Moving into a new home can be a daunting task as you try and figure out where to begin with the seemingly endless tasks. While a new home can be an exciting and welcome change, it doesn’t come without a bit of stress. We at Shea Homes® try and remedy a bit of that and give you some guidance on some of the small things you can do when you first move into your new home, so you can enjoy the new space as soon as possible.
Child/Pet Proof – When you’re moving into a new home, one of the first things you’ll want to do is make sure that it is ready for any children in your family, and that includes those with four legs. While you’ll want to childproof the common things like doors and cabinets, your first focus should be to create a space for the kids to hang out while things are being brought into the house. This is also a good time to make sure there aren’t any long hanging cords coming off the blinds, and other small tweaks that will be easier to make before furniture is in.
Lay it Out – You may have already done this the first time you walked into the home, even before buying, but it’s good to mentally lay out where you want your furniture in each room. If you hired movers, they’ll be moving quickly, and you will want to know exactly where you want those heavy items so that you aren’t working on them later.
Clean off the Truck – As you’re moving into your new Shea Home, you’ll have a clean space for all of your items, but those might be dirty coming off the moving truck, so get ahead of the game by cleaning them early. You don’t want a dirty dining table to put a damper on your first meal cooked in your beautiful new Shea kitchen. If you can, try to prioritize just cleaning bigger furniture items as they are placed in your home. Then, as you start to organize your items, clean those too so that one big task is chopped up over time.
Change Your Address – Amidst the chaos of buying a new home and moving, you might forget one of the basic steps, changing your mailing address. You can fill out a change of address form online with USPS which will cover any of the mail that still ends up directed towards your former address. You’ll want to update your address with your bank, subscription services and anyone else who is routinely sending you correspondence or bills. If you have moved states, you’ll also want to get a new license and vehicle registration.
Meet Your Neighbors – In the age of social media and smartphones, too often do people move into a new home and never meet the people they live next to. After you’ve gotten settled, make an effort to meet your neighbors and develop relationships that could come in handy down the road. It might feel old fashioned at this point but bringing over a baked good can go a long way toward a neighborly relationship. Establishing a connection means that you’ll have someone you can trust nearby your home, whether you stash an extra key with them or just need some extra sugar for your cookies, you won’t regret it.
What other move-in tips do you have to help make moving a smooth transition?