Make the most of an empty home before moving in

In the excitement of moving into your new home, don't overlook the great opportunity to do some important work on the premises while it is still empty.

When a home is occupied with people, furniture and fragile belongings, it can be difficult and frustrating to move or remove them to undertake even basic improvements.

It pays to be patient

Standard major tasks like electrical or plumbing are usually completed before moving in, but it's worth holding off a bit longer so you can complete smaller tasks that are easier to do when the house is empty.

Some of the tasks you may wish to complete prior to moving in are:

Painting internal walls and ceilings

Painting can be a messy job to do on your own, and it's very tricky negotiating paint pots, rollers, wet brushes and ladders around precious items and large furniture.

Professional painters are likely to insist you remove all the furniture anyway. If this requires extra labour the painter will add this to the costs, so it's wise to make sure this is complete before you move in.

Floor coverings and treatments

Re-doing floors can be a nightmare if your home is full of furniture.

If the job involves the sanding, sealing and polishing of wood floors or the laying of tiles and carpet, then you'll need complete access to the relevant areas and plenty of time for drying before floors can be walked on. This can take several days with wood floors.

Wardrobes and storage areas

Moving into a new house is a much smoother process when the storage areas of the home are ready for the many boxes you'll be carting.

Consider new shelving for the storage room, shed or garage before you move. If built-in robes suit your budget, it's good to think about making sure these are ready to use as soon as you move in.

Fireplaces and flues

This can be a very messy job, but it's far better it gets done before repainting the walls or redoing the floors.

To minimise mess, we recommend using a professional chimney sweep who has all the right equipment.

Pest fumigation and termite spraying

If you're moving into an older property, it might need a thorough pest inspection as part of the buying process.

If there is a cockroach, ant or termite problem this can usually be seen to by the seller as part of the purchasing contract. An empty home is ideal to engage this work so you and your pets can avoid unpleasant fumes.