Moving into a new home is can be a little overwhelming, but there are things you can do to help make the transition easier.
There is a lot to do so don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends or family or from a professional service providers. The sooner that you can take care of the big stuff, the sooner your new house will start to feel like a new home.
1. Do a Walkthrough
There’s no better time to do a walk through of your new house than when it is completely empty. So before setting up your furniture take a look around make sure everything is in working order, including outlets, switches and fixtures.
2. Figure Out What’s Going Where
You’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress if you make a plan for setting everything up instead of just winging it. This is particularly true for large and heavy items like furniture. Give yourself the time to think about exactly how you’d like the set up to look and where big items need to go. You can make changes later on of course, but going into this big task with a good plan is always going to make the job easier.
3. Child/Pet Proof (if necessary)
If you’re moving into a new home with pets or little people then an immediate step is going to be doing some initial pet/child proofing to keep everyone safe. Pet/Child proof your home for the move by creating a separate, kid-free zone for discarded packing materials and checking all windows to make sure they’re securely closed and don’t have any long hanging cords coming off of the blinds etc. Keep anything dangerous - box cutters, cleaning supplies, glassware, etc. far out of reach of little paws/hands.
4. Locate the Fuse Box and Water Valve
The fuse box and water valve are two things that you don’t want to end up looking for when you really need them. Be familiar with their locations now so that if your power goes out or you need to turn off the water you’ll be able to make your way there quickly.
5. Change Your Address
Get your mail directed by New Zealand Post and be sure to notify others of your move as well. This includes friends and family, subscription services, your bank, the IRD, your doctor, dentist, accountant, lawyer and vet, workplace, Elections Registrar, NZTA for drivers licences and vehicle registration, kids schools, any loan providers you have, and anyone else who sends you regular correspondence or bills.
6. Meet Your Neighbours
Meeting your neighbours is a lot easier, and less awkward to do, right when you’ve moved in. And in addition to getting yourself off on the right foot in your new neighbourhood, meeting your neighbours is helpful for starting to learn about your community and for getting recommendations for local services and good coffee!
