Moving is an incredibly taxing event in and of itself, but is even more difficult…
Congratulations on your recent move to your new house!
Moving is always an exciting and busy undertaking, leaving new homeowners completely worn out when moving day is past.
On top of that, you may wake up the day after moving and feel a bit overwhelmed by the tasks ahead. Moving into your new house is just the beginning of that lengthy process called “moving in.” Your new home is now filled with belongings that are all screaming for your attention to be unpacked.
But don’t lose heart!
To ease your stress and confusion about what to do following your move, we’ve compiled a simple list of 11 things to do first after moving into a new house.
1. Examine Your Moving Boxes
This is paramount as you want to make sure that none of your boxes or belongings were damaged during the move.
If you employed the services of a professional moving company, you should make sure that the moving team did not handle anything valuable carelessly.
If there is any indication of damage to your moving boxes, contact the moving company immediately to discuss the issue.
Damaged moving boxes and belongings are all too common occurrences, which is why it is so important to find a reliable moving service that you can trust.
2. Unpack Essentials
There are certain things that we cannot live without. Unpack essential items first and go from there.
You don’t need to have your entire house unpacked in a single day, just start with your essentials.
Unpack a change of clothes, your toiletries, or a few fun items for your kids to keep them entertained for the next week of unpacking.
3. Inspect Your New Home
Getting to know your home inside out will help you unpack and organize strategically in your new space. Inspect all of the rooms, the walls, the flooring, the closets, and the windows.
Leave no rug unturned or door unopened, this is how you will really get to know your new space.
4. Change The Locks
Securing your new home is always a good idea for new homeowners. Switch out all of the locks on your new house and consider adding a security system to your new place.
Schedule a locksmith to come and get the job done first thing after your move. This will help you rest easy knowing that no one else has the keys to your new house.
5. Childproof Your New House
Make sure all areas and surfaces are prepared for small feet (or paws). Your new home should be optimized for comfort and practicality — especially when you have kids running around.
Identify potential safety hazards to small children and find out a way that you can eliminate them or make them less of a hazard.
Start your childproofing project in your child’s room before moving into public rooms like the living room and kitchen.
6. Change Your Mailing Address
You’d be surprised at how many people forget to do this.
For most people, changing your address simply means going online and changing it through the U.S.P.S. website.
Take a few minutes after moving into a new house to change your address online so that you can start receiving your mail at your new house.
7. Put Each Box Into Its New Home
Start your new life in your new home with organized, tidy habits. One of the top priorities you should do immediately after your move is go out and browser IKEA or Amazon for shelves and other organizational furniture for areas in your new house that you suspect will be a challenge to keep tidy. The last thing you want is for a box to remain unpacked in room for months on end simply because it doesn’t have a home yet.
8. Set Up One Room At A Time
One thing you should not attempt to do when you move into a new house is unpack the entire house at the same time.
Take it room by room.
View each room as its own project and make sure that you thoroughly organize each space as you want it to look in the future.
9. Locate Fuse Box & Primary Water Valve
After you move into your new house, make sure that you know where the primary water valve and fuse box are.
It’s important to know where both the fuse box and water valve are in case of an emergency.
10. Meet The New Neighbors
Ah yes, the new neighbors.
While some people shy away from the idea of going and introducing themselves to the new neighbors, our moving experts at On The Go Moving would recommend that you take the first opportunity after moving into a new house to go and introduce yourself.
They won’t bite, we promise. And taking the time to be cordial with your new neighbors will ensure that you start things off on the right foot and form a good neighbor relationship. Click here for seven non awkward tips on how to meet your neighbors.
11. Continue Unpacking!
And last but definitely not least, continue unpacking!
Unpacking is a project that may take several weeks after moving into a new home. Tackle this project with a long term view in mind and make sure that you have a strategic approach to it.
Make yourself an unpacking list of things to do after moving into your new house and follow it until all of your belongings have been unpacked.
Find A Reliable Moving Company
Make the busyness of moving into a new house a little bit easier for yourself by working with a reliable moving service in your area.
Professional movers can lift so much of the burden of moving off of your shoulders. Spend your time planning how to unpack after your move while your movers pack, load, and transport your belongings.
Contact On The Go Moving to speak with one of our team members about our moving services and find out which one suits you.
