Congrats! You’re all moved in! You’ve likely checked off almost everything on your moving checklist, and ready for some R&R, but you’re not quite done yet. Now is the time to start making your new place yours. Unpack, decorate, and have fun personalizing your new home, and there are a few loose ends you may need to tie up post-move.
- Forward your mail.
If you haven’t already, you definitely want to make sure your mail is forwarded from your old address to your new address. This can easily be done on usps.com - Get your utilities set up.
You’ll want to make sure the utilities at your old location are disconnected from your name to avoid any unwanted bills. Additionally, you will need to make sure all the utilities at your new location are turned on and in your name. - Go grocery shopping.
Get that refrigerator and pantry stocked. The sooner you do, the less likely you will be to spend more by regularly dining out. You’ll also be more likely to eat healthier this way. - Unpack the essentials.
Set up your beds and the bathrooms. Make sure you know where to find your sheets, pillowcases, and bathroom essentials. These are just a few of the items you really don’t want to be without. - Make sure your address is visible from the street.
It’s important to be sure your address is visible from the street. Whether that’s on the mailbox, the curb, by the front door, or all of the above is up to you. Having the address visible will ensure visitors and delivery drivers alike will be able to easily see your home. - Update your address with your financial institutions and other important businesses.
Make sure you’ll still receive all your bank statements, credit card statements, and other important business matters at your new address. You don’t want these things getting lost in the mail or delayed via mail forwarding. - Locate the fuse box, propane and/or oil shutoff, and the main water supply shut off.
There are few things worse than having an emergency situation and not knowing where to locate these items. Take some time to get to know your new home so you’re prepared if you ever need to use them. - Explore your new neighborhood.
Take some time to explore the area if you aren’t familiar with it. Try out the grocery store, the gym, the movie theater, etc. Whatever you enjoy doing, take some time to explore those places in your new location. - Do a practice run of your new commute.
If you’ve moved to a new location and are starting a new job with a commute, you may want to consider a practice run during rush hour. After all, who wants to be late on their first day? - Secure your new home.
Change the locks on your doors. You don’t know how many people had keys to the home prior to your moving in. You may even want to install a home security system. - Make any necessary copies of keys for the babysitter, dog walker, house sitter, etc.
After you’ve changed the locks, you’ll want to make sure you get enough keys made for everyone who might need access. Consider all your family members, the babysitter, the dog walker, etc. to avoid multiple trips for key copies. - Update your license and car registration.
Once you get settled in your new home, you should update your driver’s license address and car registration. Many states have laws on how long you have to update these items, so be sure to do so within an appropriate time frame. - Update your voter registration.
While you’re doing all these updates at the DMV, you might as well update your voter registration with your new address. - Send a thank-you note to any friends or family members who helped you move.
Thank you notes go a long way, especially when friends or family took time off work or away from their families to help you get moved and settled into your new home.
Leave a review for your moving company.
If you used a moving company, be sure to leave them a review on Google, Facebook, or wherever else they might request feedback. This helps others in the community make decisions about who they should and shouldn’t hire.
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