Whether it’s the first or the millionth time, moving to a new home is a life-changing event. Everything, from buying to exploring your new place and meeting the new neighbors, is exciting. While there are many positive aspects of the relocation, you certainly want to avoid the negative ones. Moving is a time-consuming and often stressful task.
There are so many things to consider before and during the move. Every step is essential – from finding a reliable moving company and packing to updating all your information. However, don’t let these tasks dishearten you. The key to a seamless move is timely preparation, a good plan, and efficient organization.
Follow this checklist of things to do when moving to a new home to ensure a happy relocation!
Things to do before the move
Preparing as much as you can in advance will help you set everything up in your new home much faster. Not to mention, you won’t lose your head over the things you can’t find. For example, packing the kitchen items but forgetting to prepare a separate box with essentials for your first meal at your new home.
You don’t want to spend the first hours after the move looking for plates and forks! With that in mind, we’ve prepared a list of things to do before the relocation date.
Choose and explore your new location
The location of your new home is essential. Not only will it significantly shape your life, but it will also affect the value of your new property. For example, if your goal is to move to New York City, it’s a good idea to explore its variety of neighborhoods and see which one works best for you.
If you are a millennial looking to settle down in NYC, Astoria in Queens or Financial District in Manhattan might be what you’re looking for. Check for public transport and amenities such as recreation centers, parks, or anything else you need in your daily routine.
Book all services in advance
To minimize the stress and avoid last-minute panic:
- Start planning the move a month or two in advance.
- Book a moving company that suits your needs and arrange the dates.
- If you think you need it, ask to take a few days off work and enlist some friends or family to help you with packing.
Extra tip: Depending on your new home’s condition, you might want to hire professional cleaners to do a deep clean before you move in. If you’re planning to do some repairs or renovations, check whether it’s better to do them before relocating. After all, you want your home to be perfect when you get there!
Declutter before packing
Maybe you already declutter your home regularly, but if you don’t, now is the time to start. Getting rid of everything you don’t need will prove beneficial in many ways.
Relocating your household items or moving your garage can be pretty costly, so the less you carry with you, the more money you’ll save. Not to mention that packing will be more manageable and less stressful!
Update the relevant information
You can leave this task for after the move, but it’s best to do it before if you have the time. Many documents require a change of address – from your ID to your driver’s license.
Also, don’t forget to redirect your mail, and notify your bank, subscription services, and various utility providers and insurance companies. Make a checklist of all the services you have to update and plan enough time for doing that.
Pack and label everything with care
One of the most important things on a checklist of things to do before moving to a new home is packing. Once you declutter your home, packing your belongings will be more manageable, but it’s still a good idea to start several weeks in advance.
Make a list of essentials that you’ll need during the moving day (especially if you’re moving with kids) and during the first few days in your new home.
Then, start packing the items you use less frequently. Ensure you get quality packing boxes and supplies so all your belongings will be well protected. Don’t forget to label the boxes, especially if the items they hold are fragile.
Additionally, writing the name of the room on each box might make things more straightforward. This will help you unload everything in the right place and make unpacking a piece of cake.
Things to do after moving into your new home
First of all, congratulations! Whether this is your first home or not, setting up your new home is always a joyful experience. However, before it starts to feel like home, there are a few more things to take care of.
Do a walkthrough and check everything
There’s no better time to check everything than when your home is empty. Do a walkthrough and check whether everything is in its place.
Inspect for damages to make sure everything is as agreed when you bought the property. If your home isn’t new, it’s likely some minor repairs are needed. Initial inspection will enable you to locate the issues and schedule the repairs.
For example, if you need a roof repairing service, you can reach an expert by clicking here.
Ensure all utilities are set up
Hopefully, you’ve already arranged everything concerning electricity, water, and gas. If you have, now is an excellent time to check if everything is up and running.
On the other hand, if you haven’t, this should be one of your first tasks after moving into a new home.
Purchase your window coverings
There are a lot of different window coverings out there. For a new home, you won’t want to be left with bare windows or with sheets up in the windows. You’ll need privacy, so before you plan to move in you should start to plan to order your blinds.
Step 1: Write down your measurements
Head out to your new property before you’re ready to move and measure the window openings.
Step 2: Use your spare time to DIY
Purchasing blinds don’t have to be expensive. If you’re able to buy your blinds online, you will save quite a fortune.
Step 3: Visit a DIY supplier, that sells online blinds
There are plenty of blinds companies out there. They’ll be delivered to your door
Step 4: Fit your new blinds
Depending on the product you chose, the difficulty in installing them will vary. For example, simple DIY Shutters like these will be slightly harder to install, compared to something like roller blinds.
Locate the shut-off valves
The next thing you should do is locate the fuse box and the water valves. Knowing where your circuit breaker box and the main water valve are will enable you to shut them off in case of emergency or when you need to repair or install something.
Most likely, your fuse box is in the basement or storage room, while the water valve is somewhere in the yard.
Change the locks and set up your home’s security system
Whether this is your first time living by yourself or you’re moving with a family, you want your new home to be safe. That’s why changing the locks should be one of the first things you do.
It won’t take much of your time, but it will help you feel secure and relaxed. If you already have a home security system, make sure it’s working and update your information.
Enjoy your new home!
Once you’ve accomplished all of these tasks, it’s time to relax and enjoy your new home! Meet your new neighbors or make a housewarming party to celebrate this vital moment in your life with the people you love.
Making your new place feel like an actual home will take time, but it will surely be worth all the effort.
Conclusion
Don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to unpack and decorate everything right away. Make a schedule to help you stay organized and give yourself some time to adjust and think about the details. A home is a place that grows and evolves as we spend time and make memories in it.
We hope this checklist of things to do when moving to a new home will help you relocate and manage the first days with ease and pleasure!
