Now that moving day is over, you are somewhat settled in your new home. It’s time for the things to do after you move. All of those tasks that took a back row on moving day need to be done now. Here is everything you should do after you have moved into your new house and completed your moving timeline.
This should be the last section of your moving binder and the final items to check off of your moving checklist. The big thing about moving is that it is a lot easier when you have a moving checklist to work off of. With one, it will help you get everything else done that needs to be taken care of now that you are in your new house, new city, and ready to roll!
Table of Contents
Start and finish any renovations
If you can, finish all renovations you want to get done before moving in. So if you’re going to paint the walls, do it now!
This can be hard, but it’s easier to live out of boxes now and deal with a bit of dust than starting in a few months when things are more settled in. This is a key thing to do after moving, and you will be so grateful that you did.
Planning a renovation project? Use our free renovation budget spreadsheet.
Clean the new place before you unpack
On the first day in your new house, everything will be a mess from movers and friends going everywhere with boxes. Take time to clean the room before you unpack it, and you will be happy you did.
Cleaning goes a lot faster after the mover has come and gone, so you may want to ask a friend to come the next day to give you a hand with this. You can also hire a cleaning service to come in and do it if you have too much going on.
Inspect the house
Is everything that you agreed upon in your deal there? Your purchase agreement will state that some items were to be included (and in working condition). Make sure you have everything you are legally owed and that it works. If anything is missing or broken, call your lawyer to deal with it.
It’s a good idea to make notes and take photos of important things to look for when buying a house so that you can make sure they are the same from the condition you saw and bought them.
Check for any swapped out items
For instance, did the seller swap out the fridge or dishwasher for a cheaper model (always make sure the fridge is still plugged in, here’s how long it takes for a refrigerator to get cold). How much has changed since your original visits since before you bought the house?
Make your notes and if there are any issues, let your real estate attorney know. Also, it’s a good idea to call the real estate company selling the house and see if you can resolve this matter without lawyers if it’s something simple.
The previous owner may not know that it was in agreement, or something may have changed since the offer was accepted. Either way, contact your home buying team and tell them about the situation.
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If you are moving into a newly built home
Once you move into your brand new home, you will want to ensure everything is there and do a final walk-through of the house. Look for things that may need to be dealt with and bring them up with your builder.
Inspect your boxes
Before you pay, the professional movers check all your items to ensure that your free moving boxes are in good condition and nothing has broken from the move. Click here if you want some color-coded free moving labels to make your life easier.
Pay the moving company
Once you have inspected the home and inspected the furniture and boxes, you need to pay the moving company. This likely may have already been done, but it’s a good idea to call and follow up after the move.
If you have any issues with the movers, now is an excellent time to bring them up. They may offer a discount on your moving costs to compensate for your troubles.
Click Here to Get a Moving Quote
Find out where the fuse box is located
Like the main water shut-off valve, know where this is before the electricity goes out. Also, see what type of electrical panel it is and check the circuit breakers.
Also, if you didn’t contact your electricity service provider on moving day, make sure you do it now and get everything changed over to your name.
Find out where the emergency shut off valve is for the water main
The time to find your emergency shut-off valves is now. Not when you need it. Take a few minutes to find your water shut-off valve and inspect the hot water tank too. If there is no hot water tank tray below it, know that it will leak water everywhere when it breaks.
Make a note of the people who installed it (there is usually a sticker on top) and put it in your home binder in case of an emergency.
Unpack your necessities
SO. MANY. BOXES. If you followed our packing timeline, you will likely have been packing for at least a month or two, and the idea of unpacking everything after you move may be completely overwhelming.
Make a plan and unpack everything you need right away (clothing, pots and pans, commemorative Elvis plates), and leave the other stuff as you need (1).
You’ll be surprised at what you don’t use when you unpack. It’s been 10 years, and we just opened our last box. It turns out we didn’t need the yardstick glasses from Vegas after all!
Pro tip: When moving, know where your tools are. You’ll need them on day one and beyond.
Update your address with the post office and friends
Send out notices to anyone you are friends with about your change of address. Go to the post office and notify them of your new address and have all your mail forwarded from the old address. You may be able to change your address online here.
Register your driver’s license
Next, you will want to register and get a new driver’s license. I know the sound of going down to the DMV doesn’t elicit fun things, but it needs to be done and out of the way. Plus, it’s better to go in the first day or two; having a local ID makes things easier.
Register your vehicle
If you have moved to a new state, go and register your vehicles and get the addresses changed. Your premiums may be different, so make sure you look around for a few different options. Things like pay-per-mile insurance are growing in popularity if you are working from home or if you use public transportation to commute.
Register with school and daycare
If you have kids, you will need to register with the school, set up their first day, and find out what is expected. Then, see if the transcripts made it to the new school; if not, bring your copies in so they can make a copy of their own.
Register with doctors and healthcare providers
Doctors can be busy at different times of day and times of the year so make sure to contact them after you move in and book your appointment.
Book any medical appointments for the family
Depending on your family’s needs, you may need to make specialist appointments, get referrals, and arrange to have these appointments with your previous doctors and specialists.
Register with the Veterinarian
If you have any pets, contact your new veterinarian’s office and arrange for your pets’ records to be transferred. See if there are any protocols in place for bringing a new pet into the clinic and arrange for it to happen.
Change your address with the tax authority
Make sure to change your address with the IRS, CRA, Inland Revenue, or whichever tax body governs your country (2). Also, make sure any social security benefits are being sent to the new house.
Book a hair appointment
Let’s just be honest; you need to find a hairdresser if you haven’t already. If you do, book your first appointment. Good hairdressers book up quickly, and you will want to make sure you have an appointment in the coming month or so. Make sure to provide them with your email address so you can start getting things electronically.
Introduce yourself to the new neighbors
Did you cringe just a little when you read this? Of course, meeting new people in real life is always a little hard. But they are curious about you, so walk over and introduce yourself as the new owners of the residence.
It’s a good way to get the details on the house and the people who lived there before, and get a vibe for how people are in the area. Plus, it’s always good to have people looking out for your place when you aren’t around. Also, make sure to ask about recommendations for places to get snacks and take out in the area.
Call the utility companies
If you didn’t do it on moving day, call the utility companies immediately and get your accounts switched over. Take pictures of the meters and make a note somewhere. Also, book any installation visits that need to happen to get your services up and running.
Review your insurance policy
Take a few minutes to review your insurance policy and ensure everything is in order. When you bought the policy, you likely didn’t know everything about the house. Now that you have moved in, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the right coverage.
Change your car insurance
While you are at it, if you have your vehicle insurance at the same place, make sure to change your plates and insurance information on your motor vehicle.
Contact your banks
Now that you are in your new home, you want to make sure your banks know where you are. This can get overlooked if you are getting a mortgage from a different provider than your usual bank, so make the call and get things changed over.
Change the locks
Moving into a house means your locks may have multiple keys. Book the locksmith to come in and change the locks. If you are into tech, you can always choose a smart lock that will help you monitor things. Smart home technology is so cool!
If you think it might be expensive, realize that the people who owned the house before you could have given out 30 keys to the place over their time living there, and all it takes is one unscrupulous person to decide to let themselves in and steal your Elvis plates. So it’s worth the cost to get them changed or to DIY change the locks on your own.
Replace the air filters
A good rule of thumb is to replace your air filters when you move in. That way, you have a date when you know they need to be changed in the future.
Inspect the windows for any unlocked windows or broken latches
Just like the lock changing, inspect the windows to make sure everything closes properly and can lock. If there are sliding windows that can’t be locked, put a stick in the slider to prevent people from opening it.
Install security systems
Wherever you live, a security system is a good idea. For many having the system lowers the amount of insurance. We save more on our house insurance premiums than it costs for the monitoring.
Plus, there is peace of mind knowing the house is secure. You can go with a smart home security system or get a security system professionally installed. It’s a good idea to get this done.
If you already have an alarm system, make sure to change the codes.
Test the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
Go and quickly test each of the fire alarms and see if you need to have the batteries replaced if some aren’t working. While you are checking them, replace the battery, so you are good for the next 6 months. Make a point of replacing them every 6 months as part of your maintenance checklist.
Keep a list of what you need
Going through this whole moving day process, the biggest of all moving tips is to keep a list of what you need to buy. We will get to shopping soon, but keep a running list of all the things you need on your first store run.
Need to stock the kitchen? Get our Kitchen Essentials Checklist here.
Find out what day is garbage day
Call the city and see if there is anything you need to do to be ready for garbage day. You may need special cans or have to pay a fee for collection.
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Decorate the house and arrange the furniture to make it yours
I can bet that where you put the furniture on day 1 is not where it will be on day 30 in your new house. It’s not because it’s in a bad place, but as you live in the house more, you will notice little things like daylight coming in at times of the day. Or awkward spaces that need to be adjusted for. Take some time to move the furniture around and see what looks best and what feels best.
Arrange for cleaners at the old place
One that often gets forgotten, and one of the things to do before you move is to arrange for your house to be cleaned. If your old house is being professionally cleaned before you sell it and give possession, make sure you have arranged for the cleaners to come in and do their thing.
Take photos of the house
Your new house is only empty for a day, and then it will be full of your stuff and items. So make sure you take some pictures of your house when you move in and once you have unpacked.
I find I go back to the pictures of our move and am always amazed at how it looked when we moved into it and how it looks now.
Get used to the place
The whole moving experience can be a lot to take in if you have kids and pets. Make sure you give your family time to get used to living in the new surroundings and realize that they are adapting to things just like you are. It will take time but very soon, it will start to feel like home.
If you have children, childproof the house
Kids in a new house will be a challenge. Make sure you have all of your childproofing items, and get ready to have them set up as quickly as possible. Try and see things from their height. Stuff that you would ignore may be the first thing they go for because it is at their eye level.
Go shopping
Lastly, if you need items, and you will trust me. Go out and buy what you need. A new home checklist can help ensure you have everything you could possibly need and more.
This should be the last of the things to do after moving into a new house because if you go at the beginning, you will likely be going multiple times.
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Final thoughts on things to do after you move into a new house
Once you are in your new house everything will be good; it just takes a few days for the proverbial dust to settle and for you to make it your own. It will happen, so enjoy the process. You only move a few times in your life, which is when memories are made.
I hope you have enjoyed these moving tips and that you found the important items on this that need to be dealt with quickly. Enjoy doing the things you need to do after you move.
Get Our After Moving Checklist
There are a lot of things on this list. To make it easier for you, we have made an after moving timeline checklist. This list of things to do when moving into a new house