There’s always lots to do once you’ve moved home and it can seem quite daunting at first. To help make the transition as stress-free as possible, our team has put together a handy checklist compiled by our house-moving experts to help you to settle in quickly and hassle-free.
Focus on unpacking the essentials first
It can be tempting to just unpack everything as quickly as possible once you’re in your new home, but that can quickly get overwhelming, especially if you’re redecorating. It can also mean things get misplaced, lost or forgotten about while you’re still settling in.
On your first couple of nights, you’ll only really need the essentials to get by. When you pack, put these in one place so you’re not rummaging around for them when you’ve just moved in and unpack these items first.
Once you’ve got your essentials unpacked, you can then start tackling the less important stuff – next, we’d recommend unpacking clothing and kitchen items, so you can easily find things to wear and to cook dinner with.
As much as we love a takeaway or two, there’s only so many you can eat before you’re craving a hearty home cooked meal!
Make sure your pets feel at home
Moving house can be stressful for your pets too, so don’t forget about them in all of the chaos! Different animals will need different needs – for example, it’ll likely be simpler to transition a hamster or guinea pig, than it would a cat or dog.
That being said, their basic needs will remain the same. Try to keep them in a quieter place away from all of the commotion with plenty of water, food or entertainment. Make sure that they’re not left alone for long, and give them plenty of love and reassurance.
It can be easier to ask a friend or family member to have them for the day so that they’re more relaxed – just make sure to introduce them to their new home slowly, and have all of their belongings ready for reassurance.
There is always a risk that a dog or cat may try to find their old home if they get out, so ensure that they can’t leave the house for the time being. Take your dog on plenty of walks early on to get them used to their new surroundings.
Don’t forget, if your pet is microchipped, you’ll need to update the address. You can do this at the vets and you should update your pet insurance too.
Sort out your bills and change your address
Before you leave your old home, remember to take photos of your meter readings so that you can submit these with the relevant companies. When you then move into your new home, make sure to take readings sooner rather than later, so that they’re as accurate as possible and you’re not paying for someone else’s energy.
You’ll then need to set up an account with the company that provides your new home with energy to let them know that you’ve moved in, and provide your payment details – this should help prevent any bills from mounting up.
Once this is done, you’ll then need to begin changing your address with other companies that you’re registered with – here’s a handy list to help. You can also set up with the Royal Mail redirection service so that you don’t miss out on any important documents that may go to your old home.
Make your home safe and secure
The first and easiest way to make your home more secure is to change the locks. As you don’t know how many people may have access to your property, it’s the best way to ensure that no one can get in now that it’s become your home.
Once you’ve done that, check that all of your windows lock properly, and that fences are all intact to prevent pets escaping if they’re in the garden. It’s also a good idea to invest in a security system further down the line, such as an alarm, CCTV or a camera doorbell, as well as adding extra outside lights if required
By following our expert advice, you should hopefully feel settled and secure in your new home in no time! Don’t worry if it takes you a while though – that’s totally normal, and you should go at your own comfortable pace.
If you’re still feeling a bit overwhelmed and could do with some extra space while you make important decisions, why not check out our storage options.