1. Steam clean the carpeting. If you don’t own a carpet cleaner, you can have it done by a professional for around $45 per room or you can rent a steam cleaner from a home improvement store for about $35 a day.
2. Double check for plumbing leaks. Although your home inspector should have checked the home for leaks during the home inspection, it’s still a good idea to double check for signs of a leak.
3. Change the locks. Changing the locks is a safety precaution since you can’t be sure who has a key to your home. The locks can be changed yourself for about $10 a lock or a locksmith can do the job which may set you back about $20 per lock if you supply the lock.
4. Get familiar with the main water valve and the circuit breaker box. Check to see if the fuses are labeled inside the breaker box and if they aren’t, work on doing that yourself. This will require two people with one person at the breaker box tripping fuses and one person in the room that the power is supposed to be to. Knowing where the main water valve is and how to turn it on and off is very important in case there is ever a plumbing issue.
5. Clean out cabinets. Although it is common sense, make sure to wipe out the outside and inside of all cabinets in order to prepare them to store your dishes, etc. It is best to use a non-toxic cleaner if possible.