Moving into a new house is one part excitement and three parts hard work! You likely spent months shopping homes for sale in Cheyenne before settling on your favorite plan. You may even have made multiple offers before finding success in the real estate market. Now you have lots of unpacking to do, in addition to learning about how your new home functions and what improvement projects you want to tackle first.

If you’ve bought a new construction home, the to-do list will be much shorter than if you had moved into a previously owned home — no need to change the locks, do a deep clean or make repairs. Instead, you can move on to the basics of moving in such as unpacking essentials, starting utility service and notifying important contacts of your new address. Once you’re settled and have these tasks checked off, you can move on to a few often-overlooked — but potentially life-saving — precautions.

Check out these items to get done after moving into a new home.

Create a Home Emergency Plan

Every home presents its own challenges in the case of emergency. One of the first things you should do after moving in is identify an escape route if disaster strikes in the form of a fire, flood or other natural disaster.

Teach family members how to respond in each of these situations with a home emergency plan. Determine if you need to make special accommodations for certain members of the family, such as those with disabilities, senior citizens, young children or pets. Lastly, practice your plans regularly to ensure everyone understands the drill.

Install Safety Protection for Children & Pets

If you have children and/or pets in your new home, take steps to ensure their safety. Electrical outlet covers, safety gates and cabinet locks can literally be life-savers if you have toddlers. Many experts recommend you keep these devices in place for several years to keep little ones out of harm’s way.

Outdoors, make sure your backyard is fenced and gate locks are too high to be operated by small children. If you store tools and chemicals in your shed or garage, keep them in a locked cabinet where they cannot pose a safety threat to kids.

Additional safety essentials that benefit everyone living in the home include a fully stocked first aid kit and a fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector on every floor of the home. If you live in a two-story home, a safety ladder could save lives in the event of fire.

Set Up a Home Maintenance Schedule

A new home is a tremendous investment and proper maintenance will ensure its value doesn’t depreciate. But maintenance of even a small property can feel overwhelming! We recommend creating an ongoing maintenance schedule that breaks tasks down into manageable bites that can be done an hour at a time, rather than a long to-do list that takes up a whole weekend.

If you’ve bought a new Gateway home, you won’t have to guess when the systems and appliances were last subject to maintenance! Simply note the first maintenance follow-up recommended by the manufacturer. For example, your furnace and AC unit should be tuned up by a professional one year after you move in. Make sure to change furnace filters every year at a minimum, according to the filter’s size and efficiency. Tankless water heaters should be flushed every six months to three years, depending on the hardness of your water; consult a plumber for guidance. An annual gutter cleaning is another important task that prevents roof and foundation issues.

Read the manufacturer manuals provided for recommendations on when and how to maintain your refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave and garbage disposal.

Explore Your Community

Don’t stay lost in a sea of boxes. Get out and take in your new neighborhood! Even if you have lived in the Cheyenne area for years, there are still new people to meet and new surroundings to explore. Check out nearby shops, parks and attractions. Have dinner at a restaurant close by. Participate in local events and join online groups to get connected to your community.

Every neighborhood has its own charms. The sooner you start exploring, the sooner you’ll be able to feel at home.

See Gateway’s Homes for Sale in Cheyenne

Are you still in the process of searching for your dream home? Gateway has move-in ready homes for sale in Cheyenne, or we can build a new construction home in the community of your choice. Learn more about the friendly communities Gateway builds in, then contact us today at (307) 632-8950 or submit our online contact form to discuss your needs.

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