So you have gone through the long process of searching and finding a new house, have dealt with your real-estate agent, mortgage broker, lawyers, and have finally settled on your contract and are given the keys to your dream home.
Buying a new house is certainly time consuming, stressful and tiring. Anyone who has been through the process can tell you how eager they were to move into their new home the moment they took possession of the keys. However, there are some things you should really attend to prior to moving all your belongings into your new home.
Book your removalist and connect your utilities
Internet providers are often booked weeks in advance so it might take them a while to get around to connecting your new home. Do your research and book well in advance so you don’t have to move into an internet-free home. Make sure your electricity is also connected before you move in. Now is also the time to book your removalist.
Change the locks
One of the first and perhaps most important things to do once it’s yours is to change the lock on all entry points into the house. This includes, doors, windows and even garage and basement entrances. You never know how many keys past occupants of the house may have had or who they may have given keys to in the past.
Pest control
The second thing on the to-do list should be to call the pest controller and have the house checked over once again. Even though, in most cases, the sales process includes a termite and pest inspection of the house, it is worth getting the exterminators in again to give the house and its’ grounds a complete inspection, check for bugs, plug any possible rodent holes and spray the areas at risk of potential infestation.
Give yourself enough time to unpack
One of the most important things to consider when moving house can also be one of the more frustrating. Unpacking boxes takes time and man power which means all hands on deck. During the packing stage, it’s important to label boxes as clearly as possible so you know which boxes need to be unpacked first. Then there’s the packaging and rubbish to deal with. If it’s too much work to add into your busy schedule, hire professionals to take care of it for you. At Grace, we unpack what you need and dispose of the debris for you.
Moving the dependants
Pets and children require a little more care when it comes to moving. Be sure to make them as comfortable as possible while they adjust to their new surroundings. Children will often have a very different reaction to moving house, especially if they’ve grown attached to their own room. Bring along their favourite toys and let them settle into their new room by giving them some authority over the layout and design.
Bring your pet’s favourite blankets, bed and toys and dedicate a specific space for them to retreat to when they need to. Allow them to sniff and familiarise themselves with their new home and understand that it might take them a while to get used to.
Downsizing and decluttering
Getting rid of your things might not seem like an important step in the moving process but you’ll be surprised how many items become unwanted once you start sorting through everything. If you didn’t have the chance to sort through things during the packing stage, or if you’ve discovered certain items that no longer work in your new space, consider getting rid of them. You could hold a garage sale and sell them or donate them to charity.
Clean up
The third item on the list is perhaps the least enjoyable, but one that Grace can help you with organising, so you don’t have to do all the hard work. There is nothing better than moving into a freshly cleaned house. Give the house another look and clean what the previous owners may have overlooked like the windows, walls and carpets.
The new neighbourhood
Once you’ve set up the new home, it’s important to start exploring the new neighbourhood. Familiarise yourself with the local shopping centres, medical centres, schools, public transport and hospital. The more comfortable you are with your new neighbourhood, the easier it will be to settle into your new home.
Design your space
The final thing you should do prior to bringing in all of your belongings in is to design your space. This involves measuring your available space and making a plan for where you would like everything to go. This will make your move a lot quicker and easier as you can inform your professional movers to place all the heavy furniture in their pre-determined positions and save you a lot of back breaking work to move things around later.
When it comes to moving to your new home, consider the help of the professionals. A Grace relocation expert can make your move less stressful.
