Moving into a new home can be thrilling, but there are certain steps you need to take immediately in order to ensure its safety and health. These include cleaning high-touch surfaces as soon as you arrive and setting up a maintenance schedule for ongoing care.
Change your locks as well, since you never know who may have keys (pet sitters, former residents, and random uncles could all possess copies). Also, make sure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work effectively.
1. Unpack the essentials.
On the day of a move, unpacking can be overwhelming and new homeowners should prepare ahead of time by packing early.
Begin by gathering all of the essentials you’ll need on your first night in your new home, such as toilet paper, towels, and clothing for changing. This will allow you to quickly settle in without having to search through boxes for what you need most quickly.
Spend some time exploring your neighborhood. Doing this will allow you to identify which rooms are of greatest significance, where furniture should go, and give a sense of community within your new home.
2. Clean the kitchen
Kitchens can often be one of the dirtiest areas of a home. Even though previous tenants may have cleaned, it’s wise to thoroughly examine and clean everything in your new kitchen before moving in.
As part of your initial cleaning routine, dust ceilings and high areas with either the telescopic attachment of your vacuum cleaner or a duster. It is crucial that the dust collected here falls onto kitchen surfaces, eventually accumulating another layer of grime.
Once your kitchen has been dusted, wipe down its cabinets and shelves with warm water mixed with dish soap to disinfect it further. Finally, use chlorine-free bleach or another cleaning product of your choice to rinse the sink and faucets to ensure any bacteria left behind by previous owners is gone before beginning your culinary adventures in your new kitchen.
And do not forget the details such as to clean your blinds and windows especially if the double glazing windows are filled with condensation inside the panes.3. Unpack the living room.
The decoration of your new home should make it feel more like home; from flowers and throw pillows to adding personal touches like family photographs and family keepsakes, this is an integral step prior to moving in.
Be sure to protect fragile items during a move by wrapping them securely with bubble wrap and taping them down with tape. Also label all boxes containing breakables accordingly; colour-coding them by room can make understanding their contents much simpler for movers!
Disassembling large, bulky, or oversized furniture may save time and money during transport while protecting its integrity. Don’t forget to keep all necessary hardware, like nuts, bolts, and screws, when disassembling items, as this will aid with safety during assembly and disassembly processes.
4. Unpack the bedrooms.
Packing up bedrooms can be one of the most taxing tasks during any move, be it across town or across the country. Years’ worth of belongings have collected in every corner, making it daunting to tackle it all at once.
Start by purging old clothing, shoes, and linens you no longer use—either through donations to charity or garage sales—which will reduce the number of items to pack up and store at your new place.
Once your bedroom has been cleared of clutter, create an inventory list of what needs to be transported to the new place. This will save both time and money when packing for the move, as it helps prevent possessions from being misplaced or damaged during transit. If any high-value items require storage protection during transport, consider using professional furniture storage facilities instead.
5. Set up the appliances.
Appliances can be incredibly costly to replace in a new home, so it is essential that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for packing them and moving them safely. Doing this will protect them from potential damage and ensure they can be quickly connected on moving days.
Before moving appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers, it’s advisable to clean them thoroughly to eliminate grit that might scratch the floor and create gouges. Furthermore, gas lines must be disconnected to ensure safety is preserved during transport.
Your new home requires checking where the circuit breaker, fuse box, and water valve are situated; knowing this information could save your life in an emergency! Furthermore, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must also be tested, as well as batteries replaced, to help create an atmosphere that makes you feel at home in your new space.
6. Unpack the garage
Make your new home feel truly personal by decorating with fun rugs in the bedrooms and hanging paintings on the walls; adding this personal touch will only enhance your new space!
Contrary to popular belief, it’s best to tackle unpacking room by room. This will prevent you from searching through each box before finding what you need and also help establish order in each space.
Before moving day arrives, prioritise finishing up the kitchen and any bedrooms or bathrooms you use regularly, along with any guest bedrooms or home offices that may come up. By doing this, your most essential spaces will already be fully operational!
7. Unpack the bathroom.
While your bathroom fixtures may already be functional when you move in (provided the water has been turned on), it is still essential to unpack all necessary towels, linens, toiletries, and cleaning products. Nothing makes a home feel more welcoming than having a fully stocked and organised bathroom!
Before packing, wash all sheets and towels so they stay fresh during your move, saving both time and energy when unpacking is completed. This can ensure the freshest experience.
Label your boxes when packing to make it easier to locate what you need when needed. Also, be sure to separate items that might break easily from those that won’t, such as soap and toothpaste, into separate boxes. Finally, store cleaning supplies safely out of reach of children and pets.
8. Unpack the office.
As you prepare to pack up your office, it is wise to identify items that require disassembly for transport. Desks and wall units may need dismantling; doing this will reduce labour costs while guaranteeing all of your belongings arrive intact.
Remember to set aside any important documents before moving, such as passports, stock certificates, and tax paperwork. Make sure they’re taken personally instead of being packed up in boxes where they could become misplaced or lost.
Before moving, be sure to update all online accounts and subscriptions with your new address. Doing this early can prevent mail from going to your old address and can help ensure you won’t lose important items on the move. Furthermore, giving your new home or office a thorough cleaning before the movers arrive is key to success.
9. Unpack the garage.
Organisation is key when packing up the garage, as this will make unpacking much simpler and help prevent you from misplacing essential items during this process. Also, take photos of any tools that must be disassembled; they could get lost or broken during transport!
Begin by sorting through all the items in your garage and determining what needs to be moved. Things such as old paint cans, sports team t-shirts, and tools you never use should probably be disposed of rather than stored at your new house.
If there are repairs that need to be done to the home, try to complete them prior to moving in so as to not have them become a distraction as you unpack boxes and arrange furniture. A quick clean-up in high-traffic areas may also prove useful; doing this will eliminate dust and allergens that have built up over time.
10. Clean the garage.
Cleaning out your garage can help you feel more organised and prepared to start a new home life. It also gives you an opportunity to sort through and sort items, determining what needs to be kept and what can be donated or pitched.
Notify all primary agencies about your move and set cut-off and activation dates for cable, gas, electricity, water, and garbage services. Also consult a contractor regarding any repairs or remodels so they can be scheduled prior to moving day.
If you’re hiring professional movers, ensure they know where your furniture will go by drawing out a floor plan ahead of moving day. This will make finding everything much simpler for them, plus sticky notes on kitchen boxes will make finding supplies easier later!
