Getting the keys to a new home is exciting, but the first week can feel like a blur of boxes, flatpack and rooms that do not quite work yet. Whether you have moved across Newcastle or arrived in the North East for the first time, there are a handful of jobs that make a new place feel like home much faster. Here is a practical list of handyman tasks worth booking early, so you can enjoy settling in rather than wrestling with a drill.
Curtains and blinds first
Privacy and a good night's sleep usually top the list. Previous owners often take their curtain poles and blinds with them, leaving a scatter of holes and no way to block the streetlight. Getting poles, tracks and blinds fitted early makes bedrooms and living rooms usable straight away. It is a good time to fill old holes before new fittings go up, too. See our blind and curtain pole fitting page for details.
Mounting the TV
Once the sofa is in, the TV is the next thing everyone wants sorted. Wall mounting saves space and keeps screens out of reach of small children and pets. The wall type matters, so it is worth checking whether you have brick, block or plasterboard before choosing a bracket. Cables can be tidied away neatly with surface trunking. If you would like a socket moved behind the TV, book a qualified electrician for that part.
Flatpack and furniture assembly
New wardrobes, beds, desks and drawers tend to arrive all at once. Building them takes far longer than the instructions suggest, especially when you are also unpacking. Having them assembled properly, square and stable means they last longer and doors and drawers line up. Our flatpack assembly service is a popular first-week booking.
Anti-tip anchors for tall furniture
Tall wardrobes, bookcases and chests of drawers can topple if a child climbs them or drawers are all pulled out at once. Most come with anti-tip straps or brackets, but they are often left in the box. Fixing them securely to the wall, using fixings suited to the wall type, is a small job that adds a lot of peace of mind, especially in children's bedrooms.
Doors that stick or will not close
A house that has stood empty, or has had new flooring laid, often has doors that catch on carpets or no longer latch. Internal doors may need trimming, hinges tightening or latches and strike plates adjusting. External doors that drag or let in draughts are worth looking at before winter. Sorting these early stops small annoyances becoming bigger repairs.
Check the smoke alarms
Do not assume the alarms in a new home work. In your first week:
- Test every smoke alarm using the test button
- Replace batteries in battery-powered alarms, and note the date
- Check the expiry date printed on each alarm and replace any that are out of date
- Make sure there is a working alarm on every floor
A handyman can fit or replace battery-powered alarms. Mains-wired alarms are electrical work and should be dealt with by a qualified electrician. If the home has gas or solid fuel appliances, make sure there is a working carbon monoxide alarm and consider having the appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Other useful first-week jobs
- Putting up shelves, mirrors and pictures
- Fitting coat hooks and storage in the hallway
- Changing or adding locks, and fitting door chains or viewers
- Fitting child safety gates on stairs
- Resealing the bath or shower if the silicone has gone mouldy
- Fixing loose cupboard doors and hinges in the kitchen
When to call a handyman
If your list keeps growing and the weekends are disappearing, it can be much quicker to book one visit to tackle several jobs together. That is particularly true if you do not yet own a drill, a stud detector or a ladder, or if you are not sure what your walls are made of. Our house move-in handyman service is designed for exactly this, covering Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Write down everything you would like done, take a few photos and get in touch.
Settle in sooner
A few well-chosen jobs in the first week, from blinds and curtain poles to secured furniture and working smoke alarms, can make a new house feel safe, comfortable and properly yours. Whether you have moved to Jesmond, Whitley Bay, Gateshead or anywhere else across the area, call Andrew on 07960 485 880 or get in touch through the contact page to book your move-in jobs.
