How To Perform An Inspection Before Moving Into Your New Residence?
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: November 26, 2021
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Moving into a new residence can be very exciting. Itâs also an opportunity to learn more about your new home. So, before you move into your new house, there are many things you need to take care of first.
When moving, homeowners tend to overlook several things. After all, itâs an exciting yet overwhelming experience. However, slight indications of a homeâs flaws could lead to costly repairs in the future. Hence, there are several things you need to keep an eye on before getting your boxes in order.
Perform An Inspection Before Moving
Here are six things to do before moving into a new residence:
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Check The Water Pressure And Temperature
The first thing during a new home inspection is to check the water pressure and temperature. Sometimes, a line can burst if there is too much pressure behind it.
Pressure tests are usually done by tapping on pipes while turning on the faucet. If no sound occurs when hitting a particular spot, this could indicate a leak originating from somewhere near that area.
In addition to checking for leaks from damaged piping, you should check the water heaterâs temperature settings. A scalding shower has been known to cause some severe injuries. To avoid such accidents, ensure that your thermostat isnât set at any high temperatures before taking a bath or jumping into the Jacuzzi.
Next, turn on all faucets and flushing mechanisms to test the water pressure. You can also check for any leaking or dripping from valves that could lead to a potential flood if not taken care of immediately.
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Ensure That There Are No Gas Leaks
You should also always confirm if there are any gas leaks. First, make sure that your stove is off. If possible, use an electric burner instead of a gas one since this isnât as risky or dangerous to operate.
Inspect all sockets by turning off the shutoff valves and making sure there are no exposed lines anywhere. Make sure you do this carefully because even small children can injure themselves by accidentally touching live wires.
Do not turn on any appliances until everything has been inspected correctly. You can always opt out by using candles but keep in mind that these may pose fire hazards, especially during windy days when flames become more susceptible to dancing about haphazardly without any warning signs.
It will be best to wait for at least twenty minutes before testing your appliances again to ensure that no gas leaks have taken place.
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Inspect All Appliances For Wear And Tear
Moving into a new place is also an opportunity to inspect all appliances and systems for wear and tear. For example, you should check the dishwasherâs drain hose if it doesnât seem like water is draining correctly after running through its cycle.
Furthermore, you can plug in or turn on your entire home entertainment system (televisions, stereos, gaming consoles, etc.), as well as any electronic devices like refrigerators and microwaves.
Always be careful when checking electrical outlets with wet hands. If you notice any unusual odors emanating from these appliances, itâs best not to use them until further inspection and repair. Make sure that nothing is overlooked before you move in to avoid any accidents or injuries from occurring.
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Look For Any Signs Of Insect Infestation
Next, check for signs of insect infestation. Look out for any droppings, eggs, nests, and chew marks that could lead you to tiny ants or other insects living in your homeâs walls or corners.
Check all windowsills as well as cracks around doors for visible trails that are leading toward these areas. This is where most pests tend to live.
Take note of any irregular discoloration on the carpets since this may indicate severe pest problems such as termites destroying floors underneath furniture sets.
Scrutinize ceiling tiles because many homeowners have found bedbugs crawling behind them after moving into a new residence. These pests are not a great company at all!
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Check All Outlets, Switches, And Light Fixtures For Safety Hazards
You should also check all outlets, buttons, and light fixtures for safety hazards. In addition to faulty wiring and damaged sockets, you should inspect the electrical breakers in your circuit breaker box and any fuse boxes located outside of your home.
If an outlet doesnât seem to have any power going through it even though a plug has been inserted into it correctly, this indicates a tripped circuit somewhere else in the house.
This is why every member of a household should know where their respective fuse or breaker switch locations are. It may save them the trouble of enduring some severe discomfort during those scorching summer days, especially when air conditioners run at total capacity without proper ventilation throughout the entire residence.
Furthermore, you should ensure that smoke alarms are correctly working and installed on every residence level, with at least one per floor. If you donât know where to find these detectors, itâs best to ask your realtor, the previous owners, or whoever else is in charge. This is a crucial step to ensure that all outlets and electrical systems would not pose any threats to you and your family.
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Check Fireplace And Chimneys
Lastly, check the fireplace and chimney. Checking these parts of your new home is vital since they risk accidents during winter when homeowners may be tempted to use them for warmth and cooking purposes.
Inspect chimneys by looking up from outside your home through an opening window or door after closing it tightly behind you.
Ensure that there is no debris blocking air circulation before lighting up your fireplace. These could trigger dangerous backdrafts that spread into other parts of the house if not detected early.
This may also cause carbon monoxide poisoning, potentially killing the residents of your home regardless of their age group.
Final Thoughs
Please keep in mind that there are many other aspects to inspect within a new home. The above list is just the tip of the iceberg but can serve as a good start during your pre-moving house inspection.
Always follow safety precautions and ask someone who knows more and has experience if youâre unsure how to perform the inspection accurately.
Thank you for reading!