Moving is always a mix of excitement and chaos. Boxes, transport, paperwork, and somewhere in the middle you discover a dripping tap or a dead outlet in the kitchen. A systematic walkthrough at the right moments prevents most of these surprises.
Before You Leave: What to Tidy Up
If you’re moving out of a rented flat, the handover inspection is the document that decides whether you get your deposit back. A few things are worth sorting before you hand in the keys.
- Check the walls: holes from picture hooks, stains, cracks. Minor patching and a coat of paint are easier to sort before the handover than after a dispute.
- Make sure all appliances work: drainage, washing machine, oven, sockets.
- Test windows and doors — they should close properly, seals intact, locks functional.
- Take timestamped photos before leaving, for your own records.
First Hours in the New Place: Walk-Through Checklist
Before unpacking a single box, spend 30 minutes checking the basics. It pays off.
- Read and note the meters (electricity, gas, water), you’ll need these to register utilities.
- Locate the main shut-offs: cold water, hot water, gas valve, and the electrical panel.
- Test every socket, a phone charger is enough.
- Run every tap — check water pressure and that the drain flows freely.
- Turn on the heating: do all radiators heat up, any unusual sounds?
- Inspect windows and balcony doors: seals, handles, locks.
- Check walls and ceiling for damp patches, mould, or cracks.
What to Fix Before the Furniture Arrives
Some jobs are just easier without furniture in the way. The most common requests from Warsaw clients right after moving in:
- Dripping taps and worn washers — replace them now, before water collects under the cabinet.
- Loose sockets and switches, a safety issue, not just cosmetic.
- Worn window seals: especially important before the colder months.
- Furniture assembly, curtain rails, shelves, mirrors: easier to do on an empty floor.
- Lock replacement — new flat, new keys. Standard practice.
Safety First: Gas and Electrical
Important: if you smell gas or see burn marks around sockets, do not try to investigate yourself. Gas issues require the gas company; electrical faults require a certified electrician. These are not DIY situations.
When to Book a Professional Check-Up
Older flats or properties left in questionable condition are worth a full technical inspection before you settle in. Handymen on HandyMan24 work across Warsaw and nearby towns. Order the inspection in the app: the price list shows the ranges, and the handyman confirms the exact amount after seeing the flat.
One Last Thing: Don’t Rush the Furniture
Before you push the sofa against the wall, check it for damp. Before you mount the TV, make sure the circuit can handle the load. A few minutes of attention at the start saves weeks of repair work later. If you’d rather not do the walkthrough yourself, a handyman from the app can do it and fix what turns up.
Furniture needs taking apart, moving and putting back together? What that kind of help looks like is in the article on help with moving. Describe the job in the app and handymen will send you their offers.