After months of planning and preparation, you’ve safely arrived at your new home and can’t wait to start the beginning of this new and exciting chapter in your life. Not every day you get to move into your first home, and you’re sure to be full of emotions. Moving house can be one of life’s most stressful situations; if you’re doing this for the first time, you might feel a little overwhelmed.
Once the last box has been unloaded from the moving van, you might think that this is where your move ends. But it’s too early to start popping the champagne just now. There is still a lot of work to be done involved with the move, with many tasks needing to be sorted immediately. There will be time to celebrate later, but it’s time to roll up your sleeves and focus on what you need to do after the move.
Inspect The Delivered Boxes
Ideally, you have pre-labelled your boxes and have an inventory list of what you have packed and how many boxes you have packed. Be sure to check each moving box as it is carried inside your first home and inspect for signs of damage or breakages. Allow the moving team to take them into the allocated rooms if it is labelled on the box.
If you notice a box missing, you should tell the moving crew immediately and check together to see if it has been left in the van by mistake. You should supervise the moving of boxes, and remember, these boxes contain all of your belongings for your first home.
With big pieces of furniture and expensive or delicate pieces, such as contemporary furniture, which is easily dirtied or damaged. Either transport these yourself or provide the removal company with clean dust covers to protect them as much as possible. Every home removal company has to have protective blankets for furniture in their vans. Before moving anything from the van, check for breakages once the furniture is in your home.
Use Your “Essentials” Box
First things first, you should get your “essentials” box, which you packed pre-move. This should contain the essentials that you will need for your first night in your new home, such as bedding, kettle, tea bags, coffee, and milk. You should also pack some cutlery and snacks such as biscuits, toilet rolls, and some basic cleaning supplies. Offer your removal team a refreshing drink and biscuits to thank them. Especially if they are helping you move the bigger items, such as beds and sofas, around your home.
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Get Your Utilities Up and Running
You should have arranged for your utilities to have been connected to your new house before you moved, but if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to. The first utility companies you should call are the water and power providers, as things will run much smoother once you have gas, electricity and running water in your home. Respectively, it should have informed the utility providers at your old address that you’re moving out.
Once you have taken care of the fundamental utilities, you should consider making arrangements for getting internet and phone connections. Connect your larger appliances you can, such as your fridge and freezer, as these are particularly fragile when it comes to moving. Check that everything is working as it should and report any issues to the moving company as soon as possible.
Keep Pets Comfortable
If you are moving with pets, then it can be quite a frightening experience for them. Even if they’re not scared, having them potentially get in the way of the removal team can be dangerous. Bring blankets, beds, food dishes, toys and treats with you and keep your pet in a separate room away from the hustle and bustle.
Be sure to check on them regularly and give them attention to feel safe and comfortable. Cats can be especially tricky to handle during a move, as they are either unhappy in their carrier or want to get away from it all. So be sure that the room is secure so that any chance of them escaping through open doors or windows is minimal.
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Continue Unpacking
Once the removal team has left, it’s time to continue unpacking. Moving is a huge deal and takes a lot out of you emotionally and physically. You might want to wait until the next day but not get fully stuck in everything. Maybe try and use the old Feng Shui methods when arranging your furniture. Until then, get your bed sorted so that you can crash when you want to, order the obligatory takeaway to celebrate the first night in your new home and crack open the bubbly - you’ve earned it!
