I Just Bought A New House! What do I do now (and other info)?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

I'm going to hop into this thread as well and ask for some help...

1) How do you attach Christmas lights?? When I move in I'll only be a couple weeks away from December so this will be the 1st thing I do.
2) I want to upgrade my shower head and kitchen sink faucet but I didn't want to pay the prices builders wanted... is it easy to replace both on my own?

Shower head:
1. Unscrew old shower head.
2. Wrap PTFE tape around exposed threads.
3. Screw on new shower head.

Kitchen Faucet:
1. Turn off valves for supply lines underneath sink
2. Unscrew faucet hoses from supply lines
3. Unbolt/screw existing faucet from sink (usually on underside) - may be multiple screws, may be one single.
4. Clean gunk from top surface of sink that was under old faucet.
5. Put new faucet in place, screw it to sink as per instructions.
6. Attach new faucet hoses onto supply lines, having wrapped PTFE tape around the threads first
7. Open valves on supply lines.

[mykalberta]

We just moved into our new house on Friday - this is a SFH with attached garage and back yard - w00t w00t

We booked locksmith to change locks, fireplace sweeper, and duct cleaner. - all told that will cost us about $500

We called the city to sign up for TIPP and called Enmax to sign up for power/heat for now and will make a change maybe at a later date.

We spent the first 2 1/2 days doing a massive cleaning of everything, garage, windows, kitchen, bathrooms, basement, basement storage area.

[red sky]

We booked locksmith to change locks

Is this a standard thing to do?

[ah123]

Originally Posted by red sky

We booked locksmith to change locks

Is this a standard thing to do?

You should at least rekey the existing locks...unless you want the risk of the previous owner coming in and making him/herself at home

[dubc80]

I assume this is a new build?

There will be lots of construction dust/debris in the vents. A furnace and duct cleaning would be a good thing to get.

Ive heard rumors of the trades guys leaving garbage (like McDonalds takeout wrapping) inside the ducting.

[Displaced Flames fan]

If you haven't used it in the last year and it isn't something like family photos or heirlooms, throw it away before you move.

[Bagor]

Do your painting now before you move in.

[calgarywinning]

Make sure your guest bedroom is not too comfortable that guests will want to linger on like 3 day old fish. Very wise advise.

[REDVAN]

Have an open invite house warming party that all of CP is invited to!

[red sky]

And pay for everyones flight!

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Do your painting now before you move in.

This, we are painting 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, and possibly the basement in our house

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Get a good electric drill. I've used ours countless times for putting up pictures or IKEA furniture all the way up to building new shelves in the garage. Very handy to have around.

Maybe you do this already but I've found shoveling well over the property line of your neighbors walks when it snows goes a long ways to building a friendly relationship. One neighbor actually apologized to me for missing my walks one day (I never expected anything in return and said as much) and I came home a few times after to find my whole walk right up to my door cleared for me. Another time it worked itself into a good system of us alternating who shovels both walks.

Don't be like me and wait for ENMAX to call you to set up your utilities...

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Do your painting now before you move in.

This. Not just the walls, but if your basement is bare concrete consider painting the floor before you move in. Ditto the garage floor.