7 Essential Services to Set Up for New Homeowners in 2024

Packing up all your belongings to relocate for a new opportunity or simply a change-of-pace can be stressful, but a big move can also mean a brand new beginning. You may have lived at your previous residence for a short time, or you may have lived there for most of your life. Regardless of how long you’ve occupied your last humble abode or the reason behind your relocation, there are several checklist items you’ll need to take care of when you finally move into your new house.

While some homeowner must-haves can get lost in the disarray of piling boxes, compounding clutter, and the stress of establishing a new routine, there are certain services you won’t want to neglect. To help ease the transition of your big move, there are some essential services that you should plan for that can scrape some stress off your plate and the plates of any other residents in your house.

1. Utilities

Utilities include services like gas, water heaters, electricity, air conditioning, and so on. Depending on the house, most of these services will already be installed and may only require set-up with the proper service providers.

You may also wish to plan your own cost-cutting solutions, such as possibly installing a solar panel for your electricity and heating needs. Heating and air conditioning are vital in properly enjoying your brand new house. Without setting them up correctly, you may find your household facing scorching weather in the summer or chilly temperatures in the winter.

2. Pest control services

No homeowner wants to deal with unwelcome home invaders that can spread disease, cause damage to the structure of your house, or wreak havoc in your garden. Pests can be a real pain in the neck, and no matter where your new house is located, you’ll likely encounter one or more types of pests sooner than later.

Depending on the location of your house and the surrounding climate, you’ll have to manage a wide variety of pests. Mice, rats, ants, spiders, and cockroaches are common household nuisances that can range from irritating to destructive. In a worst-case scenario, you might even find yourself dealing with fire ants, ticks, wasps, or scorpions.

A service like Moxie Pest Control will help you ward off pests and keep them out of your home and garden where they can infect your loved ones or your beloved plant-life. Stake your claim and don’t let unwanted intruders invade your territory.

Even if you don’t encounter household pests very often, they can still be lurking in the dark corners of your basement, creeping in your attic, or building nests in more covert spaces in your own garage. With the possibility of pests setting up camp and flying under your pest-control radar, it’s a good idea to be proactive and make sure you’re prepared for them—whether or not they decide to rear their pesky heads.

3. Home security system

Home security is an essential service that most homeowners take for granted. Without the proper security system, your house may be vulnerable to home invasions, burglaries, vandalism, etc. Homeowners often like to think that they’re the exception to the rule, but the unfortunate truth is that burglaries happen more often than you think. Your risk of being robbed will skyrocket if you don’t purchase the proper home security system.

When it comes to home security, there are a couple of different paths you can take in your pursuits for a more secure household. The first method is hiring a company like WPG security services, ADT or Brink to install camera equipment and necessary control panels, so your loved ones aren’t at-risk.

These home-security providers will also provide helpful signage that can alert potential invaders that your house is well-monitored, which increases their chances of being prosecuted for theft or vandalism. The signs themselves may even be enough to deter would-be burglars.

Your home-security company of choice will also include services in a product package where you will be personally notified by an agent if an alarm is tripped. These services can also assist a homeowner in contacting authorities if you happen to be unavailable.

If you choose not to hire the professionals, you can purchase your own home security system and install it yourself. You’ll need to collect cameras, lights, sensors, and recording equipment to store any necessary footage. Again, signs stating “Security cameras in use” may themselves be enough to prevent criminals from approaching your property, so it may be worthwhile to invest in a reputable home security company that will gift you with signage. This signage will signal to potential predators that they won’t be able to escape without consequence.

4. Television

Watching TV is one of the most popular pastimes for young children and working adults, alike. In the U.S., you can expect that almost every home will have a television set in their living room, basement, bedroom, or three or more of these locations, but oftentimes, a homeowner won’t think of television services as an essential part of their day, especially if they’re busy juggling other responsibilities.

Owning a TV can serve as a gathering place for your household to enjoy family movie nights, or it can act as a site of post-work relaxation where you can sit back, put your feet up, and unwind by watching some of your favorite shows or movies.

The TV industry has changed quite a bit in the past decade or so, and a large percentage of homeowners now opt for streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. If you subscribe to those services, you’ll be ready to watch your favorite shows the moment you walk into your new house. If you prefer a classic television setup and still pay for cable and satellite TV services, you may need to notify your provider that you’re relocating, so you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies after a long day of unpacking

5. Internet

Internet and Wifi access is, oftentimes, a non-negotiable—especially for working adults or full-time students. The need for high-speed data is ingrained in so many homeowners’ lives nowadays it is, more often than not, defined as an essential service rather than a luxury or source of entertainment. Some jobs require high-speed internet in the home for telecommuting. Even if you do commute, some employers require correspondence by e-mail which often requires a comprehensive internet plan.

There are several companies that provide internet service, but you might need a higher-end service depending on your needs. If you stream games on a service like Twitch, you will want to make sure your internet will be able to handle both the gameplay (especially for online games) and the actual streaming service, which will likely need a bit more power than the average internet user.

If you do host a lot of video calls, you’ll also want to make sure that you avoid any interruptions such as lagging internet speed. If you don’t invest in a top-notch internet provider, you may experience delays and inconvenient buffering.

6. Landscaping

Your new home will likely have its own front and backyard space. With a yard comes grass, plants, and other foliage. If you feel so inclined, you can take responsibility for your own yard maintenance and dedicate your weekends to trimming trees, watering your garden, and mowing your lawn.

If you weren’t born with a green thumb or you just don’t have the time to keep up on routine yard maintenance, you always have the option of hiring a landscaping service to keep your outside space looking pristine. Landscapers usually perform a variety of services, such as lawn mowing, trimming trees, planting grass, and even pest control services.

7. Housekeeping

Housekeeping may be an afterthought, especially for those homeowners with hectic work schedules. Most people make it a habit to regularly clean and tidy their living spaces. Taking the trash out, vacuuming, dusting, and laundry are usually taken care of on a per-need basis.

However, there are times when a deeper cleaning should accompany your regular day-to-day cleaning rituals. A housekeeping service can send a housekeeper who is ready to scrub all the nooks and crannies of your home that are often overlooked due to lack of time or the chores’ unpleasant natures. They’ll target areas like the backside of the toilet, behind the dresser in the guestroom, or under a couch on a carpeted area that is hardly ever moved.

Overall, hiring a cleaning service once a month is a great way to keep your home fresh and make sure that no area of your new home is neglected. For more information, you can visit emaidsinc.com.

Final thoughts

There will certainly be roadblocks, curveballs, and other necessities that you may need to tend to before you set-up these essential services, but this list is a good place for any new homeowner. As you navigate your new life as a homeowner, you’ll likely stumble on other essential services once you address the seven aforementioned checklist items.

Remember, proactive planning is essential to enjoy your new home and all its amenities. Don’t start off on the wrong foot, prepare accordingly so you can relieve as many move-related tensions as possible.