Things You Need to Know Before Moving into a New Home

Couple sitting on a floor next to moving boxes
Taking a break while Moving into a new home and unpacking carboard boxes

Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting times for a family. It can also be one of the most stressful times. After anxiously waiting for the escrow to close, you finally get the word that the contract is ready to be signed and the keys will be handed over. What comes next? Ironically, one of the first things you should do is change the locks on your doors and replace those keys that you’ve just been handed. As you prepare to make the transition, always remember that safety is key when moving. Here are 3 more things you need to know before moving into a new home.

Do Major Remodeling Before Moving In

A home without furniture provides a unique opportunity to complete any remodeling projects. If you are embracing the concept that safety is key when moving, then you certainly don’t want to move into an active workspace. Let the painters, contractors and other technicians complete their work to get the home ready. This will mean adding in enough time between the close of your new house and when you need to vacate your old house.

Your remodel projects should also have an eye on the future. You’re certainly not thinking about selling a home you just bought. However, you want to make sure your remodeling projects will have a solid return on their investment. Cornerstone explains, “the best home remodeling and renovation projects for ROI are: painting, landscaping, replacing or touching up exterior doors (especially the front door), flooring, bathrooms, and kitchens.” There is nothing wrong with increasing the value of your home while you live in it for the next 30 years.

Moving Tips

Moving an entire household’s worth of furnishings requires professional help, but that doesn’t mean the pros have to do all the work. Moving Company Reviews explains, “you should move the small and very fragile stuff yourself, such as fine china, electronics, etc, as you’ll know which boxes are worn, you can stack them effectively with heavy stuff on bottom lighter on top, and you’ll be able to keep track of them.”

If safety is the key when moving, then you don’t want to overload any box and make it too heavy for you to move. Even if the movers do most of the heavy lifting, you’ll still have to move those boxes around once they’re dropped off.

Clean as You Go

After the movers are done, you’re going to be left with a home full of boxes that need unpacking. The best approach for this task is to clean as you go. Merry Maids explains, “once you’ve moved into your new home, walking through room after room of unpacked boxes might present what seems like an insurmountable task. Unpacking every box and finding the right spot for every single possession is certainly time consuming, and it can take you away from other important house-related chores. There are packing and unpacking services that can greatly help, so you can worry about more important things while your belongings are taken care of.” Making sure everyone who is unpacking has their own boxcutters will help, too. Just remember, safety is the key to moving, so only an adult should get those cutters. Once a box is unpacked, break it down and create a stack for recycling or giving away. Be sure to have plenty of trash bags handy for all the packing materials, too.

If it took you several weeks to pack up your home, then it can take several weeks to unpack. There is no need to rush. Allow yourself the time to get things organized and clean. It will be a great start to the next chapter in your life.

If you’re planning a move, make sure to stock up on your moving blankets, and it never hurts to have a furniture dolly around to help move bigger pieces!