But what do you do on moving in day? 

With the farewells to your old house having been made, it’s now it’s time to start settling in at your new address. Here’s what you can do to make your move easier and run a little smoother:

• Protect the floors
• Work with the removals team
• Sign on the dotted line
• Do a quick clean up
• Start sorting out the furniture
• Head out for a restaurant dinner

Watch the floors

Whether you have carpet, tiles, wood or laminate flooring in your new house, set down some sort of protection before the movers start bringing the boxes from the removals truck. 

Rolls of plastic, plastic drop sheets or pieces of cardboard boxes will prevent any dirt being ingrained in the carpets or scuff marks appearing on laminate floors, especially.

You will have more than enough cleaning to do once you have moved in. No need to make it harder on yourself.

Teamwork makes moving easier  

As soon as the moving company truck pulls up to the gate, introduce yourself to the team leader. You will be working with him or her during the course of the day, so best to get off on a good footing. 

Walk them through the new house, showing them where the rooms are. Invite them to ask questions if they are not sure. Be open and proactive. 

This will benefit you in the long run as you don’t want to be moving heavy boxes to the correct room once the movers have left.

Sort out the paperwork

It’s important to ensure that the movers present you with the inventory before they leave. Go over it thoroughly, checking for any discrepancies before you sign. 

Make sure that the moving company team leader signs the document as well, and keep a copy for your records.

Get cleaning

Before you start unpacking the boxes, take out your detergents, scrubbing brushes and cleaning rags and start cleaning. 

Sweep, vacuum and mop the floors before moving the furniture in place. 

Give the bathrooms a thorough clean, giving extra attention to the bathtub, shower and toilet.

In the kitchen focus your energy on getting the oven clean, the cupboards wiped down inside and out and the countertops free of dirt and grime.

Sort out the furniture

With the floors and surfaces clean, the next step is to start organising the furniture. Re-assemble any furniture that was disassembled and move it to the correct place in the room. 

Children’s bunk beds, reattaching bedside tables to headboards need to be sorted out during this stage.

Now for the moving boxes . . . 

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Moving in is a process and it’s better in the long run to take your time.

Go through your new house room by room and inspect the boxes. Put the damaged boxes to one side, making notes about any defects you pick as you go along. 

Remember to call your moving company to come through and inspect the damage.

Make a point of starting to unpack your children’s stuff first. Getting reacquainted with their special toys will help them settle into their new surroundings sooner.

Go out for dinner!

Celebrate a successful moving day by taking your family out to a local restaurant in your new neighbourhood.

It’ll give you a much-needed break and give you an opportunity to explore a local eating place.

• If you’re considering hiring a professional, experienced moving company, contact us for a FREE MOVING QUOTE.

• Get to know the area – Leave the car at home and go for a walk in your local neighbourhood, practice the school run, take a trip to the park, spend time at the local library and get ‘a feel’ for what’s going around you. On your travels, you’ll meet people and this gives you a chance to strike up a conversation. If you’re friendly, people are friendly with you too!
• Grab a local paper – Find out what’s a happening locally, see if there are any events you can attend to get to know the local crowd. Local papers are full of community news and that’s just what you need if you’re the ‘newbie’ in town.
• Have a chat with the neighbours – As soon as you have unpacked your cartons pop round to the neighbours to introduce yourself in person. Invite them to your home for a beer or a glass of wine, get chatting with them and find out more about the neighbourhood this way.
• Visit nearby traders – Head to the local market or pop to the shops. If you live in a small community it’s nice to get to know your local traders. What’s more, you’ll see the same faces shopping on a daily basis so it’s a good way to get chatting and make new friends.
• Become a volunteer – Look for notices asking for volunteers in the neighbourhood. Whether the community church needs help or the local hospital is asking for support, by offering your time for free it shows you’re committed to local causes and you’ll make a positive impression.