The Ultimate Checklist - 10 Things to Do After Moving

Relocation is one of the most stressful events in personal life. Aside from arranging your relocation and finding the best moving company, there are a lot of things to do after moving as well. If you think everything will be over once you relocate, you couldn't be more wrong. A list of things to do after you move is quite extensive, and if you are not well prepared and organized, it will take a lot of your time.

According to some relocation statistics and trends, the average American relocates at least 11 times in their life, so can you imagine how stressful it would be to have an unorganized and chaotic relocation each turn. An inevitable part of every relocation are things to do after moving into a new house. From unpacking to renovations, a bunch of stuff must be done, and if you don't plan every step out of the way, your anxiety about relocating will increase significantly. For this reason, we have created an extensive list of things to do when you move, and if you follow it, we guarantee you will have a stress-free move.

01. Inspect if all the Boxes are There and Pay Your Movers

Finding a good service among thousands of moving companies is not an easy task. But if you succeed in this, the inspection of containers will be a formality. You can search online and find the finest fit for you. But there are even easier ways to choose a relocation company. For example, one of the best tips is to use a moving company app that can help you with your search. Download our moving app, and you’ll get easy access to a bunch of top-quality choices. Because this is also an app to compare moving companies, you will know that no matter which company you contact, you will get someone who runs a legitimate business with insurance. This is the safest way to avoid relocation scammers.

So why is insurance important? In every relocation, accidents can happen, and your items might get damaged. But even if this rarely happens, it is important to find a company that can cover any damages. So inspecting your containers should be the first thing you do before paying the movers. 

02. Conduct a Thorough Inspection of Your New Home

Once you have checked that all the boxes have arrived, you can inspect your home. The house hunting is over, and you are finally setting foot in your home. Even if everything seems okay, you should conduct a detailed inspection of every room. Take pictures of every room with your phone, just to have proof of the condition of the home you encountered. Look for pest residue and insects. Furthermore, check your walls and floors to see if there is any mold or moisture. This kind of stuff is easy to hide when people prepare a home for sale. So if you are not relocating at the last minute, you will have enough time to see if anything is wrong with your new place.

03. Start or Finish Any Renovations

Now that you still have an empty place, before you unpack the boxes and furniture,you can map out if some renovations are needed. For instance, maybe you want to repaint a room or to refurbish your kitchen cabinets. Either way, the greatest opportunity to start and finish any renovations is right after the move. Your belongings are safely packed and protected from dust and dirt. And to be fair, if you don't renovate immediately, you probably won’t be in the mood to do this later on.

04. Clean the House Before Unpacking

It may seem like a trivial thing to do, but move-out cleaning is very important for an efficient move. And you will not only have to clean your new home but all your belongings as well. The most efficient way to organize packing and unpacking is to clean items before putting them in containers. This way, you will save yourself from the trouble of washing and cleaning every single item once you reallocate.

But what is the point of taking out a clean dress if your dresser is dirty? So make sure to put a deep cleaning of every room on your after-moving checklist. If you have carpets, you should contact a cleaning agency for help. You never know who previously lived there. It may even have some toxic residue. But don't worry, cleaning empty cabinets and closets is easy, and it will not take so long.

05. Turn on the Utilities 

This step shouldn't be a problem if you informed your utility providers about relocation in advance. If this is not the case, you will have to contact them and ask to turn them on. First, you will have to locate your fuse box so you can turn on your electricity. If you are relocating in wintertime, see if heating is working too. And last but not least, check if there is running water.

Plug in the Refrigerator and Appliances

Once you have power, the next step is to plug in your appliances and see if everything is working properly. Start with the refrigerator as one of the most important devices in the kitchen. If you haven't moved it around, you can plug it in immediately. But if it has been moved, you should wait for half an hour so the freon inside can settle. Once the refrigerator has been plugged in, don’t fill it in or open the door right away. Some time will have to pass before it cools down.

05. Things to Do After Moving - Unpack Your Boxes

Every professional mover will agree that one of the best relocation tips is to start unpacking once you have done all the tasks listed above. The drill is the same as when making a packing list. Come up with a strategy and see which boxes are a priority. This is why a good labeling system and inventory list are really useful to have once you start unpacking so you can easily go through all your stuff. Decide which room you wish to tackle first. The most logical course of action would be to go with the bedroom and bathroom. You will need to get some rest and a nice shower after a long day. 

Unpack Your Moving Essentials First

What is the first thing to do when moving into a new house? Before anything else, you should first unpack your relocation essentials. Dedicate one room in your home (like a bedroom) to be a safe room that only you and your family can access. Put valuable items, essentials, and important documents there. The box of essentials is probably the most important thing to think about when planning a move to another city. After all, these items might be among the items movers don't move, and they are your responsibilities from beginning to end. Also, if you are relocating with a newborn, you will need to unpack the baby's essentials to set up the nursery.   

06. Childproof Your House

If you are relocating with kids, childproofing your house should be the next step. The different surroundings will allow your kids to explore more than usual. So make sure to pack everything you need for babyproofing in the essential box as well.

Install a Security System and Change the Locks

This is one of the things people forget to do when relocating but is essential to your family security. The moment you set foot into your place, change alarm codes. This can easily be done via phone. Also, arrange to have the locks changed as well. You never know who has a spare key. Lastly, check if every window closes properly.

07. Register the New Address

Relocation brings with it a lot of paperwork too. You will have to change your voter registration and your address in many government institutions. But before all that, you should change your address at the post office. Do this one week before the move - it can easily be done online. Just fill out the change of address form and apply for mail forwarding to a different address. Your mail will be forwarded for the next 12 months.

The Best Checklist of the Paperwork You Need to Do - Who to Notify About the Move

Aside from UPSP, other government and non-government institutions must be informed of your move, too. Bear in mind that, for some, you will have a deadline. For example, for a change of health insurance, you will have 60 days, while car registration and insurance must be changed within 90 days. Here is a list of all entities you have to notify when relocating:

●     DMV

●     IRS

●     Bank

●     Car insurance

●     Health insurance

●     Utility providers

08. Don’t Forget to Eat

Now that you know the answer to the question What should I do after moving, it is time to talk about what you must not forget on your first day - to eat. Not only will you need some food, but your movers will probably get hungry as well. Book the lunch in advance so you don't forget about it. And just like there is an app for relocation, there are apps for ordering food, so use them. Make sure to pack some plates with the essentials so you can serve this food, as well as some napkins and glasses. If you packed in a hurry and don't know where your packed dishes are, put getting paper or plastic plates and cups on your relocation to-do list.

09. Map Out the Best Routes to Work & School

When the moment to go to work arrives, one of the best tips is to get really familiar with all the routes there are so you can find the fastest one. If you relocate during the weekend, you can take your family to a nice restaurant near your workplace and check how the traffic and parking situation is there. You don't want to end up late for work on the first day. Also, see how you will drop off your kids at school. Ask around or call the school to see if there is an arranged transportation for them. After a while, this will be much easier, but for the first couple of days, you should follow Google Maps so you are prepared. 

10. Get to Know Your Neighbors and Throw a Housewarming Party

Now that you know all the tips about what to do after moving, it is time for some fun. Organize a housewarming party and invite your neighbors. Chit-chat is much easier in a familiar environment (your place), so you will be more relaxed and maybe even make some friends. Also, it is good to meet your neighbors - they can fill you in about everything you have to know to adjust to your city of choice better. So get out of your comfort zone and have a party. Your neighbors will appreciate this gesture. Relocation and adjusting to a different environment will be a stressful period for you and your family, but if you get to know some folks, your transition will be much easier and smoother.