When you move into a new home, you’re probably excited to unpack and find ways to make the space your own.

Before you paint the walls or decide where to place all of your knick knacks, though, there are five very important things you should do first.

These five things may not be as fun as choosing a paint color, but they are important to your safety and happiness long term.

The first thing to do when you move into a new home is to change the locks. This is fast, easy, and affordable. It also brings peace of mind, since you know there’s no one out there with a key to your home.

The second thing to do is to clean your home completely. You might think you can wait to do this until after you’ve unpacked, but it’s smarter to do it right away. Be thorough and get rid of anything left behind by previous occupants.

The third thing is to replace all the filters. The fourth thing is to update the home’s technology and set up things like cable and internet. The fifth thing is to prepare for the unexpected by making a list of trusted contacts for repairs or other issues.

These steps may not be fun, but you’ll feel much better after doing them. Once your home is clean and safe, you can start painting and arranging your furniture. With the boring but important steps done, you can get to the fun stuff and relax.