Moving In: The Final Steps to Homeownership

Overview

You built a house. Now it's time to move in and make it a home. This final checklist ensures you don't forget critical details in the excitement of moving in.

When This Step Happens

Pre-Move-In Checklist (1 Week Before)

Utilities and Services

Get these activated in your name:

Essential Services:

Contact info:

Typical activation timeline:

Insurance

Homeowner's Insurance:

Verify coverage includes:

Final Safety Checks

Before moving in, verify:

Fire Safety:

Security:

Child Safety (if applicable):

Systems Check

Final verification all systems working:

HVAC:

Plumbing:

Electrical:

Final Cleaning

Even if you've been cleaning, do final deep clean:

Kitchen:

Bathrooms:

Throughout House:

Why this matters: Much easier to clean empty house than after furniture moved in

Move-In Week Checklist

Day Before Move-In

Final preparation:

Moving supplies on-hand:

Moving Day

Priorities for moving day:

First items to set up:

  1. Beds - You'll need to sleep tonight
  2. Bathroom - Shower curtain, toiletries, towels
  3. Kitchen basics - Coffee maker, microwave, some dishes
  4. Essential clothes - Change of clothes, work clothes
  5. Important documents - Keep safe and accessible

Protect your new house:

First night priorities:

First Week Tasks

Get settled:

Week 1 priorities:

Document your new address:

Meet the neighbors:

Important Documents to Keep Accessible

Construction Documents

Keep these forever:

Create a home binder:

Financial Documents

Keep for taxes and records:

Why it matters: May need for refinancing, selling, insurance claims, tax deductions

Maintenance Schedule Setup

Create Your Maintenance Calendar

Monthly tasks:

Quarterly tasks:

Semi-annual tasks:

Annual tasks:

Set reminders: Use phone calendar or home maintenance app

Warranty Tracking

For each warranted item, note:

Common warranty periods:

First Month Budget

Plan for these expenses:

Utility deposits and first bills:

Immediate needs:

Ongoing monthly costs:

Total first month: $3,000-$8,000 beyond mortgage

Celebrate Your Achievement!

You Did It!

What you accomplished:

This puts you in elite company: Less than 5% of homeowners build their own home.

Document Your Journey

Create lasting memories:

Help the next owner-builder:

House Blessing or Housewarming

Ways to celebrate:

Ideas for housewarming:

Looking Forward

First Year in Your Home

Expect:

Don't expect perfection: Every house has quirks. You'll know exactly where they are and how to fix them because you built it.

Long-Term Maintenance

Budget 1-2% of home value annually for maintenance:

This covers:

When to Call a Professional

You built your house, but you don't have to fix everything:

Being owner-builder doesn't mean doing everything forever

Quality Checkpoints

Before considering move-in complete:

Safety:

Utilities and Services:

Comfort:

Administration:

Common First-Week Issues

Issue 1: Something Doesn't Work

Problem: Discovery of non-working item after move-in Solution:

Issue 2: Moving Damage

Problem: Scratched floor, dented wall, broken fixture Solution:

Issue 3: Forgot Something Important

Problem: Realize you need something you don't have Solution:

Final Thoughts

You're Not Done Learning

Your education continues:

Enjoy Your Creation

Remember:

Welcome home.

Related Resources

Need help with home maintenance? See our maintenance guides for ongoing care.

Want to share your story? Join our owner-builder community and inspire others.

Congratulations on completing your owner-builder journey. You didn't just build a house—you proved what you're capable of achieving.