13 tips for a safe move into a new home

Moving to a new house is a life-changing experience, especially if the new property is more aligned with our needs than the old one. Having more space, joining a new neighborhood, and the possibility of furnishing the new house excite us!

But there is the other side of the coin: the move is a stressful and demanding activity for almost everyone.

Here’s a checklist that will make this a more pleasant and safe experience, free of the surprises of moving.

Find out your home's credit score

Check your home condition score to find out!

Check it out

Before moving

1. Create an inventory of all items

The first thing to do is make an inventory of all items in the house, selecting those that must remain in place until the last minute and those that can be boxed and prepared for the move.

Then proceed with a further selection between what you’ll bring in the new home, the things to purge, and those that you must keep in a temporary deposit or maybe in the cellar until you find their place.

2. Identify any items you don’t need anymore

If you’re thinking about how to organize an effortless move, the first idea that comes to mind is to bring a few things with you. When you empty cabinets and drawers to prepare boxes, take the opportunity to get rid of everything you no longer need.

Maybe until the time of the move, you had never realized how many clothes you owned or how many small and large items you had around the house, but with moves comes the awareness of everything that we store at home.

Decluttering has been trendy in recent years and is a great way to save space and money.

3. Donate or sell these unwanted items

Your move can be an excellent opportunity to do a good deed. If you don’t have anyone to give your unwanted items to, plenty of non-profit organizations collect used clothes or accessories in good condition.

Some clothing chains even take your old clothes in exchange for a discount coupon to use in their stores.

Another option is to sell your items at a flea market, hold a garage sale, or list them online.

4. Start packing

One of the simplest and most effective tips for quick moving is to divide and label the boxes by rooms: all the things from the bathroom should go together; the kitchen items go on one side, the clothes on another.

Pack and catalog each box according to the destination, putting a label that describes the contents. This approach will help unpack the boxes as soon as you move and avoid dragging them around the house for months.

Take advantage of trolleys and bags to transport clothes and linen, which is also a solution against unwanted creases.

Read more: Rent a storage unit

5. Choose the right moving company

Before the actual move, stop to reflect on all that it entails. It’s not just about emptying the furniture, transporting it, and filling it. You would need to disassemble furniture, transport it to the new one and assemble it again.

Relying on a moving company makes this task much more manageable. Your arrival at the new home will be less stressful, especially if you’ve chosen a reliable company.

This step is even more essential if you’re planning a long-distance move.

6. Stop the old utilities and activate the new ones

With all the thoughts during the move, shutting down the utilities may fade into the background. Before leaving the old house, prepare the necessary paperwork.

It will take a few days for all utilities to be disconnected – this is when you’ll be moving into your new home.

7. New house deep cleaning

Before moving in, give your new house a deep clean. Don’t get disheartened by the thought that everything will get dirty anyway – it’s true, but it will get much less dirty!

Entering a dirty house is not welcoming, and can be demoralizing. Don’t forget to thoroughly clean the floors and walls before placing furniture in its final position. You probably won’t be cleaning that area for a long time ahead.

Once you have completed the move and sorted all the boxes out, you can get help from a cleaning company to sanitize everything and make the space feel clean, organized, and inviting.

After moving

1. Pack a bag for the first night in the new house

The first few days after the move will feel like you’re living in chaos. To prepare for this, organize one or more bags with your essential items such as clothes, medicine, food for children and animals, favorite toys, etc.

Think of everything you use daily and try to arrange it in a separate bag marked with a label that is also clearly understandable for movers.

2. Unpack the boxes room by room

One of the first things to do is to bring furniture and boxes directly to the destination rooms, avoiding piling them up at the entrance or, even worse, in the corridor or transit areas.

For the same reason, it is advisable to leave the house’s busiest and most frequented rooms clutter-free, such as the bathrooms and the kitchen. In this way, you will prepare for a smooth settling-in.

3. Set up utilities and connectivity

You will have to activate various utilities in your new home, such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, and internet.

Doing all checks before the move is advisable, but a second thorough check never hurts.

4. Change locks and set up an alarm system

It is crucial feeling safe in your new home.

The best solution for changing the lock after moving is to choose an armored door with a lock in the wall or a cylinder. It is an excellent and reliable long-term investment.

If the current door is already armored, remove only the internal cylinder to obtain a complete change of keys.

In addition, you can think about installing motion detectors or cameras, using a smart doorbell, or setting up a complete home security system.

5. Install child and pet safety measures

If you have small children or pets, you must take additional steps to ensure their safety in the new environment. Start with simple things such as covering outlets, sharp corners, open doors, and windows.

Ensure that dangerous tools and products are out of their reach (cleaning products, glass, etc.), and store them in an unreachable and protected place.

A safety gate for children or pets is another practical solution to secure them from dangerous environments or elements, such as the kitchen, stairs, a fireplace, or a wood stove.

6. Exploring the new community and neighborhood

It’s time to enjoy your new home and environment. Don’t let a thousand things to do keep you from visiting your new neighborhood and getting to know your neighbors who may guide you to shops and services in the area.

Discover the place, perhaps on foot or by bike, to feel immediately at home. Visit the local gym, library, and other sites where you can spend your free time.

Try to make new friends, and you can even hold a small party to meet your neighbors or visit them.

In conclusion

Moves can be stressful, complicated, and cumbersome. With these tips, you can get out of your upcoming move safe and sound while putting your organizational skills to the test.

And maybe, who knows, even having fun!

Written by Alice Ibba. February 5, 2023

Alice Ibba has graduated in Architecture and is working as a freelancer, combining her passions for interior design, holistic wellness, sustainability, psychology, and graphic design. She defines herself as a multipotentialite. You can get in touch with her on LinkedIn .