What to Do Before You Move Into a New Home: 15 First Steps

The First Hours in a New Home Set the Tone

Collecting the keys to a new home is one of the most satisfying moments in property ownership — and one of the most chaotic. The removal van is on its way. The solicitor has just called to confirm completion. Your phone is ringing. And you've just walked into a property that probably needs cleaning, has unknown utility accounts, and locks you've never seen before.

The 15 steps below give you a framework for the first hours and days in a new home. Some are urgent; some can wait until the removal team has left. All of them matter.

Security and Access

**1. Change the locks.** This is the single most important thing you can do on day one. You have no idea how many copies of the keys the previous owners distributed over the years — to family members, cleaners, neighbours, tradespeople. A new cylinder lock costs £20–£60 and a locksmith can fit one in under an hour. Do this before the removal van arrives if possible.

**2. Locate all entry points and check they lock properly.** Front door, back door, side gate, garage, any outbuildings. Test every lock. Note any that are stiff, broken, or missing keys entirely.

**3. Find the stopcock, fuse box, and boiler controls.** Know where to turn off the water if a pipe bursts. Know where the electricity consumer unit is and which circuits control which rooms. Photograph the boiler controls and note the model — useful if you need to call an engineer later.

Utilities and Meters

**4. Take meter readings immediately.** Before anything is switched on, read the gas and electricity meters and photograph them with a timestamp. These are your opening readings and form the basis for your first bills. Send them to your chosen supplier the same day.

**5. Identify the current utility suppliers.** If you don't already know who supplies gas, electricity, and water to the property, check with the previous owner's solicitor or look at the meter serial numbers. You can contact the relevant distribution network to find out who supplies electricity and gas to the address.

**6. Set up broadband.** In most cases you'll need to arrange a new broadband connection rather than transferring an existing one. Lead times from ISPs can be several weeks — contact a provider as soon as you have a confirmed moving date, ideally before you move in. Mobile data is your backup until the line is active.

Property Condition

**7. Walk through every room before unloading the van.** Note any damage, missing fixtures, or items that were supposed to be included in the sale but appear to be absent. Photograph everything. If the sellers agreed to leave curtains, light fittings, or appliances, verify they're there before you sign anything off.

**8. Test all appliances that were included in the sale.** Oven, hob, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer. If something isn't working, you need to raise it with your solicitor quickly — it becomes harder to resolve once you've moved in and time passes.

**9. Check the boiler and heating system.** Turn on the central heating and hot water. Listen for unusual noises. Check that radiators heat evenly from top to bottom (cold spots at the top indicate trapped air; cold at the bottom indicates sludge build-up). If the boiler hasn't been serviced recently, book an annual Gas Safe engineer visit.

Cleaning and Preparation

**10. Clean before you unpack.** An empty property is far easier to clean than one full of boxes. Prioritise the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedroom floors. Previous owners may have cleaned to their own standards, which might not be yours.

**11. Check for signs of damp, mould, or pests.** Look at window sills, corners of rooms, under the sink, and inside any cupboards against external walls. Catching problems early means you can address them before they worsen under furniture and boxes.

Documents and Administration

**12. Store your completion documents safely.** Your completion statement, title register (TR1 form for registered land), and any warranties or guarantees passed on from the seller should be organised and stored securely. Property Passport UK lets you upload and store property documents digitally so they're always accessible — your conveyancer can often transfer documents directly. Don't leave completion paperwork in a pile to deal with later; it tends to stay there for years.

**13. Note any guarantees and warranties from the seller.** FENSA certificates for replacement windows, building regulations completion certificates, damp proof course guarantees, boiler warranties — these transfer with the property and protect you as the new owner.

**14. Register with a local GP and dentist.** NHS practices register patients by address catchment. Do this early, as popular practices in new areas often have waiting lists.

Planning and Priorities

**15. Write a priority list for improvements and repairs.** Don't try to do everything at once. Walk through the property with fresh eyes a day or two after moving in and make an honest assessment of what needs doing immediately, what can wait three to six months, and what is longer-term. This becomes the foundation of your property maintenance plan.

The first days in a new home pass in a blur. The homes that work well long-term tend to be the ones where the owners took a few hours at the start to get the basics right — security, utilities, documents, and a realistic plan for what comes next.