Replacing ARE files

I want to make some changes to NPC in a small area, and the easiest way is to edit it in Near Infinity, removing and adding them as I need to. I added a few actors and moved others around, saved the area in override and also exported it to my mod folder, then installed it together with the creature files. No errors. But in the game nothing has changed in the area, even the coordinates of old NPC. Am I missing something? Or do I have to start a new game and visit the area for the first time to see changes?