Moving is an exciting transition that can open up a world of new opportunities and experiences.
Everyone talks about how to prepare for your relocation, but when it’s all said and done and the boxes have been unloaded from the moving truck, what comes next? Although you’ve successfully made it to your destination, you still feel like there’s some work left to be done. And truthfully, there is!
The next part of your journey requires settling in, the process that truly transforms a house into a home. If you’re feeling unsure about how to settle in, no worries – we’ll guide you through the process!
How Do I Settle in After Moving?
Now that the dust has settled and you’ve arrived at your new location, it’s time to take a few steps to help yourself get acclimated to a new home.
Be patient with yourself, as this process can take some time. However, our 10 simple steps can make the task a lot easier. Keep reading to learn more.
- Clean Your Home First
First, one of the most important steps you can take to get settled into your new home is to clean.
If you’re able to get in there and clean before moving day, that’s ideal, but if not, don’t worry. Cleaning once you’re moved in can work just as well. Tidying up your home before anything else is an excellent way to feel like you have a clean slate, and this feeling of having a “reset” can be extremely freeing.
Take the extra time to clean your home, focusing on areas that can accumulate the most dirt and grime — think kitchen and bathroom. Having a sparkly clean home can make a huge difference mentally!
- Get Your Kitchen Ready for Cooking
Next up on your list should be to prepare your kitchen for cooking and dining.
No matter how much you actually cook, it doesn’t matter. Your kitchen is full of the essentials that you need on a daily basis, even if the only food you “cook” is a big bowl of cereal. Unpack all of your utensils and kitchenware, and set things up so you can conveniently cook and eat in your new kitchen. This may also mean taking a trip to the local grocery store so you can stock up on your everyday essentials.
Making sure your kitchen is ready to go and has at least the basics set up is a great way to settle into your new location.
- Arrange Your Furniture
Even if you still have some furniture you need to get, it’s important to arrange your existing furniture. Not sure exactly where everything will go? No problem — just give everything a place for now, and you can always rearrange later.
Putting your furniture pieces in the rooms they belong in will be helpful in allowing you to feel like your home is coming together, even when you still need to work out the details.
- Update Address with Necessary Parties
If you haven’t already updated your address with all the necessary parties ahead of your relocation, now is the time to take care of it.
The postal service, your bank, the IRS, schools, employers, subscription services, and any other needed parties should be alerted of your new address as soon as possible.
This ensures that you don’t miss any important correspondence from these companies and organizations.
- Help Your Kids and Pets Feel at Home
A great way to make yourself feel more settled is to help your children and your fur babies feel settled! For both, you should get their spaces set up as soon as possible so they have an area in the home as their own, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the new place.
With your children, you can have them lend a hand setting up their room so they can truly feel like it’s tailored to them. With pets, have them adjust to one room first, and don’t wash their favorite bedding or toys until they’ve settled into the place.
- Make Your New Routine
A huge part of acclimating yourself to a new home is forming your new routine. It’s important to get back into a routine that still feels familiar and comfortable to you, but also suits your new home — a revamped version of your usual daily regimen.
Getting into this groove will allow you to adjust to the new space more quickly and start getting back to your new and improved normal.
- Store Your Important Belongings
Important documents should be stored safely in your home, so this task should take priority so you have a designated area for these items.
Choose a space, such as a specific closet or cabinet, that can safely contain your important documents. Keep these items organized in their chosen space so you can easily find what you’re looking for when you need it.
- Make a List of What You Need to Buy
As you get adjusted to your new home, you will quickly realize that there are plenty of different items you need to acquire to truly set up your home to your liking.
Some things will need to wait, while other things will need to be taken care of right away, but either way, keeping a running list of these items will keep you organized and prevent anything from being forgotten.
Start making a list as soon as you’re in the new place, and keep adding to it as you think of more items you want or need to obtain. Then, you can sort through the list and figure out which things will take priority.
- Decorate Your New Space
Decorating your new home is one of the most exciting parts of the entire moving process. Your house really becomes a home as you fill it with all the things you love, making the space your own.
Amid all of the more technical aspects of relocating, decorating allows you to use your creative side and decide what you want your space to look like.
Customizing your home to your own tastes is an important step in feeling acclimated to your new space.
- Get a Feel for the Neighborhood
Last but certainly not least, settle into your new home by getting to know your new neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with your immediate area, and start meeting your neighbors.
Figure out where you’ll grocery shop, what pharmacy you’ll use, and where your nearest bank is. These elements will help you settle back into your routines and start feeling like your new neighborhood can be called home.
Feel at Home in Your New Home!
By following these steps, you can start to feel settled in your new place and confidently call it home.
Looking for a moving company to help you get to your new home? Count on Austin Moving & Storage for all your Long Island moving needs!
Austin has provided three generations of high-quality moving and storage solutions, and we commit ourselves to offering the very best to our customers. Request a free quote online today!