Checklist: First week in your new home

Must-Do’s For The First Week In A New Home

The time has come. You’ve saved your deposit, signed all of the paperwork and been given the keys – now the move is almost over and it’s not long until you can become fully acquainted with your new home!

Yet while there are endless tips on how to prepare for moving (we even have our own moving day guide here!), what should you be doing to streamline those first few days while settling in? Take a look at our checklist of top things to do during the first week in your new abode!

Prepare a survival kit

One of the most important things you can do before you move is prepare an essentials box for the first night. Moving day can be stressful, so the last thing you’ll want is to be searching high and low for your pyjamas and toothbrush after a long day. Whether it’s just you moving into your new abode or you have a partner and kids to think about, make sure that you have all the essentials you’ll need for your first night including toiletries, medication, and a change of clothes for the next day!

Set up your bed

After a full-on day of final checks, lugging heavy boxes and potentially travelling to and from your old home, it’s fair to say that you’ll probably be exhausted. One of the first things you should do when in your new place is set up the bed – whether you need to build the whole thing from scratch or simply prep the mattress, sheets and pillows. This way, at the end of a long day, you can easily rest up rather than having to battle with flat pack furniture.

Get cleaning

Whether you’re buying a new build or resale home, it’s likely that the place will already have been given a once over by the housing provider or former owners, however you may still want to take this time to unpack your cleaning supplies. Focus on key areas where you’ll need to unpack fairly quickly such as the kitchen and bathroom, plus giving the floors a quick vacuum after days of emptying boxes and treading in and out won’t go amiss!

Organise insurance

Contents insurance is one of the most important things to have – for tenants and owners alike! If you can organise this ahead of time, it’s definitely worth doing so, however you can also pick this up once you’re in your new abode. The cost of home insurance can vary greatly so its worth taking a look on comparison websites to find the best deal. If you already had insurance at your previous address, simply give your provider a call and they should be able to update your account for a small fee.

Change of address

If you haven’t already done so, the first few days in your new home is the perfect time to update your address – this includes your doctor’s surgery, place of work and on your driver’s license! If you’re worried about forgetting any key people or places, you can also pay a fee to have your letters temporarily redirected via the Post Office to give you some peace of mind.

Familiarise yourself

It’s likely that you’ve already been given a tour of your new house or flat by the agency or person you bought it from, but a new home isn’t just about knowing the floor plan. It’s important to take some time to familiarise yourself with your new surroundings, including where the electric panel, water valve and meter cupboards are!

Utilities

It’s likely that you’ve spent some time before the move liaising with your previous utility providers to organise closing down your accounts – whether that be for gas and electric, or your internet and landline suppliers. Now that you’re in your new home, it’s time to make sure you’ve given updates to old and new suppliers alike, including providing your closing and opening meter readings where applicable.

Check out our property portal to search for Shared Ownership and Help to Buy homes in your area. You can look for homes based off of your own requirements including deposit amount, number of bedrooms, and search radius. Each live property will also offer a budget calculator, outlining the minimum deposit required and monthly costs!

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