When you’re moving into a new home, the transition from your old space to the new one can often feel overwhelming. Whether it’s your first time relocating or you’ve done it before, the process always comes with its own set of unique challenges and moments of excitement. This adjustment is not just about shifting boxes and furniture; it’s about transporting your life and memories to start a new chapter. To ease this major life change, we’ve created a definitive ‘moving into a new house checklist’ to give you the peace of mind as you settle into your new home. While the house is still empty, measure rooms to plan out where your furniture will go. You’ll know exactly where each couch and table should be dropped when moving day comes. A bit of order in the layout can make the mess of boxes seem a little less messy. Kitchen table area Dining room Family room Formal living room Master bedroom Guest room 1 Guest room 2 Office When you move out of a home, you’ll shut off the gas, electric, and water to prevent accidents while the home is vacant. Before you close escrow, transfer the utilities to your new house, so the city has time to get them running. Chris Murray, a top real estate agent who has sold over 74% more properties in Hemet, California, than the average agent, says that some real estate agents forget to tell their clients to transfer utilities on time. “If the gas and water are shut off, it could take a couple weeks to get someone out there,” Murray says. Make sure you call your utility company before moving day, so you have water, electricity, and heat when you get into your new house. Gas/Electric Water/Sewer Garbage/Recycling Cable/Wi-Fi After you’ve deep-cleaned the kitchen, make sure the fridge is plugged in so it’s cold and ready to use when you move in. If you moved your fridge into your new house, let it stand upright for 2-3 hours before you plug it in. This will allow the fluid to flow back into the compressor to maintain the cooling mechanism. Turn on each stove top burner to test the gas and pilot light. For an electric stovetop, turn on the burner and hover your hand over it carefully to feel the heat. For an induction stovetop, bring an iron pan to test it. To test your oven, set it to 375 degrees. Put a small amount of granulated sugar on an oven-safe dish into the oven for 15 minutes. The sugar will melt if the oven is functioning correctly. Run the dishwasher empty with the highest heated drying option. Check for leaks and make sure the inside is hot when it’s complete. If the appliances were included in your home purchase and you notice a defect, talk to your real estate agent to review your contract with the seller. You may be entitled to contact a real estate attorney if you were wronged or lied to in the purchase of your new home. If the appliances are yours from your previous home, check to see if the appliance is within the warranty period. Contact a repair professional to assess the issue. Plug in the fridge Test the stove and oven Run the dishwasher Find warranty and owner manualThe 11 bare necessities checklist for moving into a new house
1. Take measurements of each room to plan your furniture layout
2. Transfer utilities before you close escrow
3. Get appliances up and running
