What to do after you move into your new house?

1. Unpack and Organize

Now that you have somehow packed all the stuff in your previous house in boxes, it is time to unpack them. Don't just randomly start opening boxes because you will create a mess. Instead, go for a systematic approach, start opening boxes that have essentials that one cannot live without, such as kitchenware, bedding, and toiletries, and then slowly shift to stuff that is not essential. If you had taken time early on and adequately labeled all the boxes, then this process won't take much of your time, but if you have packed and labeled stuff in a hurry, then be ready to face the hassle of opening all boxes and wasting your precious time in arranging stuff.

If you want to reduce stress, do the unpacking process room by room, starting in the next room only after you successfully unpacked your stuff in one room. This will break the task into smaller portions, making the process less stressful and irritating. You can also take help from packers and movers in the unpacking process as they have years of experience, and with their skills, they can simplify the unpacking and organizing process.

2. Deep Clean Your Home

Even though the previous owner has cleaned the house, you have to clean it deep again. Before settling in, completely deep clean the house to start your journey fresh and remove any traces of the previous occupants. This is the correct time to clean the house as it will be empty, and later on, it will be filled with heavy furniture and belongings. To give a deep clean to the house, make sure no corner of the house is dirty, give special attention to commonly overlooked areas like behind appliances, in cabinets, windows, and fans as chances are these areas must not have been cleaned for years as many people resist cleaning such areas.

3. Test smoke detectors

We cannot take safety lightly in our new house, so it is essential to check whether necessary safety tools such as smoke detectors are working correctly. Every year more than 3,58,300 home fires occur, and this number has been increasing in the past ten years mainly because of the short circuits increasing due to more electricity consumption. So, it is crucial to check the functionality and function of the smoke detectors because if by any chance the smoke detector doesn't work, you can immediately get it repaired or replaced, saving you from a potential upcoming disaster.

4. Familiarize Yourself with Utilities

Take some time out and familiarize yourself with the location of meters, circuit breakers, MCB, shut-off valves for water and gas, and any emergency exit in the house. This information in an emergency can save lives, so remember the location of utility meters.

If there are multiple meters in the building for each flat, mark your meter with a sticker or bright marker so that you can easily differentiate it from other meters in an emergency.

5. Change Locks and Secure Your Home

It is always safer to change all the house locks as you don't know who else has keys to the house; the previous owner could have another set of keys, or previous workers in the house or the maid could have the keys. Living in a house you don't know how many people got access to is unsafe, so it is better to be safer and change all the house locks. Not only will this increase the house's security, but you will also get peace of mind knowing that no one other than your family can enter the house.

6. Set Up Essential Services

Start arranging essential services like Internet, cable, and utilities. A more intelligent move would have been to take the installation appointments before the Relocation. If you missed out on taking an appointment earlier, then make an appointment as early as possible because surviving without these services is nearly impossible as these services have become an integral part of our life.

7. Update Your Address

Now that you have shifted to your new house, you surely don't want your mail and couriers to go to the previous address. To prevent that from happening, update your address with the postal service, banks, credit card companies, and other required government institutions. It is crucial to update the address as quickly as possible because the legalities also consume time, delaying the process.

8. Explore Your New Neighborhood

Give yourself time to explore your new neighborhood and familiarize yourself with nearby parks, schools, grocery stores, and medical facilities. Have some conversations with your new neighbors and people around the locality so that you can feel more comfortable in the area. Don't wait for someone else to come and approach you; as you are new to the area, you must let others know about your shift.

Exploring the neighborhood will also allow you to meet like-minded people and increase your friend circle.

9. Personalize Your Space

To make the house look like your home, you need to personalize it and reflect your personality. Add artwork representing your style, family photographs, and decor items to make the house look more attractive and personalized. You can also add plants of your choice to bring a touch of nature to your home.

We spend more than 60% of our time at home, so it is crucial to make it more personalized so that we can live in it comfortably.

10. Setup your Refrigerator and other Electrical Appliances

As the Refrigerator was defrosted entirely before the Relocation, it needs to be turned on for 6 hours to work correctly and start freezing again. So the moment you arrive in your new house you should plug in the Refrigerator and other vital electrical appliances that you need daily.

A refrigerator comes in handy when you do Relocation because it helps keep the food fresh so that your food can last long, and you won't need to buy food from outside every day till you get settled in your new house.

11. Create a Home Maintenance Schedule

When you shift to your new home, try to incorporate the habit of making a home maintenance schedule. This schedule will ensure that your house looks flawless and in excellent condition. We all are aware if we regularly check and maintain our house just like we do with our body, we can identify any minor issues and prevent them from becoming a significant problem later on. If we keep postponing the maintenance schedule, we may struggle with a costly repair or renovation in the house.

12. Start Landscaping

It can be challenging to settle into the new house earlier on as we all are used to living in the previous house. A great way to get used to a new environment can be to start the landscaping journey. If you have a garden or empty outdoor space, you can make the place the highlight of the house with plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees. This addition will make your house stand out as the greenery and vibrant colors of the flowers will be a feast for the eyes. The garden will add a touch of nature to the house and also make the surroundings refreshing and pure

13. Plan Room Layouts

When you move into the new house, you get the opportunity to plan the layout of each room. This allows you to divide space according to your requirement and maximize space usage. You get the luxury of creating a space that improves productivity with functional and visually stunning living areas. When you move into the house, you can experiment with various furniture arrangements to see which suits you better and provides maximum space. The room layout is a significant factor in one's daily convenience and comfort, as without a well-spaced-optimized room, it is challenging to live in it because one struggles to get adequate space.

14. Childproof Your Home

If you are moving in with kids, then it becomes crucial for you to childproof your new home so that kids don't get injured. In the new house, there are huge chances of you getting busy settling in; meanwhile, the kid can harm himself by playing with an electrical socket, accessing dangerous chemicals that will be present everywhere in the house, falling from the window, and more unimaginable ways of kids hurting themself. Various pieces of research have proven that kids get injured mainly in the home, and when you shift into a new house, the chances of them getting injured increase two folds.

So, when you move in, one of the first things you need to do is install cabinet and drawer locks, use plastic outlet covers, lock your windows, and round off the edges and corners of furniture so the kids don't get hurt.

15. Update Home Security

A home security system is an excellent investment for the safety of your new house. Don't be late in installing it. In fact, installing it when you have recently moved is the best time because you can properly set up the system and change angles to see which view is better. After the Covid 19 pandemic, there has been a considerable rise in the demand for home security systems. Homes without security systems have 3 times more chances of burglary, so not having a home security system is close to inviting thieves into your home.

Whether it is an alarm system, video surveillance, video doorbells, or various other sensors, home security systems not only help in protecting the house from burglars but also help keep track of kids in the house and look after the house even from a far distance.

16. Attend Home Repairs

Suppose you are aware of any minor repairs your house needs; get them done as soon as possible after you have moved in. Minor repairs or improvements can quickly be done when the house is empty. The devil is in the details, so it is thoughtful to do home repairs because it will improve the overall functionality of your new home.

17. Keep an Inventory

Maintain an inventory of your items, especially the valuable ones, as it is vital for insurance purposes. God forbid if any unforeseen event occurs, then the inventory you created will help get you compensation from the insurance companies. More than 200 million insurance claims are rejected daily, so you must be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

18. Settle Financial Matters

Review your finances and clear any payments left by the movers or any other service you used in the relocation process. Create a new budget according to your requirements and expenses in the new house. Usually, after moving, the expenses increase excessively because new costs are added to the budget for home maintenance.

19. Host a Housewarming Party

After all the struggle now that you have shifted to your new house, some celebrations need to be done to make the occasion more memorable. What's a better way to celebrate your new home than having a housewarming party? Invite all your close friends and family and have a blast of a night. The party will also work as a stress buster and provide relaxation to your body and mind after the hectic process of shifting.

20. Embrace the Adventure

A great mindset to have in the new house is to take it as an adventure ride in which you need to do some tasks, and after completing each task, you will be one step closer to your dream home. This mindset will excite you and make the whole settling process joyful. The moment you start enjoying the process, you will be able to achieve efficiency in your work.

Moving into a new house is an adventure full of excitement and challenges. Embrace the journey and enjoy the process of making your house a home.

21. Seek Professional Assistance

If you are confused about making decisions or need assistance settling, don't worry. It is normal. You can take help from packers and movers, as their expertise will be beneficial in making the process smoother and enjoyable. From room layout planning to home improvement projects, packers can help you with all the tasks in the settling process.

Shifting to a new house is a significant chapter in anyone's life. This is an achievement unlocked in life that will create many beautiful memories in the future. While most people know what to do during the shifting process, only a fraction of people know the steps one should take after moving into a new house. You can seamlessly transition to your new house by following the above steps. These steps not only make the settling-in process completely easy but also make the house your home. Congratulations on your new home, and may it be a place of happiness, love, and cherished moments.