You've Got a Lot of Livin' to Do: Inspect Your Home Before Move-In Day

Think about how much you inspected the last pair of shoes you bought. You probably tried them on, took a look at the soles, searched for damage and tested them for comfort. And those only go on your feet! Hopefully, you'll be in your new home for years to come and you want to make sure you've tested that out as well. Before you sign any papers or start to look at our Moving Squad reviews to hire your movers, you need to complete a careful examination of your new place.

You should have already had an inspector come to look for major problems like pipe damage or cracks in the foundation, but you should take this opportunity to do a little looking yourself. Don't trust your inspector to take notice of the smaller issues like scratched floors or an outlet that's not working. Check for these last-minute little things and it can save you some time down the road. Having to fix any flaws or damage is much more difficult after your move-in day. We tell you what to look for here!

Electrical Concerns
Walk around with a small electronic like a hairdryer or a small laptop and go into each room. Test the outlets by plugging your electronic into each outlet and make sure they are all in working order. It's very possible that you may have one or two that aren't functioning correctly, so don't assume that just because one outlet in a room is working that the others are as well. Take about a half hour to do this carefully.

Plumbing
Go to each of your bathrooms and turn on the faucets to check that each water stream has both hot and cold water. Then check the showers and the bathtubs for the water temperature and to make sure the drains are working properly. Check out the toilets as well. Do they flush correctly or do they need to be cleaned?

Your Floors
Take a look at the spots where you're stepping. Do your floors look sturdy? They might seem fine but there's actually a surefire way to tell. If you have tile in your home, gently tap each piece of the floor with the handle of a mop or a broom. Does it sound hollow? If it does, mention this to your inspector or realtor. It may not look out of the ordinary now but give it a few months and it will most likely break or start to pop up.

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