Tips To Get You Settled In Your New Home On Day 1

1. Clean everything before you unpack.

Most places will (hopefully) have been cleaned before you move in, but it’s still a good idea to give your new home a good clean before unpacking. If all of your things are unpacked it will be much more difficult to get to those hard-to-reach baseboards under the sofa. Therefore, it’s best to make sure your home is clean before you start unpacking!

If your new home has carpets keep in mind that they may not have been professionally cleaned. Renting a carpet cleaner is a good, inexpensive way to make sure your carpets are not harbouring any hidden dirt, bacteria or pet dander (especially important if you have allergies!).

Once you’ve finished your initial clean, wipe down surfaces in your new home with a solution of water and your favorite essential oil (if applicable). This will help you settle into your new home by adding a familiar scent!

2. Change your locks.

The realtor may have handed you a new set of keys, but this doesn’t mean you are the only one with keys to your home. Your first step before settling into your new home should be to hire a locksmith to change the locks on all exterior doors — safety first!

3. Reprogram your garage door remote and codes.

It can be scary thinking about all the ways someone can get into your home and changing the locks isn’t the only step in making sure your new place is secure. An often forgotten about but important step is to change the codes on any garage door openers and keypads.

4. Check all safety features.

This includes finding where the following devices and monitors in your home are located, and if they are working properly:

1. Carbon monoxide detectors
2. Smoke detectors
3. Fire extinguishers
4. Arc fault circuit interrupters
5. Ground fault circuit interrupters
6. Tamper-resistant receptacles

Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries, all fire extinguishers are not expired, and that any other safety devices are functioning properly.

5. Get familiar with your circuit box.

Don’t wait to blow a breaker before searching for your circuit box! Take some time to find out where the circuit box is in your new place and check that all the switches are clearly and properly labelled. If not, take some additional time to label them yourself.

6. Locate your water and gas shut-offs.

As with the circuit breaker, you don’t want to wait for an emergency and be left scrambling to find your water or gas shut-off. Familiarize yourself ahead of time so you can quickly deal with any future mishaps before they turn into a real emergency!

Tips To Get You Settled In Your New Home On Day 2

7. Continue unpacking.

Standing in a house surrounded by unpacked boxes can feel overwhelming! Keep it simple and organized by unpacking one box at a time and making sure all items get put away in their proper places.

Prioritize which rooms need to be unpacked first and work your way through the rest of your home. We’ve created a guide to unpacking to help you with this step!

8. Transfer your utilities and services.

This is the day to change your internet, phone, cable, water, gas and electricity to the new house you are moving into (if you haven’t already!).

It’s even more convenient to update these services now that more companies offer you the chance to make these changes online (outside of inconvenient regular business hours).

9. Fill out a postal change of address form.

Before you move in we recommend filling out a change of address by either visiting the post office or visiting the postal service website or going to a physical post office location and filling out the form by hand. However, this isn’t always possible if your possession and move-out dates are tight between you and the previous owners.

Don’t forget that banks and other financial institutions have to be notified directly that you have a new address!

10. Go shopping.

If you find yourself needing towels for your extra bathroom, now is the time to make a list and pick up the things you need!

We also recommend doing a quick grocery shop for the rest of the week (or weekend) so that you don’t have to rely on fast food. This also gives you the ability to get out and find your local grocery store.

Tips To Help You Get Settled In Your New Home For The Rest Of Week 1

11. Confirm your weekly trash and recycling schedule.

You can usually find this information online, but it’s also a great way to start up a conversation with your new neighbours who can likely offer up helpful tips!

12. Familiarize your kids (and pets) with the rest of your home.

Focusing on your child’s bedroom first will help settle them into their new home more quickly and easily. Involve them in the unpacking process by letting them help decide where to place their favorite toys and bedroom furniture. Consider letting your child choose a new color of paint for their bedroom, which can help make them feel excited about their new space.

Moves can be stressful on pets. During the unpacking process, it is best to set up a quiet and familiar space for your pet to retreat to. Make sure they have their bed, favorite toys and plenty of food and water. Remember that stressed-out pets are a runaway hazard! Keep them safe by ensuring they cannot get out of the house and don’t leave your dog in the backyard unattended.

For more helpful tips on moving with pets, check out our post 11 Tips For Moving With Pets: The Ultimate Guide.

13. Remove any poisonous plants from your yard (if you have pets or kids)!

Some plants can be poisonous to animals and small children. Familiarize yourself with the plants in your new space and consider removing them if they pose a risk. This way you can feel comfortable knowing your children and pets can play in a safe environment!

14. Review the Home Owners’ Association (HOA) rules.

Your HOA rules will have important information about what changes you can and can’t make to your property.

If your community has a recycling program, the HOA rules will tell you what materials can be recycled. This may also be where you will find your trash or recycling pickup schedule.

Tips To Help You Get Settled In Your New Home In Week 2

15. Map out the surrounding area.

One of the first things you need to do at this stage is to find the location of the nearest hospital. You never know when you or someone you love will need emergency medical attention.

You should also look for the closest branch of your bank, any malls, and grocery stores. If you have pets, you can map out nearby veterinary offices, parks, and off-leash areas.

16. Meet your neighbors.

It always helps to know the people that live around you, especially if you need someone to watch your home while you are gone. Asking for information or advice is a great ice-breaker with new neighbors and a perfect opportunity to learn more about your new neighborhood!

17. Start making a list of future renovations (big or small)!

Making changes to your new place is a common step after moving. Make a list of everything that needs to be done so you can prioritize, plan, and stay organized.

Remember to review your HOA rules to make sure any planned renovations are permitted!

Tips To Help You Get Settled In Your New Home In Week 3

18. Finish unpacking.

Give yourself time to settle into your new home and accept that not everything has to be unpacked in the first week. However, spending longer than three weeks can lead to procrastination and boxes that never get unpacked. Commit to a timeline and set aside time for unpacking to make sure everything gets done.

19. Start decorating.

Decorating is not only fun, it is a necessary step in making your new space your own! Decorate with intention by taking your time to plan where you want to place and hang your belongings. This will save you the effort of needing to move your furniture multiple times because you are not satisfied with the way it looks (not to mention helping to avoid putting multiple nail holes in the walls).

20. Host a housewarming party!

A housewarming party lets you celebrate your new home and all your hard work with your friends. It is also a perfect opportunity to invite and mingle with new neighbors! Host a casual gathering for guests to come and go and mingle in a comfortable setting.

An added bonus of setting a date for a housewarming party is that it gives you a deadline to have all your things unpacked and set up!

21. Relax…

Moving is hard work! Once you are completely moved in, set aside some time to rest and enjoy your new home. You’ve earned it.

Need help with your next move?

We know how to make your move quick, easy and stress-free. If you’re looking for great movers to help you with a move in Texas or Florida — contact us to get a free quote now!