So you’ve found your dream home and the moving date is rapidly approaching. Moving your things, however, is just the start of the process. Once you’ve arrived, there’s still plenty to sort out in your new house. When there’s boxes all over the place and many things to arrange, it’s hard to know where to start. We have designed a checklist so you have everything under control while you set up your new home!
Before you unpack
Perhaps you’re eager to begin unzipping your suitcases, but there are a few things to think about before arranging the house. If you’re renting, take time to perform one last check for any faults or damages. If you come across anything of the like – whether it be marks on the walls or broken blinds – take a photo and make your landlord aware. This way any faults can be sorted out, but this also stops you from forfeiting your deposit unfairly.
Second, your new home should have already been cleaned by the landlord or previous owner. However, you might want to give your house a deep cleanse just to ensure that everything is spotless. After all, it’s better to start arranging your new home from a clean slate.
Finally, take a moment to consider how to use the space in your house. As Moving Services mentions, you have to think about factors such as maximising floor space and “high-traffic areas”. For example, don’t place any obstructions in an area that people will walk through to get to the kitchen. Once you have a plan, it’s time to begin emptying those boxes.
The unpacking stage
I moved house recently and admittedly I lacked the motivation to organise all my stuff again. Therefore, it could be useful to establish a nice environment that encourages you to get on with things. For instance, I opened the windows, put on some chilled music and divided up the boxes between my partner and I. Although it requires a lot of effort, go through every box and suitcase, reorganising as you go along.
The best method to unpacking in your new home is to go room by room. As Unpakt suggests, start with the bedroom as you’ll need to rest well after your first busy day. Then you can move on to unpacking your toiletries, setting up other furniture and sorting out the living room.
Figuring out what you need
As I emptied my suitcases and boxes bit by bit, it quickly emerged which items were still missing from making my new place a home sweet home. Make sure to create a personalised list as you unpack, noting down any appliances, furniture, or other items you would like to buy. If you’re setting up a house on a budget, head to Facebook first to see if you can get those items second hand. It’s also worth recording your ideas about redecorating your house should anything spring to mind during this process. For instance, if you want to spruce up your walls, then head to our post about upgrading them to give you some inspiration.
Utilities and other costs
If you’re renting then this step is likely to be more straightforward. For example, my landlord sorts out the utility bills and I pay my share each month. However, if you are responsible for the bills, research and compare prices from different electricity and gas providers. WiFi is another utility considered essential in today’s times. Often you can save your pennies by finding deals that include WiFi, a landline and TV all in one.
If your new house has a garden then you should also budget in this extra factor. Home Advisor has some good suggestions for setting up things in your outside spaces, such as investing in some basic gardening tools to keep your yard looking lush.
Last but certainly not least, security in your new house is of the utmost importance. Make sure your fire alarm is working and look into burglar alarms too.
