New home? These are the household tasks to complete before you move in to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible, from cleaning to lighting
Whether you’re making a commitment and buying a home in Dubai or just setting up as a renter, you can make your life a little easier by making small adjustment to your new house before filling it with as your moving boxes.
That can be a simple as adding a lick of paint to a lacklustre wall or adjusting the lighting so the mood is always right. Here’s what to look out for:
Add a fresh coat of paint
A new coat of paint is ideal for putting your stamp on a space. If you’re renting, however, keep in mind that if you paint your home a different colour, you may need to return it to the original hue before you move out.
Still, if you want to take the plunge, use the Jotun ColourDesign app (+971 4 341 8957) for a sneak peek of what your chosen shade will look like: simply upload a photo of your space and select a shade to apply for a virtual snapshot.
Need an expert paint job? TipTop Technical Services (+971 55 271 9291) will prepare and paint or stain walls and ceilings, and can even spray doors and banisters – all while keeping surfaces well protected. Plus, they carry out a thorough clean up at the end of the job.
For special textures and decorative coatings, Italian brand MAS Paints (+971 4 347 9242) will hand treat your walls.
Carry out a deep clean
Never has a deep clean throughout our homes been more important.
Your property should have been given a thorough clean before you move in, but if you want a super spotless space, consider having an extra deep steam cleaning service, which trades chemicals for heat to polish your home from top to bottom.
Mangrove Services (+971 4 368 9941, +971 52 964 8070; ) offers this, and can also sanitise your carpets, mattresses, curtains and upholstery. Another company championing a chemical-free approach is Saniservice (+971 4 368 9941 +971 52 964 8070). It’s a top choice for cleaning and disinfecting A/C units, using specialised tools to get into every nook and cranny.
For help with keeping on top of everyday chores as you get settled, from vacuuming to washing dishes and making the beds, Helpling (800 989) lets you book online and has a handy guide on how many man hours you will need, according to the size of your home.
Install curtains and blinds
Unless you’re a dab hand at DIY, when it comes to curtains and blinds we say make your life easier and get the professionals in. You can choose from more than 3,500 designer fabrics at Danube Home (800 3131) that can be made to measure.
Plus, there’s an elegant range of window blinds, as well as a wallet-friendly ready-made curtain selection to browse, along with finishing touches such as rods and tie backs. IKEA (800 4532) is ever popular for affordable new curtains that can be made to measure, and then delivered and installed, while Sedar Global (+971 4 338 8663) is home to coveted designs from luxury brands, including Armani, Marco Polo and Swarovski.
Prepare for you lighting needs
Make sure your home is well lit for an instantly homely touch. IKEA is the go-to for affordable lighting, from lamp shades to cords and decorative lighting – and get your bulbs while you’re there. Or, head to Home Centre (800 694 663) which offers all kinds of solutions, from ceiling shades to table lamps, in a variety of fab styles.
If you want to make a statement with innovative and futuristic looking designs, be sure to check out I light you (+971 4 321 6272; ilightyou.ae).
Take all your measurements
Be sure to measure the space available in your new kitchen so you can order your white goods in advance for a timely delivery. Carrefour (800 732 32) and Sharaf DG (800 344 357) offer a wide range of brands, including Bosch, Indesit and Whirlpool, online so you can compare prices and features easily.
Find the right handyperson for you
Call in the experts to get those little jobs around the house blitzed. HandyMan Dubai (+971 55 649 2270) offers a range of services, from hanging shelves to repairing water leaks. What’s more, the team can access any area in Dubai and offers around-the-clock emergency call out, so you needn’t be kept waiting.
Long-term Dubai resident and self-proclaimed ‘handy Scandy’ Bjorn and his team at Handy Scandy Home Services (+971 52 167 5464) specialise in quality paint and wallpapering, electrical services, tiling and more, but they can also help with the smaller errands that need sorting, such as putting up shelves, fixing picture frames to the wall or simply assembling some flat pack furniture.
From plumbing to DIY work, We Will Fix It (800 349) has more than 10 years’ experience in the UAE and boasts a reliable team of maintenance professionals. They’re also the unsung local heroes of Dubai; they take care of the dogs at non-profit shelter K9 during their spare time.
See more about setting up in Dubai here, from your home maintenance checklist to installing fire alarms and CCTV.