New homeowners need checklists when moving in

MOSES LAKE — The finances have been secured, the place has been inspected, the papers are signed and the keys are in hand.

The new house is officially purchased, but there are some things new owners should check as part of the move-in process.

Those keys — and the locks they open — should be high on the new homeowner checklist.

“Definitely change your locks,” said Tyson Mollotte, realtor at Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Ranch & Home in Moses Lake.

According to the Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors website, new locks should be the first task for a new homeowner.

“There’s no way to know who has keys to a house, so switching out the locks ensures the new homeowner is the only one with access,” the website stated.

If the new homeowner isn’t moving in for a while, it’s even more important to make sure the property is secure, Mollotte said.

Once the house is secure, new homeowners should think about giving it a good clean, right away, before there’s any furniture in the way. The realtors association website suggests a thorough cleaning.

“Steam clean the carpets, wipe down all the doors and cabinets and clean the toilets and sinks,” the website said.

If the house was built in the last 20 years, it probably has a heating-cooling system throughout, Mollotte said. He suggested checking the HVAC filters and replacing them if necessary, as long as the house is getting cleaned.

It’s also a good idea to get to know the place before taking up residence, like locating the main water shutoff. Mollotte said he’s had clients who had to deal with a broken water pipe not long after moving in. And knowing how to turn off the water is especially important in a two-story house, so the broken pipe or toilet upstairs doesn’t damage the downstairs, too.

When signing up for utilities, new residents should check for things like garbage pickup schedules, Mollotte said.

And there are things to think about outside, especially if there’s an in-ground irrigation system.

“Where’s the irrigation box for the sprinklers?” Mollotte said.

Whether homeowners take care of the lawn themselves or hire an outside company, they should know how to turn outside water on and off, as well.