gets lost or damaged. Store it in a safe spot everyone in the household knows.

4. Check Smoke Detectors and HVAC

Test all smoke detectors to verify proper functioning. Replace batteries if needed. Inspect furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners to ensure proper operation before seasonal changes. Program thermostats appropriately.

5. Change Car Registration

Legally, you must update your address and vehicle registration within 30 days of moving. It can be handled through the DMV.

6. Stock Up Groceries

Shop for fresh, perishable ingredients and pantry staples to stock your new kitchen right off the bat. It saves you from having to run to the store later when you’re likely exhausted.

7. Repaint and Make Improvements

Now is the best time for renovations when the house is empty. Repaint walls in colors you prefer, then tackle floors, cabinets, and other projects you deferred during home shopping.

New Home Checklist Items - Things to Buy for New House

Furnishing and decorating each room makes your new house truly feel like home. Take a look at the things you can buy for your new home.

Living Room

For the living room, the following are some of the essential items:

  • Sofas, chairs, coffee & side tables
  • Rugs, curtains
  • Lamps, artwork
  • TV, media stand
  • Books, magazines

Bathroom

The following are the essential items for your bathroom:

  • Shower curtains & rods
  • Bath mats
  • Wastebasket, plunger
  • Towels, washcloths
  • Toilet paper, hand soap

Bedroom

Some of the important and basic bedroom essentials include the following:

  • Mattress, bed frame, headboard
  • Sheets, comforter, pillows
  • Nightstands, lamp, alarm
  • Dresser, mirror
  • Closet storage and organizers

Kitchen

You can’t leave the kitchen empty. Get the following items for your kitchen:

  • Table, chairs
  • Dishes, drinkware
  • Cooking utensils
  • Appliances like microwave, blender
  • Trash can, cleaning tools

Home Office

The trend of home office is increasing, so you can consider buying the following items:

  • Desk, office chair, shelves
  • Desktop computer, laptop
  • Printer, paper, pens
  • File cabinets, organization trays

Laundry Room

If you have a separate laundry room, then make sure you have the following essentials:

  • Washer, dryer
  • Laundry baskets, drying racks
  • Iron, ironing board
  • Detergent, fabric softener
  • Vacuum, broom, mop

Why Need a Checklist for Moving into a New Home?

Having a new home checklist in place provides many benefits:

  • Ensures critical steps aren't overlooked in preparing your old and new home
  • Reduces stress by breaking down the move into more manageable pieces
  • Saves money by accurately budgeting moving costs ahead of time
  • Prevents important utilities and services from lapsing
  • Sets home insurance effective dates to avoid coverage gaps
  • Makes unpacking quicker by labeling boxes by room
  • Provides guidance on what key items to furnish each room
  • Allows proper testing safety equipment like smoke detectors
  • Helps fulfill all legal address change notifications

FAQs

What is the first thing you should bring into a new house?

The first item to carry across the threshold is a plant or flower. It symbolizes blessing and prosperity in your new dwelling.

What to do 4 weeks before moving?

Four weeks out, you should start packing non-essentials, filling any prescription medications, redirecting mail, canceling local services and subscriptions, and eating down perishable foods.

How do I start looking for a new home?

Speaking with a real estate agent for guidance is the best place to start your new home search. They can help you identify ideal locations and price ranges and then schedule showings until you find “the one.”

Conclusion

Moving is listed among life’s most stressful events, but having a trusted checklist guarantees you cross all items properly. Referring to this completely new home checklist covering what to do weeks before moving, during the actual move, and post-move keeps your transition organized. Following it allows enjoying your exciting new abode right away versus dealing with frustrations from overlooked items. Best of luck with your upcoming new home purchase and move! Please share any other checklist suggestions in the comments to help fellow readers.

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Editor from Reolink. Interested in new technology trends and willing to share tips about home security. Her goal is to make security cameras and smart home systems easy to understand for everyone.