After searching for months and months on end you’ve finally found your dream home- congrats!
The house hunting and buying process is over, and now it is time to move on to the packing and moving process. You know you need to get some boxes and packing tape, but what else should you know about moving into a new house?
As it turns out, there’s a lot you should know in order to successfully transition from your old home to your new dream house.
This may seem overwhelming, but below is some great advice on what you should do when you are moving to a new home.
What to do when moving to a new house?
There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to moving into your new forever home. Whether you’re living alone, with a spouse, or with children, you need to customize your moving process to fit your exact needs.
For example, if you’re a busy business professional then you probably want to make sure your WiFi is up and running before you officially move into your new home. This way, you can login to your important virtual conferences and meetings and reply to emails in a timely manner.
If you are the parent of a young child, then you may want to stop by and childproof your home before officially moving your child into the home.
Here is a list of things you should do when moving into a new house.
Get your utilities transferred over
You don’t want to move into a house with no electricity and water! You can get the utilities in your new home transferred into your name far in advance of your actual move-in date. It’s a pretty simple process, and it’s worth being proactive to ensure that you can see and shower in your new home!
Take pictures of your packed boxes before sealing them
If you do so and label boxes accordingly, you’ll be able to search through your camera roll to see which box has the particular item that you are looking for. This way, you won’t have to spend hours upon hours sifting through each and every box you moved into your new home. This will save you a lot of time and frustration.
If you’re mailing some boxes, take a picture of the tracking number on the receipt
This one is a no-brainer- if you’re going to mail your possessions you should make sure you have the tracking number to track the location of your boxes at any given time. Receipts are easily lost and damaged, so taking a picture of your tracking number is your safest bet.
Go through possessions and donate what you don’t use
No need to bring over items you never use to your new home. New homes are chances to start fresh and you can’t do so with needless clutter!
Do your research on a good mover
Make sure to find a reputable, efficient, and well-priced moving company if you plan on using one. You should shop around for moving quotes to find the best deals and browse online reviews on websites like Yelp.
What is the first thing to do when moving into a new house?
There are a lot of things you should remember to do when you first move into a new home, but there is one thing that you should do as soon as you move into your home.
That is to change the locks.
It is not to say that the people who you bought your home from are untrustworthy, but it is always best to air on the side of caution.
You never know who they leant a key to at some point in time, and the last thing you want is some stranger wandering in.
On the same note, you might also consider installing a security system when you are moving into your new home. It’s always better to be safe.
How do you prepare to move to a new house?
When you are moving everything you own, preparation is key. It’s safe to assume that you want to make sure that everything actually makes it to your place intact.
Therefore, there are some things you should do to prepare yourself to move into a new house.
1. Get boxes
Of course, you can purchase boxes from the post office or office supply store, but they can be quite expensive.
If you’re looking to save a few hundred dollars, consider browsing websites like Craigslist, Letgo, or Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone is giving boxes away for free!
You’d be surprised at just how many people are trying to get rid of their leftover moving boxes, and if you reach out to all of them you will be able to get more than enough boxes to facilitate your big move!
2. Get packing tape
There’s nothing worse than finally getting the motivation to pack then realizing that you can’t even get a box together because you forgot to purchase packing tape.
Don’t make this mistake- stock up on packing tape as soon as possible. (There is no such thing as too much packing tape, trust us.)
3. Get permanent markers
Permanent markers are another essential. It will be too overwhelming to unpack unlabeled boxes because you simply won’t know what’s inside!
Better to be safe than sorry- grab several permanent markers in whatever color you desire to make sure your boxes are labeled!
4. Time your drive, if the move is local
If you are moving within driving distance to your old home (or if you are planning on taking a long road trip to your new home that is located far away), then you’ll want to time how long your trip is going to take.
5. Enlist the help of family and friends
Moving is hard, but the more hands you have on deck the easier the process will be. Don’t be nervous to ask around for help from family and friends- the worst they can say is no!
6. Create a schedule
Don’t plan on throwing everything into boxes the night before your big move- this is how things get lost or damaged!
Instead, make a schedule to stagger out the packing. On one day, plan to pack the kitchen, and on another day plan to pack parts of your bedroom. This way, everything is packed safely and securely, and you are not crunched for time!
What to do after buying a new house?
There are quite a few important things to do after buying a house, and the best thing you can do to keep everything in order is to make a list.
Your list should include things like:
Change your address at the post office
This is one of the most important things you should do after buying a new home.
Head on down to the post office and change your official mailing address to ensure that your important mail finds you. Even more, you can go online and change your mailing address for your bank and credit card accounts.
Similarly, you should update your driver’s license with your new address as soon as possible. The grace period for you to do so differs by state, but each state requires that you change your address on you license pretty quickly.
Get a home inspection
You may or may not have done this while closing on your home. If you didn’t, make sure to get your home thoroughly inspected.
Schedule maintenance to make any repairs
If the inspection shows that your home needs some work, make sure to schedule your maintenance repairs prior to actually moving into your home.
You don’t want to go through the stress and hassle of moving only to have your home be turned into a construction site a few days after moving in so the damages can be fixed. Instead, take the proactive approach and have the work done beforehand.
Take measurements
It’s best to take measurements of your new home before moving in so you can order some furniture in advance and make sure that your preexisting furniture fits.
Introduce yourself to the neighbors
It’s never too early to make a good impression on your neighbors. You’re going to be living next door to each other for a while, so buy some cookies or flowers and start knocking on some doors!
Walk around town
This is your new neighborhood, after all. Why not take a stroll around the town’s square and find the best local restaurants and bakeries and stores?
The process of buying a home is confusing and often frustrating, and the process of moving into that home can be even more frustrating.
Luckily, at Pricing Van Lines we are here to help! We have endless resources to provide you with tips, tricks, and help to guide you through your moving process. Purchasing a new home is an exciting life event, and you shouldn’t be weighed down by the stress of moving. With our help, moving can be efficient and easy!
