We bought a house and moved into our new home so….here is the tea!
First things first—moving into a new home is an exciting and significant milestone in anyone’s life. It marks the beginning of a new chapter and offers countless opportunities to create a space that truly feels like your own.
Our new home has brought us together and sprung up new opportunities for fun arguments on where the furniture should go!!! LOL. Who knew we felt so strongly about this?
It can be and has been also a trying and overwhelming time. So many tasks and decisions to make, together-some feel urgent! You really get to know each other’s peculiarities and preferences. To help you navigate this transition smoothly, we’ve put together our guide on what to do when you move into your new home. We hope you find our mini-guide useful.
This guide also has some useful tips for:
*Renters
*Future buyers
*New home owners
1. Deep Clean and sort out bins: Before moving your belongings in, it’s a good idea to give your new home a thorough cleaning. We were lucky to get the keys a day before our furniture came in but unlucky to be living so far away from our new home. So, we ended up deep cleaning as the furniture was being moved in, which was a bit stressful. But still worked out. It took longer than anticipated. However, this is the perfect time to get into every nook and cranny and start with a fresh slate. This tip goes hand in hand with sorting out bins! Know the regime for your local bin services. When you first move in you will likely have more trash than usual, therefore, it is essential to know how much rubbish you can get rid of using the local services. In addition, how regularly do the bin and recycling services operate in your area. And where is the nearest skip!
2. Change the Locks: If you are moving into a new build or renting then, this doesn’t apply. This is one that Dale felt very strongly about. Chris was a bit relaxed about this but the reasoning here is: your new home might have had multiple previous owners. Therefore, it’s crucial to change the locks on all exterior doors. This ensures the security of your new space and provides peace of mind. So, that was not up for discussion because Dale felt very strongly about it and it makes sense. #compromise
3. Bills, Bills, Bills: Another unsexy and uncool task is to ensure that all your utility services are set up and transferred to your name/names. This includes water, electricity, gas, internet etc. Which leads onto the next point, which is to, make sure they are all functioning correctly. We moved into our home in the summer and completely forgot to check the heating situation. When it got cold one night, we were all over the house looking for it. We never found it and decided to go to bed early because we were so cold! The next day we got a local electrician to help us out. Lesson learned. Finally, don’t forget to account for council taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses.
4. Change of address on mail: This is related to the point above. In the UK often you have your home address connected to important documents such as bank accounts. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you change the address with the relevant institution to avoid mix-ups. Another option is to set up “forwarding mail” with Royal Mail, which costs very little for a whole year. Therefore, all the mail which would be going to your old address will automatically be diverted to your new address.
5. Inspect for Repairs: Take a close look at the house and note any necessary repairs or maintenance. We have an ongoing list which keeps getting added to every month. The best advice we got is “do not change anything until you have lived in your place for some time”. This feels more true every month we spend here. Address glaring issues as soon as possible but leave some less important ones such as painting or knocking down walls until you start living in the place and have a good feel for what works and does not work for you. This insight can only come from living in your space. We have noticed the floorboards which currently are not causing us problems but will need to be fixed eventually.
6. Plan Your Layout: In line with the point above, decide on the layout of your furniture and belongings. Measure the rooms and sketch out a floor plan to help you visualize the best arrangement. Although, at times this can change over time. And probably will change, so it is always a good idea to not be too precise. You will have time to change it all and possibly get new furniture which fits your theme and style.
7. Unpack Methodically: When unpacking, focus on essentials first. This was the most organised part of our move because we only had a weekend to do this. We made sure we prioritised the items that would help us carry on as usual on Monday with minimal disruption. Start with the bedroom and kitchen items, then work your way through the rest of the house. We were unpacked within a week because we have a plan and stuck to it.
8. Personalize Your Space: The previous owners had left holes and nails around the house, where their old pictures hung. While we are still organising our space we decided to use the same holes to hang up our pictures and ornaments to make the place feel like our home. While the pictures and ornaments are not in the precise location we want them to be, we are still happy to have our precious memories on the walls. This makes us feel much more comfortable and happy.
9. Meet the Neighbours: Take the time to introduce yourself to your new neighbours. We have shared quick “hello’s” and they have reciprocated by suggesting local tradespeople. We look forward to building on our relationship. Building a good relationship with those around you can make your transition into the neighbourhood smoother.
10. Safety First: Install or check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. Also, ensure your home is well-lit, both inside and out, for safety and security. We are still working on this but, in general all the safety features we wanted are actually part of the home, so it has been a blessing.
11. Landscaping and Outdoor Space: If you have a yard or garden, start planning your landscaping and outdoor projects. Maintaining your outdoor space can be a fulfilling part of homeownership. We moved in, in the middle of summer and Dale got very competitive with some of his friends over keeping the grass well-maintained. We are planning a few things but for now, it is fun to have a huge apple tree which has supplied us with a lot of cooking apples to enjoy. We are still debating on whether to keep it. But that is all part of the landscaping planning for next year.
12. Set a Budget or don’t: We tried to do this, but it didn’t work out. We have decided on working in order of priority and setting expected costs for each job. This has turned into reviewing and updating of our costs regularly. Look at local vendors on places such as Facebook marketplace for estimate prices for services. This is where your neighbours can also be of great help.
13. Storage Solutions: Consider your storage needs. Invest in organisation solutions to help keep your home clutter-free and organised. We are lucky to have a garage and storage box, so we use this to put a lot of our big seasonal items which would normally clutter the house in there.
14. Explore Your Community: Get to know your new neighbourhood. Go on walks or cycling trips. Get lost on Google maps. This can be the best way to get a feel for where you in terms of local stores, healthcare providers, schools, post offices and other essential services.
15. Home Maintenance Schedule: Create a maintenance schedule to help you stay on top of regular home upkeep tasks. This will prevent issues from becoming major problems down the road. For example, getting the boiler serviced. This is often a yearly task, so if you know if needs to be done. Pop it into your diary and then you do not have to think about it until it is time to get it done.
16. Celebrate Your New Beginning: Moving into a new home is a significant achievement. Take time to celebrate and mark the occasion with a housewarming party or a quiet moment of reflection on your new journey. As we share in this post, we had a joint engagement and housewarming. It was such a beautiful day to celebrate with friends and family. Equally, the lead-up to it was also incredibly fun which made us bond a lot more. We highly recommend a party whether you are moving in alone or with anyone else such as; a significant other.
Moving into a new home can be a rewarding experience, and with careful planning and attention to detail, you can ensure a smooth transition. Remember that making your new house a home is a gradual process, so take your time and enjoy the journey as you settle into your new space! Share some tips with us too. If there is anything we have overlooked, we would love to know what you think.