10 Tips for Settling into Your New Home Easy!
Congratulations! You have finally moved into your new home. The boxes are in, and you turned in the moving truck. Time to begin settling in to lay the foundations of the next chapter of your life. Settling into your new home is the process of unfolding your life after a and possessions to support the life you and your family want to live.
But Where Do You Start?
Below are ten (10) tips for settling into your new home.
- Follow your unpacking plan – Don’t have one? Use ours!
- Declutter as you go
- Set up your security system
- Check up on repairs
- Review HOA regulations
- Get to know your neighborhood
- Protect your important documents
- Confirm your change of Address
- Store all Appliance manuals in one place
- Plan your house warming party
#1 – Follow Your Unpacking Plan
Don’t get overwhelmed by all of the boxes that may or may not be properly labeled. Rather, follow this simple unpacking plan. Unpack room by room based on the everyday demands of your family life – food, personal hygiene, sleep, clean laundry. To make daily living and meeting your family’s needs easier, unpack room by room in the following order:
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Bedrooms
- Laundry Room
- Everywhere else
#2 – Declutter as You Go
Unpacking your second chance at minimalizing your things. Often spaces look bigger without furniture in them. As you unpack, you often find that what you thought was a good fit may be too big. Take is opportunity to get rid of what does not work.
First, start by designating where to put the unpacked boxes, donations, and trash. Then make an appointment with All-In Hauling for curbside pick it up.
Pro Tip: Before throwing any box away, double-check it for misplaced paperwork.
#3 – Set Up Your Security System
If home security systems are part of your new home’s build/lease agreement, your home builder or landlord should have gone over the security system in your initial walk-through. If not, setting up your home security system falls on you. Make your installation appointment with your local security system provider as soon as possible.
If renting, make sure you have written permission from the owner or property manager.
#4 – Check Up on Repairs
Sometimes, a new homeowner or tenant takes possession of a home before all the repairs are completed. Ensure all of these repairs are agreed to in writing and have a specific completion date. Don’t assume that everyone will follow up on these promises.
Always follow up on all repairs, so you aren’t left with the bill to fix it later.
#5 – Review Your HOA Regulations
Many neighborhoods have Home Owners Associations or HOAs. Each HOA has different rules and regulations. HOAs are intended to maintain the property value of the whole community. Typical limits include regulations on political signs during election season, religious displays, the aesthetics of shingles, and animal controls.
Click here for frequently asked questions about HOAs in Texas.
#6 – Get to Know Your Neighborhood – Location Scavenger Hunt
One of the most relaxing things you can do after the stress of physically moving all of the boxes into your new home is to explore your new neighborhood. When you and the family need a break from unpacking, spend an afternoon going on a scavenger hunt.
Make a game of finding the following frequently used locations:
- Grocery Store
- Gas stations
- Post Office
- Schools
- Daycare
- Playground
- Dog Park
- Library
- Places of worship
- Favorite Restaurants
- Utility payment locations (water, electric, cable, sewer, etc.)
- Entertainment venues include family, children, and date night options
Scavenger hunts do not have to be done all at once. Go on several drives with a different theme to break up the unpacking process. For example, a quick drive to find favorite fast good versus dining in restaurants.
#7 – Store Your Important Documents in One Place
Most packing for moves is a messy affair. It is easy to misplace important documents like mortgage/loan papers, rental agreements, passports, adoption papers, trust fund paperwork, birth certificates, and social security cards. Typically, these items are kept in a fireproof safe. If you don’t have one yet, consider labeling a plastic tub with a lid and placing it in your master closet for safekeeping.
#8 – Check Mail Delivery
In some cases, you need to confirm with the local post office to start mail delivery services. Not all locations have home delivery and offer a free post office box for those residents. If you have home delivery but still prefer a post office box for mail delivery, don’t forget to set up service to your home address at the nearest post office.
Click here for more information on the Post Office’s Mail forwarding Options.
Pro Tip: Make an unpacking plan so nothing gets missed
#9 – Store All Appliance Manuals in One Place
The home you move into will likely have new appliances. This is especially true if this is your first home and appliances come with your home builder package. Put all of the appliance, furnace, and other house user manuals into a gallon ziplock bag. Then put this bag where everyone can find it. Many appliances require initial setup procedures – especially if you have a smart home.
#10 – Plan Your Housewarming Party
Once you have finished unpacking and setting up your home, it is time to celebrate with your friends, family, and neighbors. It is a great way to integrate your past with your present.
Life is too short not to celebrate new beginnings. So go for it!
All-In Hauling welcomes you to the Lake Conroe, The Woodlands, and Spring, Texas area. Let us help you settle into your new home. Call us today at (935) 4456-8159 to set up your curbside box and junk pickup.
References for Settling Into Your New Home:
- https://www.hopb.co/texas-hoa-questions-and-answers#22
- Texas Property Code 209 – https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.209.htm
- Hidden Harbour Estates, Inc v. Norman, 309 So. 2d 180 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1975).
