What to do when you’ve bought a house

AlexMac

firsttimebuyerhelpme said:

It isn’t a new build, we are looking at getting new doors but hadn’t planned on doing this immediately! Maybe we will look into it sooner rather than later. Thanks 

Locks, again.

Changing a yale type lock barrel in a cheap and easy DIY job; changing a deadlock isn't much harder, especially if you take the old one down the DIY shop and buy like for like; even changing the barrel on a "Eurolock" such as used on most modern plastic doors is an easy DIY- ask Dr Google or Prof Youtube.

And while we're being paranoid, check the window locks are adequate.  We thought ours were but they were only fixed to the timber casements with half-inch screws and an upstairs window lasted 5 minutes under attack from a crowbar, using a ladder helpfully left loose in a neighbour's rear garden, at 7pm one night 2 weeks after we moved in! ; Luckily we'd recommissioned the burglar alarm, so they only robbed one room before setting it off.  Bombproof now, on 2" screws,

Remember; just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get  you.  The upside is the we live in a really  friendly street; when we moved in, a neighbour turned up at 6pm with a casserole dinner!  Just as well, because although we'd packed a kettle, teabags, milk and cups in the priority moving box (moving tip #2), we had booger all to eat

FinallyStoppedLurking

Get the current occupiers to give notice on their phone and broadband. Once they have done this you can do an active line takeover otherwise you could be waiting a while before you can get broadband. 

firsttimebuyerhelpme

Thanks everyone for you helpful comments! I had been googling but didn’t know if there was anything more specific that we needed to with regards to taking over a household! There is a first time for everyone! 

dimbo61

Simple things like smoke alarms and CO alarm. Heat alarm in the kitchen.
When you do fit new doors ask for turnlocks ( or change them yourself ) on the inside for fire safety and saves you from being locked out by the kids when they leave the key in the lock.

dimbo61

Knowing where a good local chippy can be a godsend when your tired and hungry.
With justeat and deliveroo, Ubereats you can order.

SpiderLegs

Honestly there really is no need to change the locks

iampetesmith

We changed our locks, but mainly because we just wanted to upgrade them to 3 star anti snap ones. So if you have UPVC doors and change the locks, make sure you swap them for the high security anti snap barrels to make it worthwhile. It's a 5 min job, one screw and the barrel comes out and it can be swapped over, plenty of videos on Youtube.

jenni_fer

Also locks here....we changed the lock on our first property when we bought it, swapped it back the day before we sold and then swapped out the barrel in the new house with the one we'd been using...everyone who had a key to our old house was able to keep it and it worked in the new house!

jimjam83

Wow, this is great advice. We’ve just bought as well.....currently googling locks😂