What to do when you move into a new house: the first 72 hours
You have the keys. The van is outside. The temptation is to start unpacking, but the first 72 hours set the tone for everything that follows. Do the right things in the right order and you avoid the most common new-homeowner mistakes: missed meter readings that cost you hundreds, insurance gaps, and the slow creep of admin that haunts you for months.
Before you unpack a single box
1. Read all meters (gas, electricity, water) and photograph them with the readings visible. Send the readings to your energy supplier and water company immediately. If you do not do this on day one, you may be charged for the previous occupant's usage.
2. Check all locks work and consider changing them. You do not know how many copies of the keys exist. A locksmith costs £100 to £200 for a full set of new locks; a new barrel for a uPVC door is £15 to £30 and takes 5 minutes with a screwdriver.
3. Find the stopcock, fuse box, and gas shut-off valve. Label them if they are not obvious. In a plumbing emergency at midnight, you need to find the stopcock in seconds, not minutes.
4. Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if needed. If there are no detectors, buy and install them today: a combined smoke and CO alarm costs £20 to £40.
5. Check the boiler pressure gauge. It should read between 1 and 1.5 bar. If it is too low, Google your boiler model plus 'repressurise' for a one-minute fix. Book a boiler service if the previous owner cannot show evidence of a recent one.
6. Flush all taps and run the shower. If the property has been empty, water sitting in pipes can harbour bacteria. Run every tap for 2 minutes.
7. Photograph every room before your furniture goes in. This is your baseline record for insurance claims and future reference.
8. Set up your broadband order. If you ordered in advance, the router may arrive on moving day. If not, order now because installation takes 1 to 3 weeks.
Day one admin
Register with the local council for council tax. You are liable from completion day, so do this immediately to avoid a surprise bill.
Confirm your buildings and contents insurance is active. Your buildings insurance should have been in place from exchange; now add contents insurance if you have not already.
Set up Royal Mail redirection if you did not do it before moving. It costs £35 for 3 months and catches anything still going to your old address.
Start the address change list: bank, employer, GP, dentist, DVLA (free, do it online), car insurance, phone contract. House Chapter tracks 38 organisations and tells you which to do first.
The first week
Unpack in this order: bathroom essentials, then kitchen (kettle, mugs, basic cooking), then bedrooms (beds made and curtains up before the first night), then living room. Leave decorative items and books for last.
Meet your neighbours. A knock on the door, a brief hello, and an offer of your phone number in case of emergencies goes a long way. Neighbours who know you are more likely to tell you about local quirks (bin collection day, parking rules, that pipe that freezes in winter).
Register with a local GP. The NHS website lets you search by postcode. If you have ongoing prescriptions, do this in the first few days to avoid gaps.
Explore your area on foot. Find the nearest supermarket, chemist, post office, and cash machine. If you have children, walk the school route.
Key takeaways
- 1.Read all meters and photograph them before you do anything else.
- 2.Change the locks or at least the barrels, you do not know who has keys.
- 3.Find the stopcock, fuse box, and gas valve, and label them.
- 4.Start address changes on day one: council tax, insurance, Royal Mail redirection.
Ready to start your move?
House Chapter gives you a personalised plan, document vault, cost tracker and more. Free during early access.
Start free