Moving into a new home can be an exhilarating and emotional experience. Most people would be too preoccupied with thoughts of what color to paint their walls, where the TV and sofa set will be and which room to start furnishing first.

These are all fun and great to get those creative juices flowing, but there are some decisions which should take precedence over others.

Change the Locks
Regardless if you’ve bought a sub-sale unit or a brand new one, it’s in your best interest to change the locks. You really don’t know who else has keys to your new home, prior to the handover. You should never cut corners when it comes to security, so ensure that you’re the only person who has access to your new home.

Check for Plumbing Leaks
If you hired a home inspector prior to your purchase, this should have already been done before closing the deal. However, it never hurts to double check. You’ll never know if you might stumble upon something that was overlooked earlier. Keep an eye out for dripping faucets and running toilets and check for any signs of leaks.

Steam Clean Carpets
If you’ve purchased an older sub-sale high-end condominium, chances are that it came with carpets in certain parts of the unit. Steam clean your carpets before moving in your furniture. Do this and your new home life will be off to a fresh start.

Wipe out your cabinets
Another no-brainer before you move in your dishes and bathroom supplies. Make sure to wipe inside and out, preferably with a non-toxic cleaner, and replace contact paper if necessary. This is especially crucial if the home you’re purchasing has had a live-in tenant in a while.

Introduce yourself to your circuit breaker box and main water valve
Mostly applicable for landed property, it’s a good idea to figure out which fuses control what parts of your house and label them accordingly.

You’ll want to know how to turn off your main water valve if you have a plumbing emergency, or if you’re going out of town. Just locate the valve — it could be inside or outside your house — and turn the knob until it’s off. Test it by turning on any faucet in the house; no water should come out.