So you’ve completed your move with the help of professional movers in a new house that is probably in a new city or a new town.
However, your move doesn’t end just because your furniture is inside your new house.
There are several factors and processes that need to be done to ensure you are able to settle in your new home.
1) Do a final inspection of your old home
Right before you return the keys to your old place, you should do a tour of it to make sure you did not leave anything important behind.
If you are unable to do so, you can ask the agent who is in charge to sell or rent your place to take a video for you so you can have a final inspection.
2) Change Your Address
Changing your address means changing many official documents.
During your settlement period, you’ll need to amend your addresses to ensure you do not miss out on any important mail or deliveries.
Next, contact your bank to let them know you have moved, and help them update your personal information.
If you moved to another state or country, you’ll need to update your vehicle registration and title information and might even need to change your plates.
In addition to changing your address on your official documents, you’ll need to transfer necessary utilities and services such as electricity, gas, water, cable, phone, and internet, over to your new home.
Most of these services let people sign up and change addresses online, so this part of your move should not have any additional costs or require a visit to the respective location.
3) Carry the important documents with you
The first step you should focus on before you start packing all your belonging in packing supplies is to gather important documents on the same day.
This may include items such as birth certificates, passports, important certificates, family photos, and family heirlooms.
Store them in one safe container so they are not misplaced while you move.
Be sure to transfer this box of crucial documents yourself if you are using a moving company for the big move.
After your belongings are moved into your new home, designate a place in your house for document storage.
This will allow you to keep them safe and easily accessible while you settle into your new city.
4) Stay Positive during the Packing and Unpacking
The packing and unpacking process can be quite stressful.
You can minimize your stress by planning the entire process before you even think about buying moving boxes.
Keeping your belongings organized throughout the entire process makes moving easier and unpacking faster.
Before you move, box your items by room and label the boxes accordingly.
It is important to remember to place relevant boxes in the proper room while unloading at your new home to stay organized.
5) Unpack by room
Unpacking room-by-room helps you save time as you are settling into your new home.
You’ll have to decide what you want to prioritize when unpacking, and what rooms make you feel the most at home when unpacked.
Expect to stop unpacking in the middle of your new place as it takes some time to regain your bearings in a new area.
In our personal experience, it is important to unpack items in the bedroom of the house so you will be able to sleep at night.
If you are moving with children, unpacking their rooms first gives them a sense of continuity and helps get them to settle more quickly into their new home.
Getting a restful sleep will also help you tackle the rest of the house the next day.
If you do not have enough time to unpack your bedroom, you can opt to stay in a hotel such as the four seasons to rest after the move.
For food costs, a nearby coffee shop can help you with coffee and food on the same day as your move.
However, if you manage to sort out the kitchen sooner rather than later, it reduces the cost of takeout meals and gives you a place to congregate as a family while you are all settling.
If unpacking your bathrooms is not high on your priority list, make sure you at least have easily accessible toiletries on hand.
6) Get back to your regular routine
Everyone has a routine in a week that they adhere to most of the time.
After you completed your move, you should immediately look for the right place to clear out the moving boxes.
Once everything is settled in every space in your home, you will be able to get back into the regular rhythm of your life.
Embracing normal routines and getting involved in your new home is a normal part of life.
Minimizing the transition time in your move reduces the amount of stress felt by everyone.
7) Host a Housewarming Party
After you get familiar with your new property, hosting a housewarming party can help you develop ownership as a buyer of your new home.
This gives you a chance to show off your beautiful new home, and appreciate the features that made you fall in love with it, regardless of the purchase price, home loan, or the new city you are in.
8) Explore Your Community
Meeting your neighbours gives your family a chance to make new friends and build a local support group.
By exploring your community, it will help you become familiar with your community’s events and amenities and helps you get into the rhythm of community life.
This also helps your family form emotional bonds with their new home, while fostering a true sense of belonging.
Knowing that a community is a group of people that you share your life with, not just a group of people that happen to live in the same neighbourhood, increases your family’s emotional well-being.
9) Relax and Enjoy Your New Home
While it might not always be easy during and after a move, remember to try and relax.
You can spend time enjoying the great features and thoughtful layout of your beautiful new home that you always dreamed of having.
While you start getting used to your new life, take time to fall in love with your home all over again.