Welcome home!
We know you’re excited about moving into your new home and settling into your space. That’s why we’ve compiled an essential must-do list for things you should do once you’ve finished your move.
#1: Unpack
This seems like a no-brainer, but remember you will need to unpack. It can be hard to do, so organize your unpacking time to make sure you don’t miss any boxes and you’re not tripping over boxes you swear to unpack that take you months and months. Make a plan to open every box and put away all of the items as you come across them. Maybe even set aside the first week to do it!
#2: Take a tour of your new home
You may think you know everything about your new home you need to know from the showings, but you can miss a lot of things in the excitement of home buying. Take a walk around your home, inside and out, and get used to the layout, as well as the specifics. While you’re doing this, you can make sure your windows and doors are secure, nothing is damaged or rotting, and that fences and barriers are not interrupted. You may want to also check all floors have adequate smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and that they work.
#3: Take a tour of your neighborhood
If you’re not familiar with the neighborhood you’re going to be part of, take a tour of it. Check out Google Maps to see what’s closest to you, and what are popular spots for your neighborhood. You may also want to get used to where grocery stores, convenience stores, hospitals, the fire department, and the police department are (plus the closest Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks!) just in case.
#4: Mentally note where you can get health care
In case you or a loved one needs help after you’ve moved to your new home, physically or mentally, you should take note of where you can get assistance with each. Make a plan to potentially move your primary care doctor closer, and consider mental health facilities, recovery centers, and other well-being areas that you may need to utilize in the future.
You will also want to consider, if you have a pet, where those pets can find health care as well. Take note of emergency vets, just in case Fido eats something he shouldn’t.
#5: Say hello to your new neighbors
If you’re feeling up to it, can you knock on your neighbor’s doors to say hello. You don’t need to do that, though. You can leave a card in their mailbox, or even just wait until they are outside next and start with a friendly wave. Remember that your neighbors may be present when you aren’t, so having them alert you when something is amiss is a benefit of being friendly with them. Plus, who else can you ask to borrow a cup of sugar from after you move?
We hope this helps you get a bit more settled into your new home! Let us know in the comments if we missed anything.
