The first few weeks upon arriving in your new home can be very stressful, especially with so many things to do other than unpacking boxes in every room. Because of this, you may start feeling lost on where to start and end up being overwhelmed and unable to finish anything.
If you're having trouble about where to start, you may use the list
- Inspect your belongings for any damage
When moving your belongings from one location to another, whether you're doing a DIY move or hiring a Townsville removalist, there is no guarantee that there won't be any damages to your belongings. For this reason, it is important to always check your boxes, appliances and furniture upon arriving at your new residence.
If you have insurance for your move, they may be able to provide some assistance in covering the cost of fixing/repairing damaged goods.
- Check if utilities are running
Your first day/night in your new home will not be comfortable if your utilities, such as electricity and water are not working properly. A few days before the scheduled move, reach out to your service providers to make sure that all utilities are properly connected.
Aside from making sure that the utilities for your new home are connected, you also need to contact the service providers for your old home to disconnect utilities once you leave the place. This way, you won't have to pay for the services that you are no longer using.
- Create a to-do list
As mentioned above, it's easy to forget some of the things you need to accomplish while thinking about the other aspects of the move. Hence, creating a to-do list for the first few days upon arrival can help you navigate through the things you need to accomplish throughout the day.
You create the list anytime, but it will be better to do this when your mind is clear and you are most aware of which tasks to prioritise when you arrive. Whether you're only unpacking a few boxes for the first few weeks to make it easier to manage whilst you work, your to-do list will be useful in making sure that you won't forget anything from the most important tasks to the smallest details concerning your move.
- Change locks and doorknobs
One of the few things that can help you settle down in your new home is the feeling of safety and security. Not only will it help you adjust to your new home, but it may also bring a familiar feeling of warmth and comfort that will make you feel at home. For this reason, making sure that your home is a safe place is crucial.
Upon arriving in your new home, or even before your scheduled moving day, it's recommended that you change all locks and doorknobs as soon as possible. This way, you can ensure that only you and the people you trust will have access to your new home.
- Connect essential appliances
Once your appliances and furniture arrive in your new residence, prioritise connecting essential appliances to check if they are working properly. Whether you've moved the appliances from your old home or using existing ones in your new residence, it is important to check if they are functioning properly.
If you're experiencing any issues, contact a service provider or your landlord/lady to address the problems as soon as possible. Report any damages or have them repaired immediately to avoid doing further damage to your appliances.
- Unpack and organise your belongings
When unpacking your belongings, it's a no brainer that you start unpacking the essentials. Once that has been sorted, you may start unpacking and organising your belongings one room at a time. Whilst others may be more productive by unpacking and organising items in different areas of your home, doing one room at a time will help prevent having open boxes lying around the house.
- Clean the space and recycle packing materials
Cleaning the entire space before and after things has been organised may be helpful in giving your new residence a more homely feel. Even if you have already cleaned before organising different areas, cleaning the whole house, especially narrow areas and spaces beneath pieces of furniture can help you make sure that all your belongings have been accounted for and no important items have rolled under or have fallen in between gaps.
If you used new packing materials, you may either recycle these or have them picked up by your Townsville removalist for proper disposal/recycling. Some materials may be recycled as containers for light items. You may also set them aside and use them the next time you move.