Do These 6 Things Before You Move into an Old Home
Get off to a fresh start with a spring cleaning, new locks and window coverings and a lick of paint
Bud Dietrich, AIA
27 August 2017
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin. Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having been featured on television (CBS News Sunday Morning, HGTV, CLTV, etc.), in magazines (Better Homes...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa... More
Our son and daughter-in-law just purchased their first home. It’s in a location that allows an easy commute into Boston, where our son works, and is just a few towns away from where his wife works. The house is in a older suburb adjacent to Boston, and is itself older and in need of some TLC. So rather than move in right away, the new homeowners will stay in their apartment until the lease is up. They’ll spend just about every free moment of the few months getting their house ready to live in.
Of course, we didn’t let them do all of this alone. Uncle Ralph and I travelled to Boston to spend a week helping them clean, paint and otherwise get the house ready. One of the things that we really helped with is how to prioritise tasks. Since it’s getting close to winter, we stressed the importance of getting only the most basic outside things done. Fixing up the yard, cleaning the siding, touching up the paint etc. can all wait for the spring. What really needed to be done is the inside, not only so they can move in but so they can live there comfortably through the approaching winter.
With that in mind, here’s a list of tasks that needed doing.
Of course, we didn’t let them do all of this alone. Uncle Ralph and I travelled to Boston to spend a week helping them clean, paint and otherwise get the house ready. One of the things that we really helped with is how to prioritise tasks. Since it’s getting close to winter, we stressed the importance of getting only the most basic outside things done. Fixing up the yard, cleaning the siding, touching up the paint etc. can all wait for the spring. What really needed to be done is the inside, not only so they can move in but so they can live there comfortably through the approaching winter.
With that in mind, here’s a list of tasks that needed doing.
1. Change the locks on the exterior doors
As soon as the closing is over and you’ve gotten the keys to your house, either buy and install new lock sets or have a locksmith come to the house to switch them out. Let’s face it, the previous owners, Realtors, maintenance folks and who knows who else are all likely to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind and as a necessary step in making this house yours, get new locks installed immediately.
As soon as the closing is over and you’ve gotten the keys to your house, either buy and install new lock sets or have a locksmith come to the house to switch them out. Let’s face it, the previous owners, Realtors, maintenance folks and who knows who else are all likely to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind and as a necessary step in making this house yours, get new locks installed immediately.
2. Get the house cleaned up
While many folks will leave the house clean for you, some won’t. Even if they do, you’ll want to clean everything for yourself. You can hire a service to do this, something I heartily recommend if time is tight, or you can do it yourself. If you do it yourself, set up an area with all of the supplies and tools you’ll need to get the job done: buckets, brooms, mops, a vacuum, cleaners for each type of surface etc. Washing down cabinets, counters and windows etc. will make you feel good about the house. And don’t forget a healthy supply of rubber gloves. No sense ruining that manicure!
While many folks will leave the house clean for you, some won’t. Even if they do, you’ll want to clean everything for yourself. You can hire a service to do this, something I heartily recommend if time is tight, or you can do it yourself. If you do it yourself, set up an area with all of the supplies and tools you’ll need to get the job done: buckets, brooms, mops, a vacuum, cleaners for each type of surface etc. Washing down cabinets, counters and windows etc. will make you feel good about the house. And don’t forget a healthy supply of rubber gloves. No sense ruining that manicure!
3. Paint all the walls and ceilings
This can be really time consuming, so you’ll probably want to hire professionals if you can. There’s no point in just slapping up a coat of paint if the walls and ceilings are damaged – if they have cracks, holes and other defects. Prepping these surfaces can be a real chore. So unless you have a relative or two who can help, save yourself a lot of time and just hire someone.
Also, if you’re short on time and the house is in dire straits and every surface needs painting, consider one neutral colour for every room. This will just make it easier and limit the number of decisions you’ll have to make now. You can always go back and repaint rooms the colours you want as time permits.
This can be really time consuming, so you’ll probably want to hire professionals if you can. There’s no point in just slapping up a coat of paint if the walls and ceilings are damaged – if they have cracks, holes and other defects. Prepping these surfaces can be a real chore. So unless you have a relative or two who can help, save yourself a lot of time and just hire someone.
Also, if you’re short on time and the house is in dire straits and every surface needs painting, consider one neutral colour for every room. This will just make it easier and limit the number of decisions you’ll have to make now. You can always go back and repaint rooms the colours you want as time permits.
4. Get some organisers
Many older houses suffer from wardrobe that have a simple pole and shelf (if that). Look at where you’ll store what and get the wardrobes outfitted to accommodate everything, to make moving in less stressful and your life in the new house more enjoyable.
And don’t just look at the wardrobes. Think about where you’ll put everything, from luggage to umbrellas. A well-placed extra shelf, hook etc. will go a long way toward making the house that much easier to live in.
Find paint and wall covering pros
Many older houses suffer from wardrobe that have a simple pole and shelf (if that). Look at where you’ll store what and get the wardrobes outfitted to accommodate everything, to make moving in less stressful and your life in the new house more enjoyable.
And don’t just look at the wardrobes. Think about where you’ll put everything, from luggage to umbrellas. A well-placed extra shelf, hook etc. will go a long way toward making the house that much easier to live in.
Find paint and wall covering pros
5. Install new switch plates and other devices
Many older homes, especially those that have undergone a series of renovations, will have mismatched outlets, dirty and discoloured cover plates, and rusted or damaged air vent covers. I find that replacing all of these so that there’s a uniformity and newness to them makes a home feel newer and, understandably, cleaner. While switching out a cover plate takes nothing more than a small screwdriver, bear in mind that replacing electrical devices isn’t necessarily a good DIY project unless you’re really comfortable working with electricity.
Many older homes, especially those that have undergone a series of renovations, will have mismatched outlets, dirty and discoloured cover plates, and rusted or damaged air vent covers. I find that replacing all of these so that there’s a uniformity and newness to them makes a home feel newer and, understandably, cleaner. While switching out a cover plate takes nothing more than a small screwdriver, bear in mind that replacing electrical devices isn’t necessarily a good DIY project unless you’re really comfortable working with electricity.
6. Install window treatments
Whether you have these custom made or you go for some inexpensive and temporary shades, you’ll want to get some something on your windows – both for privacy and that finishing touch.
There will be time later, as you live in the house and get to know it better, to choose a more personalised option.
Experts tell you how to save on window treatments
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Have you bought a resale home?What’s on your to-do list before you move in?
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Ways to Bring Your Old Home Into Your New House
Whether you have these custom made or you go for some inexpensive and temporary shades, you’ll want to get some something on your windows – both for privacy and that finishing touch.
There will be time later, as you live in the house and get to know it better, to choose a more personalised option.
Experts tell you how to save on window treatments
TELL US
Have you bought a resale home?What’s on your to-do list before you move in?
MORE
Ways to Bring Your Old Home Into Your New House
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We just bought our first house, and I'm happy to see that we did everything on this list except paint. We also reset the garage door code as the previous commenter suggested, and replaced every light bulb in the house. I've never bought so many light bulbs in my life. It was at my husband's insistence, but it actually did bring some unexpected peace of mind. Oh, and we replaced all of the fire alarms with newer models that also detect carbon monoxide.
Thanks...Good article.
This is such an old topic - some of the comments are from 7 years ago - here's a pandemic era update --- Don't think that a painter will be able to come in to paint in a timely fashion. I wanted our attached 2-1/2 car garage interior painted this year so I called several painters in May - wanting to schedule it before the end of September. Several were so booked they weren't even taking appointments. A couple more it would be 6 months or more and they would bring in heaters. Since we store a couple of cars for the winter and keep them covered and on chargers there is no way we would move them out. We are hoping for next year. Also, they wanted to charge huge amounts- one was $2,500! So just a suggestion - plan far ahead, and don't expect things to be done when you want.