Moving home is often a tough step to make in itself, so rest assured that you’ve already done the hard part when it comes to this big change in your life. Now, before you choose a new home to move into, you need to think about what it is you want from this new chapter in your life. Whether you’re just moving with your partner or you have children to think about, it’s important that everybody’s voice is heard. This new home needs to be a place in which you can all feel comfortable. Here are some tips to help make that a reality.
Choosing your new home.
Before you start making big plans as to how you’re going to settle into this new home, you need to choose the home itself. It has to be a decision that suits you not only in that present moment but for your foreseeable future in that new location. Perhaps you and your partner want to move in together but you don’t plan on sticking around in that area for more than a few years if you big aspirations for your careers. In that case, you might want to rent a house because you don’t necessarily want a long-term commitment if you don’t see your future in a long-term location; still, it’s important to find somewhere cozy enough to settle into for a few years.
If you do have dreams of turning your new home into a permanent base on which you can grow into a larger family in the future then you might want to look into houses and making the commitment to buy so that you’re not just pouring dead money into the place. It all depends on how much you think you’re going to need to grow into your property during the span of your time there. It’s very important that you choose a place in which you feel you can be comfortable before you start thinking about how to improve the place as a whole and settle into the community. It’s a big decision to make.
Making a ‘To Do’ list.
Now you’ve moved into your new home, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by the number of things you feel you have to do. The best way to approach the task is to make a list of everything that needs to be done. You need space to breathe so that you can actually enjoy the novelty of living somewhere brand new. If you have a list that you can use to gradually tick off important items then you won’t worry about the possibility of forgetting all the crucial things which need to be done. It’ll probably only take a couple of weeks to get all the important stuff sorted, but you don’t have to worry about what the next thing that needs to be done may be if you can see it all in a physical list form. It also makes you feel far more productive when you get the satisfaction of putting that big tick next to something you’ve dreaded doing.
An organized unpacking routine.
The one hurdle nobody ever thinks about until they’re actually faced with it is hundreds of packed boxes. If you’re lucky enough that this is your first new home or flat with your partner then your possessions might be relatively few, but you’ll probably still have a sizeable collection of things from college or your room at home with your parents. The point is that you can very easily find yourself drowning in a mess of unorganized boxes that you’re too afraid to tackle if you don’t plan ahead. The best way to do this is to write descriptive labels on each box (not just “clothes”) because you’ll be able to categorize boxes and keep related things together that way. You’ll be able to get your new home set up far more easily if you know which box contains specific items. You might find that you want certain kitchen utensils and bathroom supplies within the first few hours of moving in, so you don’t want to spend a few hours trying to find them.
Small personal flourishes.
The hardest part of moving into a new place is that, whilst it might look modern and pretty, it doesn’t feel like home. It might feel like you’re staying in a beautiful hotel if it is modern, clean, and aesthetically-pleasing, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily feel comfortable and cozy in it just yet. It can be hard to rid yourself of that feeling that you’re a guest in your own home, but it’s all about focusing on the small things rather than making grand and overblown changes to your house (especially if you’re only renting). Adding small features such as throws to your couches or cute candles to your bedroom can make all the difference when it comes to turning a house into your home.
Get to know the neighbors.
A vital part of settling into your new home actually has nothing to do with bricks and mortar. You need to think about the people living around you because getting to know them is important to helping you feel comfortable in your home; it’s important to helping you feel a part of the small community in which you’ll find yourself. Throw a housewarming party and invite over everyone on your street; ask people to bring food and drink so that everyone chips in, and get to know one another.
Thinking about security.
Security may not be a fun thing to think about like other aspects of your settling-in process at your new home, but it’s certainly an important one that you need to consider. If you live in a rented property then you should really discuss this matter with your landlord and they’ll tell you how safe the property is. Obviously, there’s no harm in expressing any concerns you might have; you might simply want to install additional locks into doors or windows or you might want to install a burglar alarm if you think the flat or house needs that additional protection.
Again, you have to discuss all these things with the owner of your home. Of course, if you do own the property then the responsibility lies completely on your shoulders to ensure that your house is as safe as it can possibly be. Unrelated to burglary, you might want to think about things such as ensuring you have a working smoke alarm; this should be an absolute essential for any home. It’s also vital that you check your alarm regularly to ensure it’s functioning as it should be.
Settling a pet into their new home.
As a final point, you and your partner (or your family, depending on what kind of move this is), might have a pet that you’re worried about moving to a brand new home. Of course, before anything else, if you’re renting then it’s vital you ensure you rent a property which accepts pets. Once you’ve crossed that bridge then you only need to worry about how to ease your pet itself into their new abode. The best way to do this is to set boundaries from day one. They might be frightened, but you don’t want them to slip into bad habits of wetting rugs or their bed; reward their good behavior, and slowly guide them into warming to the place. Bring their old bed from your old home and fill it with all their favorite toys. Give them some way to form mental links and realize that this new home is their home.
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