Checklist for moving into a new home

Have you found the one? It's ticked all the boxes and passed all inspections and now you are finally ready to move in. Here are some tips that will keep your home pleasantly insurable and protected from risk:

• Change your locks. You don't know how many copies of keys were made for friends and family of the previous owner. Consider contracting for an intruder alarm service.
• Get to know your appliances. Consult the manuals of dishwashers, washing machines and dryers to ensure their proper use. If manuals weren't provided, they can in most cases be found online. Clean dryer lint traps and vents. Look behind appliances for signs of leaks, mould or overloaded wiring that may need immediate attention.
• Remember to change your address for your car insurance and drivers' license.
• Be wary of storing important documents in your storage locker or basement. These storage areas can be prone to high humidity or flooding. You may not be able to recover these valuables in the event of a loss.
• Use the move as an opportunity to mark valuables. Engravers are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. Mark items on the underside or back, ideally in a hidden area (for example, you may want to remove protective plates on the back of some items and engrave the item on the inside). Engrave the item with your B.C. driver's licence number or ID number. In the event the item is stolen and recovered, you will be able to identify it as yours.
• Update your home inventory. Take photos or film footage of your belongings and scan the purchase receipts of major items. Keep this documentation on a disk and store it off-site in case you ever need to make a claim. Be sure and include furniture and items bought for the new home.
• Ensure your new dwelling meets B.C.'s Fire Code. Contact your local fire hall for information. Smoke detectors are now mandatory in all buildings with sleeping rooms. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Inspect fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces to ensure they are working properly and safely. Install a carbon monoxide detector near fireplaces and wood-burning stoves.
• Talk to your insurance broker about insurance in advance of your possession date so that coverage can be placed from the moment the home is yours (this may be a financing requirement). Advise your broker if the dwelling will be vacant for a period of time and/or if you'll be renovating before occupancy.

For more information on adequate insurance coverage, consult your insurance broker. Brokers can tailor your coverage to your needs, and provide extra coverage for your high-value belongings or unique situation.