Moving to a new home is exciting. It’s a new chapter, a new place to make memories. The process of moving can be a stressful one, but once you’ve got the keys and are all moved in, it’s time to start enjoying your new home.
But in all the excitement of moving to a new place, it’s easy to forget the basic things you should do after moving. So to get your move off to the best start, here are 10 things for you to do when you move into a new home.
1. Update your address
One of the first things to take care of in your new home is to update your address. You may need to have your mail forwarded or get in touch with your bank, etc., to get everything up to date. With so much of what we do online now when it comes to account management, subscriptions, etc., you might want to dedicate some time to this admin task once you’ve moved. Getting it done sooner rather than later will save you a lot of hassle down the line!
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2. Make sure all of your bills are set up correctly
Moving from one property to another can leave you with a lot to do to get your bills in order. You’ll need to make sure you’ve covered the outstanding bills on your previous property and got your new bills covered for the new property. Now is a good time to think of ways you can save money on your bills and get into some good habits in your new home.
While sorting through your new bills and utilities, it’s a good idea to draft a new household budget. Your budget should take into account your new bills and the costs that come with your property, while also factoring in any improvements you want to make.
3. Update your insurance policy
Your home insurance is important, and your policy must be updated to cover the value of your new home and your belongings within it. You don’t want to be caught out by not having the right cover after moving.
Moving house is also a good opportunity to change your home insurance provider. Comparing quotes from the best home insurance companies can help you find the best deal for your new home.
4. Get a warranty
As well as having insurance for your home, it’s a good idea to get a home warranty too. A home warranty can help give you peace of mind that things are covered if they develop a fault or need replacing in the future. There are a lot of benefits to getting a home warranty, but you’ll need to ensure that the cost is worth it for your unique circumstances.
5. Create a cleaning schedule
A new home means new spaces and new rooms to clean, and you’ll want to stay on top of things to keep your new home in great condition.
Creating a cleaning schedule is an excellent way to keep your home clean. It can help you break up tasks day by day so that it’s not all left to the weekend to get your home in order! Take time getting to know your new house can help you work out everything that needs to be done, ready to start afresh and keep your home looking as good as new.
6. Make your new home secure
It can take time to work out all of your new home’s features and quirks, but one thing you need to do quickly is learn how to keep it secure. Get to know all of the locks in your home, where the access points are and so on. You’ll want to make sure all of your valuables are kept hidden and out of sight, helping to deter prying eyes.
There are a lot of ways to protect your valuables against burglars, so get to work on making your home secure as soon as possible.
Keeping your home secure isn’t just about keeping your valuables safe, you need to stay safe online too. Don’t flood your social media with photos of your new home that make it obvious where you live – a new home is vulnerable to burglars and you don’t want to make it easy to find them.
7. Make a vow to be clutter-free
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If you were constantly battling with clutter in your last home, perhaps it’s time to start life in your new home with some better habits. Keeping your home clutter-free is much easier to do when you’re starting from scratch, but you will need to be disciplined! Making the most of different storage solutions can help you keep your home organized, which can also make it look more spacious.
Having more space in your new home doesn’t mean you have to fill it – think more sustainably when it comes to your new place. From streamlining your wardrobe to avoiding having too many toys lying around, there are different things you can do to reduce how much clutter you have in your house.
8. Take care of any snags
Whether you move into a new build or an existing home, there are likely to be some snags to take care of when you move in. From chips and minor damage to paint marks, it’s good to go around with a list to make sure you cover everything.
It’s a good idea to take care of your snags sooner rather than later, as it’s easy to let that to-do list grow and grow once you start prioritizing other things in your home.
You can hire a professional snag expert to help identify different things that need doing in your home. While major issues should have been identified during the sale, there are always things that come out of the woodwork that will need attention after you’ve moved in.
9. Go greener
Could you make more of an effort to be greener in your new home? There are small changes you can make to your home to make it more eco-friendly, including using energy-saving light bulbs, making an effort to recycle and even planting your own herbs, fruit and vegetables.
Making your home greener has a lot of benefits. You’ll be able to help the environment, save on your household bills and be able to teach your kids some great habits too. By introducing new greener habits, you’ll be able to make a big difference going forward.
10. Celebrate with your loved ones!
While there have been a lot of practical tasks so far on this list, one of the main things you need to do after moving into your new home is to celebrate! It’s wonderful to spend those first few nights having take-out and spending time getting to know your new home together.
A housewarming party is another great way to celebrate moving into your new home. The perfect excuse to get your friends and family together, it’ll be wonderful to welcome people to your new place and enjoy making some great new memories!
There’s always a lot to do when you first move into a new house, but there are some things that should be at the top of the list. By getting the main things out of the way, you’ll be able to shift your focus to the fun things like decorating, buying furniture and making your house your home.
