After moving in: meters, maintenance, your home's history
After you move in, three things are left. First, paperwork: submit the meter readings and transfer the utility accounts into your name. Second, observation: most hidden defects show up in the first heating season, so in the first weeks and months watch humidity, heating and ventilation and note anything off. Third, history: photos of the pipes and wiring, documents, warranties and the budget should stay in one place, so that a year from now you can find a pipe in the wall or buy the same paint.
The “Move-in” stage item by item
In the app's route the renovation doesn't end at acceptance: the last stage is “Move-in”. It has five items:
- Submit meter readings - once the work is finished. Compare them with the readings photographed at the apartment handover.
- Set up utility accounts - transfer the contracts with service providers into your name. This is usually done through the management company.
- Monitor the home in the first weeks - humidity, heating, ventilation.
- Complete the digital property passport - make sure the app holds photos of the pipes and wiring, documents, warranties and the budget.
- Mark the renovation complete.
The stage's items are currently a draft: a builder is reviewing them, and the wording may change.
Meters and utility accounts
Photograph each meter so that the reading and the serial number are visible, and put the photos in the “Documents” tab, the “Meters” folder. Keep the meters' spec sheets there too. If you also photographed the readings at the apartment handover, the difference shows how much the renovation used.
Which documents are needed for the utility accounts and where to submit them, the management company and service providers will tell you.
The first heating season: what to watch
The route's hint: most hidden defects show up in the first heating season. So in the first months after moving in, pay attention to:
- humidity - misting windows, damp in corners and behind furniture on outer walls;
- heating - whether every radiator heats up and there are no drips at the joints;
- ventilation - whether the grilles draw, whether the fans are quiet, whether the bedroom gets stuffy with the windows closed;
- cracks - on walls, the ceiling, along tile joints;
- plumbing - whether it's dry under the basins, bath and toilet.
Found something off - photograph it and note the date. If it looks like a workmanship defect, what to do is in Warranty on renovation and materials.
Servicing what was installed
At final installation the route already pointed out what will need servicing later. It's handy to gather it into one list:
- the water filter - access was left for changing the cartridges;
- valves, filters and joints behind access hatches - don't seal the hatches or block them with furniture;
- the leak protection system - during installation it was tested by wetting a sensor;
- the water heater - the safety group drains to the sewer;
- air conditioners - manuals and warranty;
- underfloor heating - thermostats; the first start-up was gradual;
- radiators - valves and the bridging pipe (bypass).
How often to change cartridges, test sensors or service an air conditioner is in the manufacturer's instructions - keep the manuals in the “Spec sheets” folder of the “Documents” tab.
Reminders - as tasks
Maintenance dates are easy to keep as property tasks: “Home” → the “Tasks” block → “+ Add”, write what to do and pick a date. The app shows overdue tasks separately and under the bell, in “Important now”. More in Property tasks: how to keep a to-do list.
Your home's history
What to keep
- photos of hidden work: pipes, cables, underfloor heating, waterproofing - with a tape measure in the shot;
- the electrical panel diagram;
- the contract, estimates and stage acceptance certificates;
- manuals and warranties for appliances and equipment;
- receipts - for warranty and for your records;
- the paint brand and colour, the tile and wallpaper article numbers - to buy the same again.
The detailed list, with how long to keep each item, is in Which documents to keep after a renovation. How to take photos that will be useful later is in Hidden work: which photos and records to keep.
Why it matters
In a few years you'll be putting up a shelf, replacing a mixer or selling the apartment. A photo with a tape measure shows where the cable runs in the wall. A manual tells you the cartridge model. The route's hint for the digital passport item: such a history adds value to the property when you sell.
How to move the property to lived in
When the renovation is finished, in the app: “Profile” → “My properties” → “Renovation done - move to lived in”. You need a connection: the move happens on the server right away.
What changes:
- stages remain the renovation history - they can no longer be checked off or changed;
- documents, the property passport, warranties, receipts and tasks stay at hand, as before;
- property history - the bell on Home → “Property history”: who checked an item, accepted work, added a photo, an expense or a document, and when.
The property passport can be exported: “Documents” → “Property passport export” → “PDF” or “Excel”. It includes the property specs, finishes, stages and documents. There's no need to copy out the paint brand or article number by hand: photograph the label, and on export the app reads it from the photo. More in Property passport and documents.
A lived-in property can later be moved to the archive: in the same place, “Handed over - move to archive”. In the archive it's view only.
After moving in: checklist
- All meter readings are taken, the photos are in the “Meters” folder.
- The utility accounts are in your name.
- Anything off in the first heating season is noted with a date and photo.
- Manuals and warranties are in the “Spec sheets” folder.
- Maintenance dates are set up as tasks.
- Photos of hidden work and the panel diagram are saved.
- The property is moved to lived in.