*This is a collaborative post.
Moving house can be exceptionally stressful, and there’s nothing quite like getting it over and done with. That first lie down in your new bed will likely be exciting, hopefully giving you the first of many deep, restful sleeps.
Once you’ve done the actual move itself, you’re not quite totally finished, there will still be some more things to take care of. From getting your essentials set up to meeting the neighbours, here are some of the first things you should do after moving house.
Set up the essentials
The second you’ve unloaded your boxes from your Bright Movers removal van, you’ll want to find and unpack some basic essentials. Get the kettle out, your slippers and some comfortable indoor clothes, and find some mugs and tea bags.
Find your iphone and laptop chargers, and put your toiletry bag in the bathroom. Once you’ve got these absolute basics down, you’ll likely feel a bit more comfortable as you sort out the other more ‘important’ things.
Safety & security
Next, you can do a basic walk around and check all the locks. Make sure that they work properly, both on the doors and the windows. If there are any that don’t, you can call a locksmith as soon as possible. If you’re concerned about other people still having keys, it could be a good idea to change the locks.
Make sure that you also check whether the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working, and find any important utility shut-offs, in case there’s an issue with the gas or water systems.
Check utilities
On another practical note, you’ll want to make sure that all your utilities are set up properly. Take readings from the water and gas meters, so that you don’t accidentally end up paying for the previous resident’s usage.
Make sure that you’ve also redirected your post, and that the wifi is set up. Moving home is a great time to make sure that you’re definitely getting the best deal, so it’s worth shopping around a little bit rather than just going with the same internet provider.
You should also check things like bin collection schedules, and any other bits and bobs that had been integrated into your routine at your old place.
Meet your neighbours
Something that can really help you feel like you’ve arrived is to introduce yourself to the community. Go around either on the weekend or after work, and invite people round to tea, it’s lovely to get to know your neighbours early on, and they’ll likely have some great advice on all things local.
Settling into a new place can be a great experience, allowing you to reshape your home exactly the way you want it to be. By creating and then following a checklist similar to the one outlined above, you can make sure that you’re taking care of what needs to get done as efficiently as reasonably possible, while also enjoying the process of moving in.
A helpful list of things to remember to sort out
Don’t forget to change all your addresses and find a new doctor /dentist
This is great advice, Jayne! When you are in the midst of a move, you may not think about some of these things so having this list wold be very helpful!
We haven’t moved in over 20 years but I do remember working like a crazy person to get every box unpacked in just a day or two! These are some great practical tips.
Moving to another place is a big thing. One of the things I really like to do is create a little space inside of the new house where I can sit and have a cup of tea! A kind of safe space amidst the chaos.