Moving into your new home

Are you moving to a new home?   

Plan your move early and make your relocation as easy as possible. Anything can happen during a long-distance move. Effortless moves are from many. Control what you can and start the next chapter of your life as best as you can. 

To help your move, we spoke to our network of moving professionals to provide a list of items to take care of on moving day. Before you move, prepare your day of arrival.

Before You Move

Move-in day is equally as hectic as it is exciting. Consider the many moving pieces to keep track of, including your items, movers, children, pets, just to name a few.

Before you get to your new home, prepare your first day. 

1. Make sure your phone and internet connection work! Life doesn’t stop just because you moved to a new neighborhood. Register your services, so you don’t miss any important calls or messages.
2. Because houses are different, we advise not transferring your old policy to your new home. Speak to your insurance provider and register your new place.
3. Transferring or registering your utilities two weeks before will give you more time to focus on everything else. Prepare your house to live in! Moving heavy items into a hothouse without air conditioning is not something anyone wants to do. 
4. Do you regularly use medical services? Find your replacements before you get in town. Take a quick search on the internet and find local medical clinics for you and your family.
5. Clean up what you can. Bring a broom and dustpan to clean any leftover debris. You can also hire professional cleaners to clean up before you get in. Depending on your agreement with the former owner, hiring cleaners can be their responsibility. We always recommend cleaning the walls and floors before you build or hang any furniture. 
6. Anything can happen! Give yourself extra time to adjust for anything that goes wrong. 
7. Organize and prepare your items by making a home inventory list of all your essential things. For easy access, record their location.
8. Prepare a moving kit that you can easily access during your travel and arrival.
9. Bonus tip: Prepare the first night! Have clean pillows and blankets ready so you can get a good night’s rest after your long-distance drive.

Arrival Day

Traveling is exhausting enough. Moving into a new home the same day can put you over the edge. Start with the simple tasks and prepare your area for the more oversized furniture.

1. Did you hire movers? Communicate any items that need special attention. Ask your movers if they have any questions and vice versa. Getting on the same page will only make your move easier.
2. Check items off your home inventory list, and examine all unloaded items for any damages.
3. Before you start to unpack, locate and place all containers in their designated areas. Record any damaged or missing items.
4. Make sure your new home is safe. Check if you need to replace any smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors.
5. Inspect your appliances and see if they function as described by the former owners.
6. Access the control panels in your house and record their locations for easy accessibility; this includes all circuit breakers, valves, and appliances.
7. Make sure your keys work and access every door. Check every window and door hinge and make repairs as needed.
8. Create trash disposal areas for easy waste management.
9. We suggest googling “best food in town” before you start to unpack. Enjoy your new environment and get something to eat before you you organize your house!

Moving is not a walk in the park, don’t do everything at once and burn yourself out!

The first day of unpacking

Depending on the magnitude of your move, unpacking can be a lot to handle. Break down the move into small assignments and make your move manageable and approachable. We don’t recommend unpacking everything on the first day unless you need to. Prepare what you need for the first day! Underestimating the time and effort, it takes to move will only stress you out.

1. Make sure your payment is ready if you hired moving professionals! Professionals will never ask for money until your items arrive. Watch out for movers that request payment before they unload your goods.
2. Start with your kitchen and unload what you need to cook a bite to eat. Depending on the size of your kitchen, it can be one of the most valuable rooms to utilize during your move. Once you set your kitchen up, you can cook and work in the space.
3. Once you unpack your kitchen, start building your bed. Unpacking will wear you out! Having somewhere to sleep should be the main priority for your first night. Unpacking certainly takes more than one day. Get the energy you need to carry on.
4. Make sure to clean your bathroom and shower before bed. Moving and unpacking can be dirty work. End the day with a clean bath.

The day After you Move

Unpacking is an ongoing process. Unless you have professional help, don’t expect to unpack in one day. Even if you have support with unpacking, arranging and organizing your furniture is another responsibility. 

1. Unpack on your own time. When you work full time, committing large amounts of time to unpack is not reasonable. Identify times that work with your schedule. Unpacking daily for 30 minutes can go a long way.
2. Reach out to the new owner of your house and see if you have any mail. 
3. Change the locks in your new house and start fresh. There are several new modern locking systems to secure your home.

Damages and Filing Claims

Did any damages occur during your move? Contact your service provider and file a claim! 

Remember, anything can happen during a move. We suggest working with companies with transparent compensation policies. Some movers won’t even take the liability for particular items. See what companies cover before choosing a service.

Damages and delays are sadly common when it comes to rogue movers. Moving scams make filing claims and complaints an ordeal. 

Don’t expect the company to file your damages. File the claim yourself! The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states you have nine months from the date of your move to file a claim.  

Finding a credible moving company can save you a lot of time and money! Fingers crossed, you’ve read this article before you start looking for a moving company. 

Explore Your New Community

1. Your new neighborhood offers you a host of new faces and places to experience. Enjoy the thrill of discovery and see what your new town has to provide.
2. Introduce yourself to your neighbors! Your neighbors can be a great resource. If anything happens, your neighbors can be an immediate source of help.
3. Go to town hall and check if any events are going on in your neighborhood. Interact with the locals and see what is going on in town. Find out if there are any groups or clubs that interest you.
4. Throw a house party and invite the neighborhood if no immediate events are happening.
5. Check your neighborhood’s local businesses and see who covers any services you used at your last home. Finding the best dry cleaners or hair salons takes time.

Once you’re settled, you can finally start making yourself feel at home. We hope this guide helps you with your moving process.

Check out our long-distance moving partner for more moving tips!