Welcome home! If you moved with OneRelo Worldwide, you should have a sense of relief after crossing the threshold. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that more than 4.5 million people move across state lines annually -that’s more than the total population of Kentucky- and 40% of those households complain of loss or damage to property. OneRelo Worldwide movers are safe, careful, and efficient.
Some people may experience some disorientation when moving to a new city. Our advice is to give your new surroundings some time. You will acclimate to your new environment soon. Something to help kick-start the settling in is to organize your post-move, just as you did your pre-move. This checklist will give you a good idea of what to do after everything has been moved in. A good checklist and some focus will eliminate any stress or overwhelming feelings.
1. Make a Post-Move List – Work Smarter, Not Harder!
First, you’ll need to check off some housekeeping tasks. This list includes but is not limited to locating the closest urgent care/appropriate health care providers, finding your closest groery stores, and visiting your local DMV website for information on getting a new Driver’s License and/or registering your car.
2. Box Mountain time
If you follow our Moving Checklist blog, then your boxes should be labeled already, either by room name or corresponding numbers. Make sure to choose a system that works best for you and your movers. Unlike packing up to leave your home, unpacking is usually done at a comfortable pace because you don’t have an approaching deadline to hit.
The boxes marked as essentials should be opened first. Then you can move on to boxes for Bedroom and Bathroom, as those are the two rooms usually a priority across the board. One thing that is nice to look forward to after a long day of unpacking is a warm shower and a rest in your bed so it’s best to start there.
3. Understand your new home
Best case scenario is that any pre-existing damage was identified during an inspection. In the event this is the first time you are seeing your new home unfurnished, now is the time to go around with a camera and notepad to inventory anything you, as the homeowner, should be aware of. If you are a renter then you will want to notify your landlord ASAP to avoid any unforeseen fees. Be sure to inspect all pipes for leaks and keep your eyes open for any unpleasant signs of infestation. Also, in case of emergencies you’ll want to locate your new fuse box and the main water stop valve. If child-proofing is necessary for you, now would be a good time to count your electrical outlets that need to be covered and cabinets that need to be kept secured so that little hands are not able to open them . Double check that your new home is adequately protected against unauthorized access by making sure all doors and windows are as safe as they can be. While you have your ladder and tools out it might be the best time to put fresh batteries in all smoke detectors. Should you have fire-extinguishers on each floor? We are sure that by asking yourself these questions more will come to mind, apply what you need, and don’t worry about the rest.
4. Change your postal address
One thing you want to do as soon as possible is the task of changing your address. Thankfully, your options are simple: 1) Visit your local post office in-person and fill out a change of address form, or 2) Visit the USPS website and do the exact same thing electronically. If you do not do this you will continue to receive your mail at your old address and potentially lose important documents being sent to you.
5. Help your pets acclimate
You were aware of the moving process every step of the way; however, our furry friends have no idea what is going on. You will definitely want to check on your four-legged pals to be sure they are feeling okay after the change of scenery and comfort zone. Moving into a home that has been professionally cleaned is ideal as they’ll be more at ease if they don’t smell any lingering pets in their territory. You’ll want to locate your new vet or the closest animal emergency room. Also, play time should be at an all time high! You need to play with them more frequently and, if possible, avoid leaving them alone for prolonged periods of time, at least in the beginning. If you notice a change in behavior or stool, you’ll want to visit that vet.
6. Finally, join the neighborhood!
Getting back into your routine is the best way to really inundate yourself with your new community. Your essential places in town will be supermarkets, banks, salons, gym, dog parks, banks, drugstores, and gas stations. As soon as you get familiar with them, the more comfortable you will feel living and working in your new town. Good luck!
