Relocating to a new home, whether it is a newly purchased house, a change of apartments, or moving in with a significant other, requires a tremendous amount of mental and physical effort. Your departure from a place that made you feel comfortable and secure would most likely be followed by an adjustment period in a new environment.
Assess the security features
As soon as you move into your new home, you should change the locks on the outside doors. When renting a property, you may want to check with your landlord or letting agent and ensure that this is okay before proceeding. This step should not be skipped because there may be several keys in the property that you are unaware of, especially if the property has been rented in the past. Check to see that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are operational and that your fire extinguisher is fully stocked. Determine the location of the circuit breaker as well as the water shut-off valves.
Clean thoroughly
It is likely that your new home was cleaned before you moved in, but if you are anything like me, you will not be able to sleep until you have given it your personal stamp of approval. Hopefully, you have included a few cleaning goods in your move-in day essentials bag, such as a multi-surface cleaning agent, a dry/wet mop, a toilet scrubber, and disinfection wipes, among other things.
Start with the most important rooms, such as your bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Before you begin unpacking, you should clean the rest of the space. After all of your belongings have been put away and the furniture has been arranged, it might be tough to give the room a complete cleaning.
Deal with boxes in the order of importance
It is not necessary to unpack everything on the first day. Set up your bedroom first, so that you have a comfortable area to sleep in at night. If you have children, assist them with unpacking some of their favorite toys or books so that they will have something to do while you are attempting to set up your new home.
After that, you will have to deal with the kitchen since, well, you have to eat somewhere! Unpack only what you will need for the next morning — the bare essentials such as paper napkins, a couple of cooking pots, a toaster, a coffee maker, plates, mugs, and a few utensils – and leave the rest. The remainder can be stored until you get a chance to unpack.
Now it is time to go to the restroom. Prepare your toiletries, bathroom mats, and shower curtain by unpacking them. Place some clean towels in the bathroom and you are ready to go for your first day in your new house. Do not forget to tidy up as you go so that you do not have to go through mountains of trash to get to the front door the following morning.
Keep your documents safe
Keep all of your moving-related documentation, bills, and receipts in a single file folder for safekeeping. When you file your next tax return, you might find yourself in need of them. If you have not already done so, contact your local post office as soon as possible to make preparations for a change of address. Make certain that your bank, office, and insurance provider are all aware of the change of location. Register your children with a local doctor and request a transfer of their medical records from their current provider. Investigate whether or not you require an update to your driver’s license.
Keep going with the unpacking process
Start by unpacking one room at a time — this will help you keep focused on the task at hand and finish it more quickly if you do it this way. When presented with a large number of open boxes at the same time, it is simple to become overwhelmed. Make sure that each member of the family has their own room if necessary so that the entire load does not fall on one person.
If you come across items that you will need to store, sort them into separate designated boxes that will be sent to the attic or basement at a later period to make room for new items. Make sure that each thing you take out of a box is placed in its right location in your new home as soon as possible. Do not leave things lying around, as this will only add to the mess and muddle.
Turn it into a home
It really is the little things that make a house a home. The artwork created by your children, beloved ornamental vases and paintings, vacation photos in a nice picture frame on display, and valued books – take some time to arrange them around the house so that it starts feeling more like a place you want to be.
Cook your family’s favorite dinner and gather around the table for some much-needed family time, no matter how difficult it may be with most of the belongings still laying around unpacked. It assists in reassuring your family that it does not matter where you are; the most essential thing is that you are all together in one place.
Get back into your normal schedule.
Moving is extremely difficult for children and pets, so get them back into their regular routine as soon as possible to make their transition smoother. Make sure you do not skip out on any of the things your children look forward to each week, such as movie night on Friday. Make sure your children are enrolled in their new school as soon as possible so that they have something to look forward to each morning when they wake up.
Don’t dive into the decorating
After you have moved into your new home, instead of immediately painting the walls a bright color or hanging all of your artwork in the first available space, give yourself a few weeks to decorate before getting started. Things will only become apparent in their ‘natural’ location over time; do not force yourself into a corner the instant you move in.
Make sure you do not turn rooms into dump zones
The garage and the attic are frequently used as ‘dump zones,’ accumulating a plethora of unneeded and disorganized items. If you have items that you do not know what to do with, neatly keep them away for a few months to see if you miss them. If you don’t, then donate them to charity.
Purchase shelves and storage boxes for the garage, and take the time to thoroughly organize your belongings. This holds true for the attic, where you will spend hours searching for Christmas decorations that have been unceremoniously pushed to the back of the pile when it is time to take them down for storage.
Moving house is a great time to declutter. It is a good idea to do it before you move, but if you come across things that you no longer need, want, or use while unpacking, get rid!
Investigate the area around you.
It is important to get to know your new neighbors, if you have not already, as well as other members of the neighborhood community. Subscribing to local newspapers and publications will help you get more familiar with the events occurring in your community. Another excellent place to begin getting to know your surroundings is at your local library. Consider taking your children to the neighborhood park, where they will be able to meet new people. Find out which restaurants are the greatest in town, who delivers the tastiest pizza, and where to find the best prices in town. Contribute to the success of your children’s schools by getting to know the other parents. Make an effort to invite them around for tea so that your children will have the opportunity to meet new people.
Celebrate the start of a new chapter.
Organize an informal gathering with your new neighbors and colleagues and prepare to have a good time. Take up a new pastime or join a local fitness club to keep yourself active. For those of you who have always desired to decorate your new home in a unique style, now is your chance to do so. It is a fresh start; take advantage of the opportunity!
While time is the best way of adjusting to your new home, there are some things that you can do to help to speed up the process.