Now that you have gotten a new place and are ready to move, you should make sure the new place is in excellent shape before moving in.

Many people often put off fixing the new place until they move in. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for people to start painting the walls the day they move in. As far as we’re concerned, this is unnecessary, particularly if you can afford some of the following home improvements before moving.

Replace the Locks on all the Doors

This is commonsensical. The first thing you should do as soon as you pay for the new place is to change the locks. This is important to prevent anyone with a spare key from breaking into your home while you’re still preparing to move in or when you’re not around after moving in.

In fact, you might also want to consider installing a new security system –if there’s none installed- to keep you and your loved ones safe and protected.

Have the Home Repainted

Some people prefer painting after moving in. Well, this largely comes down to personal preferences.

We would, however, suggest that you do all the necessary painting before you moving in. This is even more important when you have kids in the house for whom the inhalation of paint fumes can be dangerous.

Remodel or Upgrade the Kitchen and Baths

Well, this is an optional improvement. But seeing as these will be two of the most frequented rooms in the house, you should seriously try a kitchen upgrade if you cannot remodel.

Take a look at the cabinets, countertops, and flooring. If they’re old, worn and hanging on their hinges, you could start with re-facing or replacing the cabinets, replacing the countertops if necessary and then replacing the flooring if necessary. The most important thing, however, is that your kitchen look great.

Then, check your bathroom fixtures. We’re not saying throw out the bathroom tiles. But if the fixtures and tiles are dated and you can afford it, try changing those. You can always purchase a new bathtub later if necessary.

Change the Wallpapers

Wallpapers aren’t such a big issue, but they can become quite messy and typically raise considerable dust. This is something you want to check out if you have kids with dust allergies and asthma.

So, if you are unsatisfied with the current wallpapers –we would recommend that you change them anyways- replace them with new ones. This is one of the cheapest and fastest home improvements you can do.

Consider Changing or Refinishing the Flooring

What’s your flooring like? Are there severe scuff marks or is the flooring too dull? Can it be fixed by some cleaning and waxing or would you have to do a complete refinish? Can you salvage and still use the floor or will you have to rip up the whole thing and install a new floor? This all depends on your current budget.

Carry Out Routine Gutter Repairs and Cleaning

For many people, the gutters are the last thing they check –most don’t. This is highly disadvantageous because a leaky gutter, rotted fascia or damaged soffit can do a lot of damage to your newly painted home.

So, instead of just ignoring it like most people do, have that looked at by expert gutter installation and repair professionals, such as the ones at Aerotech. This is even more important if you’re moving to an area with a lot of foliage around. They can clean, repair and correct any alignment issues, thus ensuring that all runoffs are drained away from the home.

Childproof the Home

If you’ve got kids between the ages of 6months and 5 years, childproofing the home is a necessity. This will help prevent them from getting harmed or injured as well create a safe and secure home for them.

Oscar King is a freelance writer and a DIY type of guy. He has worked on a lot of projects and enjoys sharing his tips and experiences. If you would like to learn more about Oscar, check out his Google+ profile.