What should you do first in a new home?

None of these jobs take long, but doing them before the furniture arrives makes each one considerably easier. You don't know how many keys are floating around from previous owners, so changing the locks early is a sensible precaution. Locate the stopcock, to shut off water in an emergency, and the fuse box, so you're not searching for them at midnight during a leak or a power trip. Test every smoke alarm and replace batteries if needed; it takes minutes and matters more than most jobs on the list. A quick deep clean before furniture goes in is far easier with empty rooms. Then unpack your essentials box first, bedding, kettle, toiletries, so the first night is comfortable.

Once you're settled, a first home gift of the house itself makes a nice way to mark the milestone. See also our new home essentials checklist.

Written by Craig Fearn, Our House Print.