When moving into a new house, start by transferring utilities, updating your address, scheduling movers, and preparing the home for move-in day. Once you’re in, focus on safety, essential systems, repairs, and setting up a maintenance routine.
You’ve signed the papers, shaken hands, and the keys are finally in your pocket. But before you start arranging furniture or hanging pictures, there’s a practical list of tasks that will make your new house feel and function like a home from day one.
Whether you’re moving into a condo in Seattle, WA, a townhouse in Austin, TX, or a single-family home in Charlotte, NC, this checklist for moving into a new house walks you through the steps to take before, during, and after move-in day — so nothing important falls through the cracks.
Moving into a new house checklist
Preparation is key so make sure you give yourself ample time to accomplish these tasks before getting settled in your new place.
| ✓ | Transfer utilities before closing |
| ✓ | Update your mailing address |
| ✓ | Schedule movers and pack a go-bag |
| ✓ | Plan your furniture layout |
| ✓ | Set up internet and verify appliances |
| ✓ | Deep clean each room |
| ✓ | Change locks and set up home security |
| ✓ | Make the home safe for children and pets |
| ✓ | Stock each room with essentials |
| ✓ | Locate the circuit breaker, water shut-off, and sump pump |
| ✓ | Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors |
| ✓ | Assess home improvement priorities |
| ✓ | Create a home maintenance schedule |
| ✓ | Schedule your first HVAC service |
| ✓ | Consider a home warranty or energy audit |
| ✓ | Create an emergency plan and buy fire extinguishers |
| ✓ | Review your home inspection report |
Let’s take a closer look at each step.
Before move-in day
1. Transfer utilities
One of the first things to handle when moving into a new house is getting utilities transferred into your name. Contact your electricity, gas, water, and trash providers at least two weeks before closing, since some municipalities take extra time to process the switch. Taking care of this early means you won’t arrive in a dark house or cold showers.
2. Update your mailing address
Updating your address early prevents important mail from going to your old home. Start with the U.S. Postal Service, then work through your employer, bank and credit card accounts, insurance providers, loan servicers, tax agencies, and any regular online accounts. Don’t forget to share the new address with friends and family as well.
3. Schedule movers and pack a go-bag
Booking a reputable moving company in advance takes a lot of pressure off move-in day. Depending on the level of service you choose, costs can range significantly: basic loading and unloading help typically runs $45–$80 per hour, while full-service moves that include packing, transport, and setup can reach several thousand dollars depending on distance and volume.
Equally important is what Ed Bogusz of Lite Movers calls the go-bag strategy: “Pack a suitcase first, because a suitcase is not a box, with anything that would otherwise trigger an anxiety-induced scavenger hunt: medications, chargers, cords, nightlights, documents, a change of clothes, and the box cutter and paper towels you’ll need the minute the truck leaves. Keep it in your car, not on the truck. Then be prepared and organized: pick one room, get it done, feel good about it, move to the next. After thousands of moves, I can tell you that the homeowner who does that has a faster, cheaper, calmer move-in day every single time.”
>>Read: How Much Does it Cost to Move?
4. Plan your furniture layout
Before moving day, walk through your new home room by room and think through how your existing furniture will fit. Note any spaces that might call for something new — a bonus room, a larger garage, or an outdoor area can change what you need. Having a rough layout in mind before the truck arrives saves you from moving heavy pieces twice.
On and around move-in day
5. Set up internet and verify appliances
Internet and cable service can take time to schedule, so research local providers early and book installation a few weeks out. Once you’re in, verify that essential appliances like the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washer, and dryer, are working as expected. It’s easier to flag a problem right away than to discover it a week later.
6. Deep clean each room
Moving into a freshly cleaned space is worth the effort. Hiring a professional cleaning service can ensure nothing gets missed, but if that’s not in the budget, working room by room with the right supplies gets the job done. Either way, a clean start makes the space feel like yours.
7. Change locks and set up home security
You don’t know how many copies of the previous owner’s keys are out there, so changing the locks on all exterior entries such as the front door, back door, and garage, should happen early. A locksmith can handle it quickly if you’d rather not do it yourself.
It’s also a good time to consider what level of home security works for your situation. Options range from a smart video doorbell to a fully monitored system, and setting something up early means you’re covered from the first night.
8. Make the home safe for children and pets
If you’re moving with children, take time to identify potential hazards — unsecured outlets, sharp furniture edges, staircases, or anything within reach that could cause harm. If you’re moving with pets, re-establishing their routine as quickly as possible helps them adjust to the new environment.
9. Stock each room with essentials
You likely won’t unpack everything on the first night, so it pays to set aside a box of essentials for each room ahead of time. A few things to consider:
- Bathroom: towels, toilet paper, toiletries, shower curtain, plunger, toilet cleaner
- Kitchen: easy meals, dish soap, dishcloths, cookware, glassware, trash bags
- Bedroom: bedding, pillows, blankets, a week’s worth of clothes, hangers
- Laundry: detergent, hamper, iron, ironing board
- General: light bulbs, batteries, tape, cleaning supplies, flashlight, phone chargers
>>Read: How to Unpack After Moving
During your first week
10. Locate the circuit breaker, water shut-off, and sump pump
Find your circuit breaker, usually in a basement, garage, or closet, and your main water shut-off valve, which is often in the basement, crawl space, or on an exterior wall. Knowing where these are before something goes wrong makes a real difference.
Billy Colestock, owner at We Lease, explains why doing this early matters: “One of the most overlooked tasks is setting a seasonal HVAC filter and system check from day one – not just when something breaks. New homeowners often skip this because everything works fine at first, but unchecked systems are one of the top causes of costly repairs a year or two down the line. The same goes for testing sump pumps, water shut-off valves, and smoke detectors right after move-in, before an emergency forces you to learn where they are. Skipping these early routines usually means owners end up reacting to expensive problems instead of catching small ones early.”
11. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
Walk through the home and locate every smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Test each one and replace batteries if needed. This is a task that’s easy to put off – until it matters.
12. Create an emergency plan and buy fire extinguishers
Walk through the home and map out an evacuation route. Make sure every household member knows the plan and where to meet outside. Place fire extinguishers in accessible locations – particularly in the kitchen – and make sure everyone knows how to use them.
13. Review your home inspection report
Pull up your home inspection report and go through any items the seller didn’t address before closing. It’s tempting to set the report aside once you have the keys, but Joseph Keshi, a real estate agent and managing broker at Keshman Property Management, cautions against it,
“New homeowners most commonly underestimate the smaller maintenance items on an inspection report — minor plumbing leaks, drainage or moisture concerns, HVAC maintenance, deteriorating caulking, and small roof or exterior issues — because they don’t seem urgent at the time. These are often the exact items that compound: a relatively inexpensive repair today can turn into water damage, mold, structural deterioration, or a major system replacement later. I always advise homeowners to treat the inspection report as a prioritized maintenance roadmap rather than simply a list of defects to negotiate before closing.” For anything that requires monitoring over time, add it to your maintenance schedule so it doesn’t get forgotten.
During your first month
14. Assess home improvement priorities
Not every home is move-in perfect, and you’ve likely already spotted things you’d like to change. Go through your list and sort projects by urgency and budget. Capital Fund 1, an asset-based lender, advises starting from the floor up. “Installing new flooring gets more difficult after moving in. Depending on the size of the project, it is essential that you take time to budget. Budget before any surprises arise, and set time aside for the completion of any remodels.” Tackling structural or surface-level updates before the rooms fill up will save you a lot of hassle.
15. Create a home maintenance schedule
A home maintenance checklist helps you stay ahead of the small tasks – cleaning gutters, replacing filters, checking caulking – that prevent bigger problems down the road. Set reminders in your calendar for seasonal tasks so they don’t get overlooked.
16. Schedule your first HVAC service
As Colestock noted, setting up a seasonal HVAC inspection from the start is one of the most practical things a new homeowner can do. Even if the system seems to be running fine, a professional check establishes a baseline and can catch early wear before it becomes a costly repair.
17. Consider a home warranty or energy audit
If a home warranty wasn’t included in your purchase, now is a good time to evaluate whether one makes sense. Plans typically range from $400 to $1,000 per year and can cover unexpected repair or replacement costs for major systems and appliances as they age.
An energy audit is also worth considering. Some utility companies offer basic audits at no cost, while a professional audit typically runs $200–$700. The findings can point to areas where improved insulation, sealing, or equipment upgrades could reduce your monthly energy bills.
Conclusion
Moving into a new house involves more than unpacking – it also means getting familiar with the systems, routines, and maintenance that come with the space. Work through this checklist at your own pace, and use homes for sale on Redfin or a local real estate agent as additional resources as you plan your next move.
FAQ: Checklist for moving into a new house
What are the first things to do when moving into a new house?
Start by confirming that utilities are working, changing the locks, locating the main water shut-off and circuit breaker, and testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You should also unpack essential items first so you have what you need for your first few days.
What should you check when moving into a new house?
Check that major appliances, plumbing, electricity, heating and cooling systems, locks, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Review your inspection report as well so you know which repairs or maintenance items still need attention.
What are some commonly forgotten tasks when moving?
Commonly overlooked tasks include updating your mailing address, transferring utilities and internet service, changing the locks, locating the water shut-off valve, and keeping important documents and medications accessible during the move.
What should I do during the first week in a new house?
Focus on unpacking essentials, setting up utilities and internet, checking safety equipment, changing locks, and addressing any immediate repairs. Once those tasks are handled, you can begin organizing the rest of the home and creating a longer-term maintenance plan.
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