First day in your new home

While on the way to your new residence you are probably picturing what your new life will look like after the move and you can’t wait to finally put down roots, settle into your new place and make it feel like home. You’ve managed to pack your earthly possessions and moving boxes into a moving truck – well done! But, your troubles won’t end after you unload the moving truck, you still have a long way to go before you settle into your new home and arrange it to your taste. When on the road to your new home, you are likely to experience a lot of mixed emotions like joy, excitement, fear of the unknown, anxiety,…  But no matter how excited about the move you are, the first couple of days in the new home may be critical, so make sure to include the following suggestions into your planning.

Guidelines for organizing your new home

You have successfully handled all the moving stress and frustrations, but a great deal of tasks is still awaiting for your attention. When organizing a move, people are usually focused on how to pack up the entire household and transport moving boxes as smoothly as possible. While you are fully dedicated to the activities prior to the move-in day, you may not have enough time to plan for the first day in your new home.

At some point you find yourself in the middle of unloaded moving boxes, each of them made the way into your new home, you are tipping your movers who are about to leave and suddenly you have no idea where to start and what to do first.

An easy-to-follow post-move checklist would come in handy at this point, but in case you haven’t created one, just stay with us and find out how to stay organized on the first day in your new home.

– First unpack your survival kit and make sure your family’s essentials are always close at hand.

– Put the boxes exactly where they belong. An efficient labeling strategy and a floor plan will help you stay organized while unloading the moving truck and your movers will know where each of them is supposed to go.

– Check the inventory list before your movers NYC leave so as to discuss about the items that have been damaged or lost during the move and also about possible reimbursement. Make sure all appliances are working properly and no damage has been made to your possessions.

– If you happen to arrive late at night, do not hesitate to make your bed and leave all the unpacking for the next day.

– Secure your home by changing the locks as soon as you can. Make your family’s safety your top priority after you move to a new home. Also, put up windows treatments as soon as possible so as to prevent potential privacy and safety issues.

– Do some basic cleaning. A deep house cleaning requires more time and energy, so the best would be to leave it for another day.

– Introduce yourself to your neighbors and ask for some restaurant recommendations. Instead of getting to work immediately after you step into your new home you may want to go out for a walk and try out some local meals. Also, the sooner you get to know your new neighborhood, the more comfortable you will feel in it. You can’t just sit at home waiting for people to come by to say hello and welcome you.

– Get rid of the packing material and empty moving boxes. Try to keep your new home clutter-free at least at the beginning. After all, moving to a new home is a clean slate for you, so try to keep your space clean and uncluttered.

– Take some time for yourself to relax and walk your dog so as to get to know the new surroundings as soon as possible. The adjustment period can be really challenging both for you and your pet, so try to stick to already established routine. Do not neglect yourself throughout the moving process, take care of your needs and try not to waste your energy on useless or unnecessary things.

How to settle into your new home

A household move has put you through a lot of challenges and difficult situations, so make sure you take some time away from work. Settling into your new home takes time and while you are away from work you may focus on arranging your new home and adapting on new life circumstances.

First of all, you need to feel safe and comfortable in your new environment before you get settled in your new place.

– Take your time to think about the activities you were enjoying most in your previous home. Try to recreate some past events and circumstances and to stick to your routine as much as possible. If you were spending a lot of time in different restaurants and bars, feel free to explore your new neighborhood and find those places that may seen appealing to you. And remember, all the effort you put into settling into your new environment will eventually pay off.

– Allow yourself enough time to grieve, but also make sure to let go of negative feelings and open up to the new possibilities and amazing things that are about to happen.

– Personalize your new place. Customizing and personalizing a space is a real advantage of homeownership. Putting your personal stamp on your new lovely home will significantly speed up the process of adaptation. The sooner you personalize your place according to your needs and preferences, the more comfortable you will feel in it. Recreating a soothing and familiar environment at your new home will put your mind at ease after a tough and challenging relocation experience. There are various cost-effective projects you may want to undertake in order to personalize your living space and make it feel more like home:

• add colors
• hang personal photos
• put fresh flowers
• add decorations
• add windows treatments

– Make new acquaintances and meet people with similar interests and hobbies. Don’t be shy, join local groups and organizations where you can meet people you have a lot in common with and have some fun.

– Plan a get-together as soon as you complete the unpacking project and arrange your new home. Everyone’s looking forward to a housewarming party after a daunting moving experience. An informal get-together is a great opportunity to gather new neighbors, co-workers as well as old friends and relatives. Furthermore, after all the hustle and bustle, you could use a pleasant distraction with your loved ones. Relocations are often emotionally and physically overwhelming for everyone involved, so it’s time for you to take a break, have some fun and celebrate the new beginning.

How to help your kids adapt to the new home

How to make the entire moving process easier on kids is probably one of the biggest concerns when preparing for a household move. While tackling your post-move tasks and organizing your new household, you should bare in mind that your children are going through a challenging process, too. Most children are afraid of the unfamiliar and they need your help and support to process all those overwhelming feelings related to a household move.

– Reassure your children that some things will remain the same. Sticking to the familiar routine will give them a sense of security, so try to maintain consistent eat-play-sleep routine.

– Let your children participate in the decision-making processes. By giving them an appropriate assignment they will feel included and get acquainted with the new surroundings. Let them organize their toys, books or decide on a paint color for their bedroom.

– Talk to your children a lot, especially if you notice that they are reacting differently than you have expected.

– Set up the children’s room first so as to establish a safe and familiar space as soon as you move into a new home.

– Be patient. Allow your children enough time to adjust. It’s natural that your children are affected by the move in so many different ways since they are coping with the most important change in their lives.

– Help your children stay in touch with the old friends and enhance their social skills in the new community. Making new friends is a gradual process that depends on your children’s personality and mind set. Just make sure to be supportive and considerate throughout the adaptation process and help them connect with other children and navigate their way through.

– Help your children settle into the new school – it may be the most difficult part of the move. If possible, visit the school before the new school year starts – chances are that your child will meet some of the future classmates.

– Organize some fun activities so as to relieve the moving stress and to put their mind at ease. Give your children enough time to feel comfortable in the new environment.

– Research local clubs and activities you children may be interested in and encourage their social involvement.

VIDEO: