After a house move, you may feel some sense of relief. Finally, all of your items are moved from one home to the next; some may be placed into storage, and finally, now’s the time to settle into your new home and relax.
Unfortunately, there are still things to address after a house move, but the good thing is, the hard work is already done, so anything’s possible once we’ve dealt with that. By now, you may be feeling a tad exhausted, to say the least! So, to help you out, we have put this post together to help you out on what needs to be addressed post house move.
Check your items!
It’s important to do a little inspection post removal day. The removals truck may have left (or those family and friends who you may have bribed to chip in and help), but now it’s literally down to you to do the rest, so it’s a good idea to start by taking some time to do a little inspection on all of those boxes loaded with belongings.
Make sure that everything is in one piece, nothing is damaged and that nothing’s gone missing. If, for instance, you do find that something is not right, like a squashed box and damaged items, you are entitled to report this back to the removals company. After all, you have paid for a service, so be sure to take some photographic evidence and report the issue pronto.
Test the new home facilities…
There is nothing worse than moving into a new home to find that something is not working like the water is cut off or you cannot get the gas or electricity to work, so before it gets late, and whilst you may still have some available daylight it’s a good idea to check on those things first. The unpacking can wait until later! Check that you also have light bulbs and internet and phone cable connections in case of any important calls you need to make.
Look for damage…
You may have checked all of your items have been delivered in one piece by now, but it’s also important that you check the new home for any signs of damage too.
To start off have a look for any water damage, dripping taps, leaking pipes and inspect the walls because if there are any signs of damp or mould present this could be a sign of something more significant. Next, have a look for any smoke or fire damage which may have been covered up, it’s unlikely, but it has happened before. Look under kitchen counters and outhouses to see if there are any signs of pests present, depending on the age of the home and how long it may have been empty; it could be possible that pests have started invading, hopefully not but better to know now rather than later.
Smoke alarms and other detectors within the home must be in good working order, so make sure that you check if those work and, if necessary, replace batteries so that the home is safe. If you happen to find some areas of damage (which may not have been visible on first viewing) make sure you document this right away, take some photos and keep it logged, this is especially important if you are moving into a rental property and have paid a deposit because landlords can charge occupants for damage once they leave and you do not want to lose out on your deposit for something that was never your fault.
Time to clean…
Now that the important stuff is out of the way, you may want to grab your marigolds and start cleaning. No matter how clean a home may be, it never feels comfortable until it’s cleaned by yourself, with your own products and to your own standards. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get a little cleaning kit together, prior to the move, so that you don’t have to sift through all of your unpacked boxes just to find the things you need. Luckily the house is bare at present, so it’s actually the best time to do it plus the easiest time clean, so it shouldn’t take too long to get this done either. Whilst cleaning, be sure to check the heating and fireplaces to see if they have been maintained and serviced and that ducts and vents have been cleaned because these are serious fire hazards if not probably cared for. For peace of mind, you can always hire professionals to take care of this for you.
Unpacking time…
Although many dread having to do it, it’s a lot more fun than packing up to move, so try to embrace it and enjoy placing items into their rightful new home. To make life easier start by putting boxes into their correct rooms because there is nothing worse than having to keep going back and forth, and it’s also very time consuming too. Once boxes are in their correct rooms start unpacking by order of importance, some rooms, for instance, kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms, will need addressing first, whereas others can wait a little longer. Most people like to be able to function as they would normally, so being able to use the kitchen, grab a shower and get a good night’s rest is the key to this.
Pets and adjusting to a new environment…
It can be quite hard for pets, often scary, having to adjust to a new environment. They may be confused, anxious, and have no idea what is going on, so trying to maintain a sense of normality for them as soon as possible is important. Pet beds, bowls, and toys and anything else they are remotely familiar with will help them to settle sooner, so be sure to unpack and set up a place for pets so that they can relax. Pets may be anxious about all of the noise and the hustle and bustle so it may make them more lively and wanting to explore, if this is the case just go with it, if you have a garden allow them to venture out rather than keep them cooped up, they will quickly adjust.
Keep this list handy, good luck with the move and enjoy your new home and new beginnings!
