The journey to finding your perfect Ucluelet home certainly can take some time and energy. Once those keys are in your hand and you're officially new home owners, there are still a few more things to think about before getting unpacked and settled in.
This article is going to give you the heads up that you need to be able to move in to your new place seamlessly and efficiently so that when all those boxes are unpacked, you can really start living in Ukee!
Since there is no way to know who else could have a key to your Ucluelet home, we would advise that you make arrangements to have the locks changed as soon as possible. This ensures that you are the only person/people who have access to the house, which will do wonders for your peace of mind.
It's fairly easy and rather inexpensive to install new deadbolts yourself, however calling the local locksmith is always an option. Remember that you can choose your own locks to be installed, or alternately the locksmith will be able to give you the run-down of what is available to you in the way of locks which will work for your entrances.
While you're at it, take a look at all the locks on all the windows and any outside structures like garage or shed doors. If you had a home inspection, there should be no issues, however for long-term peace of mind, it's good to know that your investment is well secured and safe.
Again, if you've had a home inspector to check out the premises before closing, there will likely be no problem with any of the plumbing, but it never hurts to double-check. Water damage is very detrimental to the value and safety of your home, so taking extra precaution to protect your home from harms that can be caused by moisture is highly recommended.
The inspector should have taken a thorough look at all the major plumbing connections, but there are a few places that can get over-looked, especially if the house is not being lived in during the home-buying process.
With everyday use, moisture that can collect under the sinks will be apparent, but if for any reason those sinks have not been used recently, there may have been no evidence of a small leak when the inspector took a peek.
We suggest that you take the time to fill and drain each of the sinks, flush the toilets and take stock of what is happening with the pipes. This applies especially to the sink sprayers mostly found in kitchens, which can often leak backwards along the hose to create a moist mess under the kitchen sink.
We hope that you don't find a single drop of water, but you'll be glad you took a look in case you do find a damp spot!
Here’s a neat trick: Check your water meter at the beginning and end of a two-hour window in which no water is being used in your house. If the reading is different, you have a leak.
This seems like a no-brainer, but it's really helpful to have taken the time to clean out all drawers and cupboards before beginning to open all your boxes. Take advantage of your new home in such an empty state by putting some elbow grease into all the surfaces, high and low, to get rid of the old dust and debris.
Another great reason to tidy up before unpacking is that by getting up close and personal with every last square inch of your new home, you will be sure to catch if there are, or have been, any critters visiting. While finding mouse poop or ants is an unpleasant surprise, you will be very grateful to find them before they have a chance to get into your food!
To take full advantage of the state of the empty space before moving in, get a good deep clean of the carpets before you move your furniture in. This will really help make your new home feel like a fresh start!
Keeping in mind that there will likely be people walking through the house with their shoes on when it comes to move-in day, you can plan to clean the carpets a couple days prior to moving in, and have drop-sheets available to protect the newly cleaned carpet.
If you'd like to wax any floors, before moving in is your best bet, but just remember that the floors will all need to be protected and re-cleaned after all of the moving and un-packing is finished. Even so, if you do the initial cleaning when you can easily access all of your floor surfaces, instead of trying to clean around furniture and boxes, you will be starting with a clean slate!
You can pay a professional for carpet cleaning services if you'd rather not do it yourself, or simply rent or borrow a steam cleaner. The job can usually be done within a few hours, but make sure to leave at least 24 hours for the carpet to dry. If it's a rainy time of the year, allow for another 24 hours.
Knowing where the fuse box and the water shut-off in your home are is essential! You'll want to know the location and how they work before there's a problem like a blown fuse or a leak.
Make sure the fuse box is properly and clearly labeled, and if it is not, take the time to do so for yourselves. It's as simple as one person at the breaker box flipping switches and another person with a lamp (or other small electrical device) in the other rooms, reporting back on when the power turns on and off. Mark the fuse box as you go, and once the job is done, it's done for good.
The same thing goes for the main water shut-off in your home; get familiar with how it works so that in case of an emergency, you already have a handle on where it is and how it works.
We are here to help make your transition to new Ucluelet home ownership as easy as possible. So if you have any questions about Ucluelet Real Estate and how you can start living in Ukee, feel free to Contact Us!
