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10 Things to Do Right After You Move In

The papers are signed. The boxes delivered. The moving company’s truck and their crew have moved on to deliver more goods to the next stop. So the question is, now what do we do?

The week after you move into your new place, opportunities abound for cleaning and organizing. Besides introducing yourself to new neighbors and exploring your new surroundings, what should the priorities be? Take a cue from our shared experiences, and here’s our list of 10 things you’ll want to do right after you move in.

1. Do a light cleaning. Before you start unpacking and organizing, you’ll probably need to spend some time cleaning the basics, like the kitchen sink, refrigerator, floors, and any bathrooms. Another option is to consider hiring a service for a deep clean before your moving day.

2. Pre-organize the kitchen. Before putting away any dishes or cleaning supplies, consider fitting, cutting, and then putting down protective cabinet layers (or Con-Tact paper) to protect the cabinets underneath your plates, utensils, glassware, etc. 

3. Set up donation and Goodwill areas. No matter how much purging you did before the move, inevitably, there will be more items that either don’t fit, no longer suit your needs, or don’t pass muster in the new place. Have a box or a bin handy to temporarily hold these items before you can process the donations.

4. Make the necessary purchases to help stay organized. Whether it’s a trip to The Container Store, Target, Ikea, or Best Buy, get the gear and storage containers you need to help you stow away like-minded items, house cords, electronics, etc.

5. Change out the smoke detector batteries (or install new ones). Given that it’s impossible to know when the batteries were last swapped out, it’s probably wise to replace all your smoke detector batteries now to avoid that awkward 2 a.m. wake-up alarm—with its ear-piercing beep somewhere in the future. Whenever there’s a carbon monoxide detector that’s more than five years old, consider replacing it altogether.

6. Change the filter for the dryer. Even when your dryer’s vent filter is dust-free, it still needs to be regularly cleaned. Every few months, it’s a good idea to remove the filter and wash it to help maintain clear exhaust and prevent a fire. If you have a brand-new appliance, take the time to register the ownership or extended warranty.

7. Discover new places for take-out meals. If ever there was a week for it, this is the week to take one thing off your mental to-do list and make good use of paper goods, take-out meals, and delivery services like Door Dash.  

8. Join a local donation, free-cycle, or Buy-Nothing group online. Buying or renting a new place has its own budget … so now’s the time to either give back to the local community or reap the rewards of someone else’s generosity with a few items on your wish list.

9. Set up the thermostat schedule. Unless you prefer the exact same temperature and live on the same schedule as the previous owners, you will want to set up the thermostat. Of course, another option is to replace it entirely with a smart thermostat such as a Nest. 

10. Replenish your groceries. Although you might have been able to move with some non-perishable dry goods in tow, now’s the time to stock up again on perishable items, condiments, and fresh fruit and veggies. (And if you have a full-service relocation, this might have been included in your moving package.)

If you’re considering a local move, moving across the country, or even overseas, Beltmann offers relocation and storage services for any size house or budget, with multiple locations in the USA. Call us at (866) 252-2383, or visit our website for your free estimate today.