10 things to do as soon as you move into a new house 🏡

10 things to do as soon as you move into a new house 🏡 Take meter readings 📸 Photograph your gas and electricity meters on moving day. Keep the photos too — they give you a dated record if there's ever confusion over your first bill. Find your stopcock 🚰 Do this before you desperately need it. Find out exactly where your main water shut-off is and make sure you know how to turn it off. Find the fuse box ⚡ Work out where it is and what each switch controls. If it isn't labelled clearly, this is a very good time to sort that. Check your smoke & CO alarms 🚨 Test them rather than assuming they work. Also check where they are and whether any batteries need replacing. Consider changing the locks 🔑 Especially with a previously owned home, you don't necessarily know who still has an old key. Changing the locks can give you a clean slate. Sort your utilities 💡 Tell the existing energy and water suppliers you've moved in, give them your opening readings and make sure the accounts are now in your name. Register for Council Tax 🏠 and order your bins 🏡 Don't assume this happens automatically. Tell your local council you've moved in and check your property details and Council Tax band. Bins can take up to 3 weeks Update your address 📮 Bank, driving licence, electoral register, insurance, employer, GP, subscriptions... there are ALWAYS more than you think. A checklist in your Notes app helps. Maybe get a mail redirection from Royal Mail Locate all the important paperwork 🗂️ Warranties, certificates, appliance manuals, boiler paperwork, guarantees and anything your solicitor/ developer gave you. Start one proper house file now — future you will be grateful. Don't try to finish the house immediately 🤍 Live in it first. Learn where the light falls, what storage you actually need and how you use each room. You don't have to make it perfect in week one. Follow me for more