Week 1: The Must-Dos
Your first week should focus on safety, utilities, and the things that can't wait. Las Vegas has a few quirks that out-of-state movers often discover too late.
Change your locks
Before you do anything else, rekey or replace your exterior locks. Previous owners, contractors, housekeepers, and their families may have copies of your keys. A licensed locksmith can rekey all locks for $50-150 per lock — get it done on moving day or the day after.
Start your utilities
If you haven't already, start NV Energy (electric), Southwest Gas, and your local water service immediately. Southwest Gas requires an in-person technician visit — schedule this 7+ days out. Without AC running on electricity, your home can reach dangerous temperatures in summer.
Schedule pest control
Moving disturbs local pest populations. In Las Vegas, that means scorpions, black widows, cockroaches, and ants. Schedule your first treatment within the first two weeks, before you've settled in and while it's easiest to treat baseboards and entry points.
Week 2: Security and Home Condition
Install security cameras
A new address means no one knows your patterns yet. Installing a doorbell camera and 2-3 exterior cameras is a straightforward weekend project for most Las Vegas homes, or call a local security installer for professional placement.
Have your HVAC inspected
Your AC system will be the hardest-working appliance in your Las Vegas home. Before your first real summer, have a licensed HVAC tech inspect filters, refrigerant levels, coil condition, and thermostat calibration. A $100 tune-up can prevent a $3,000 emergency repair in August.
Week 3-4: Yard, HOA, and Services
Understand your HOA
Las Vegas has one of the highest rates of HOA communities in the US. Read your CC&Rs carefully — they govern what you can plant, what colors you can paint, parking rules, short-term rental restrictions, and more. Contact your HOA manager directly with questions.
Set up landscaping
Your yard likely has desert-adapted plants, rock, or artificial turf. Set up an irrigation timer aligned with the SNWA's watering schedule (which changes seasonally), or hire a desert landscaper to establish a maintenance plan.
Pool service (if applicable)
If your home has a pool, start weekly service immediately. Las Vegas heat accelerates chemical evaporation and algae growth dramatically compared to other climates. A pool without service can turn green within 10-14 days in summer.