SETTLING IN AFTER THE MOVE

Getting settled into your home can be a lot of work and exciting at the same time.  Getting your priorities straight and settling down into your new living quarters should be done with a little less stress by having these helpful tips to follow; while making sure all your bases are covered.

FAMILY:

It may take some time for your family to get used to their new living quarters,  especially children.  Be supportive and work together to help everyone adjust.  Treat yourself to a treat, or pamper yourself to ease your stress of moving in.

PETS:

Although they are not human, pets can be impacted with the move and have a hard time adjusting also.  You may want to start with keeping animals such as dogs, cats, etc in small areas, and keep them confined for a short period of time, until they can get acclimated, slowly breaking them in and to avoid them running away.

GRATITUDE:

Now that you have moved in, make sure to say thank you to everyone who helped you.  Whether you’re doing your movers review (calling the company afterwards) or typing a thank you letter, both are greatly appreciated.  Don’t forget your friends or family who helped you pack or move (pizza, a small gift, beer, etc) is always appreciated and shows your gratitude towards them.

UNPACKING AND DECORATING:

Don’t feel like you have to rush to unpack and get everything put away.  Start with your essentials first.  Also get your family involved with the process of unpacking, decorating, and getting acclimated to their own space.

ELECTRONICS:

Allow at least 24 hours after your move for all of your electronics, appliances, etc to adjust to room temperature.

RENTERS:

For places that are being rented or leased, get to know your building management or landlord.  It is a good idea to do a walk through noting any damages, that way you are not responsible when the lease is up, or the problem can be addressed during your stay.

NEIGHBORS:

Get to know your neighbors.  Introduce yourself and know who you are living next to and your surroundings in case of emergencies, or if you are new to the area.

NEIGHBORHOOD AWARENESS:

Get information from the Chamber of Commerce on schools, communities, activities, etc.  Get familiar.  Figure out where shopping, hospitals, gas stations, police stations, fire department and post offices are.  Participate in organizations or clubs if you are looking to interact a little more in the community.

UTILITIES AND PERSONAL FINANCE:

Make sure everything is hooked up and turned on.   Make sure you have your banks switched over, cleaners, pharmacists, vets, newspapers, internet, etc.  Get new library cards for your new town.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS:

Change your address, legal documents, banking, etc.  Get a new drivers license,  if necessary.  Figure out what forms are need if you have relocated to a new city.  Keep all personal documents in one area.

REGISTER:

Register to vote in your new city.  Register your vehicle, if necessary and Register your kids in school.

MEDICAL:

Provide new doctors, dentists, therapists, etc. with medical history.  Make sure all scripts are transferred to your new pharmacy.  Have medical files from previous health care providers in case you move to a different location and need to provide them to new physicians, etc.

SCHOOLS:

Learn your children’s school schedule.  Learn what time buses come and where bus stops are.  It’s a good idea to learn the bus route in case of emergencies.

GARBAGE/TRASH DAY:

Figure out when your trash day is.  You can find this information out by checking with the sanitation department.  Some cities will require stickers or fees that are billed to you.  Recycle bins may also be used.

RECYCLE BOXES:

Once you are finished unpacking, instead of throwing out your boxes, check with the movers that moved you in, or friends and relatives, someone may be in need of your moving boxes.

Now that you have all these areas tackled, you will be able to enjoy your new home stress free.