Finished Your Home Renovation? Here are the Four Vital Things to Do Before Moving In

Now your home renovations are finished, it’s time to move in and start enjoying your newly designed property, right? Well – nearly. There are still a few important things to do before you can call the project properly finished. Don’t worry, though; below, you’ll find the four key stages to work through next.

Don’t Forget the Final Walkthrough

While everything may seem perfect, and you’re keen to get on with the next phase of your plans, the final walkthrough following the renovation is absolutely vital. This’ll give you the chance to make sure everything is perfect, and anything that’s not quite right can be brought up with the contractor – and fixed.

Carefully compose a final walkthrough list of things to check, and take this along with you on the day. Include things like ensuring that no debris has been left on the floors, that all the light switches work, and making sure that there are no leaks underneath any of the sinks.

Smoke detectors, appliances, locks, and vents are further examples of things that should be checked to be working properly, and it’s also important to satisfy yourself that the circuit breaker is functioning as it should and there are no exposed wires. The final walkthrough is an opportunity to bring up any queries with your contractor and speak up if any elements of the work don’t meet a high standard.

Consider Taking Out a Home Warranty Policy

After all the hard work that went into completing your renovation, the last thing you want is a sudden and unexpected repair bill. While a home insurance policy provides protection should an unforeseen peril affect the structure of the property, a home warranty can indemnify you regarding the maintenance of household systems and some appliances.

A home warranty policy typically covers things like the home’s water heating system and major appliances such as the stove and refrigerator. It may also cover the property’s plumbing and electric systems, along with the HVAC. Further, additional protection can usually be purchased to protect, for example, an outdoor pool pump.

This type of policy can be a great way to protect your newly renovated home’s key systems and appliances going forward – and guard your wallet against a nasty bill. There can be significant differences between home warranty premiums and what a policy covers, so be sure to look at the top 10 home warranty companies to discover which offers the best protection for your needs and budget.

Get Deep Cleaning

After all that work, your home is likely to need some serious TLC when it comes to cleaning. A thorough deep cleaning after a renovation usually involves plenty of heavy-duty vacuuming and dusting, and you may want to consider bringing in professionals with experience in cleaning post-renovation.

Floors should be not just swept or vacuumed but disinfected, the inside and outside of cabinets and drawers cleaned, and lighting fixtures, grates, vents, blinds, and ceiling fans dusted. Hinges and handles will need a clean, and doors, knobs, moldings, and baseboards wiped down.

Remember that, depending on the nature of the renovation and the building materials, mold spores, toxins, silicates, and very fine dust could have made their way into the air of your home, which is why a deep clean is so essential. Don’t forget, too, that freshly applied lacquers, paints, and primers give off fumes – meaning that a thorough airing out is crucial.

Whether you choose to draft in help or do the work yourself, make sure that each room is meticulously clean before the furniture is brought in and put into place.

Create a Maintenance Schedule

The end of the renovation doesn’t mean the end of the work! To ensure your beautiful new home stays in beautiful condition long-term, it’s important to put together a maintenance plan – this is something that could be created with the help of your contractor.

For example, if you have opted for wooden floors, they’ll need to be refinished every seven to ten years, while natural stone will have to be re-caulked every few years. Knowing exactly what maintenance tasks need to be done when can help you stay on top of things and prevent problems from developing down the line.

Final Thoughts

While it may seem that the completion of the renovation is the culmination of the entire project, there are actually some very important tasks to complete once the tools are down. Use the guide above to navigate this stage of the adventure and help ensure your beautiful new home stays beautiful through the years.