What to Do on the First Day in Your New Home

So, it’s a fact – all the hectic moving preparations have been completed, all the laborious moving tasks have been taken care of and moving day is drawing to an end. You’re at the threshold of your new home and your new life. The moment you step through the door, you’re certain to be overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions, options, and possibilities:

# from cheerful excitement and bright hopes for the future to deep anxiety and fear of the unknown;

# from an enthusiastic desire to start unpacking and arranging your new place right away to complete exhaustion and reluctance to do anything at all;

# from the chance to recreate your old home décor and reestablish your daily routine to the opportunity to change everything around you and build a completely new life for yourself.

What are you going to do, then, once you enter your new house or apartment? How are you going to spend the first night in your new home? What are you going to devote the first day of your new life to?

It’s all up to you, of course, and yet some clear guidelines on what to do on your first day in a new house could prove to be very useful during the initial chaos after the move. They will help you settle into your new home quickly and easily and avoid most of the hassle and confusions typical of the post-relocation period.  Just make sure you follow the comprehensive first day in new house checklist below:

Welcome Yourself (and Your Belongings) Home

The moment you enter your new home for the first time is a special one – it’s the first step into your new world. So, allow yourself several minutes to “register” the importance of the moment – congratulate yourself on your successful relocation, let the thrill of excitement overwhelm you at the thought of your brand new life, and envision your new home full of joy and laughter.

Once the special moment is over, however, it’s time to get practical again and see what you’ve got and what you can do with it.

1) In case you have your belongings with you (or they’re delivered at the same time as you arrive at your new home), your first and foremost task will be to inspect your items and take them inside:

• Check every item and every box against your moving inventory list to make sure nothing is missing. Inspect your furniture and appliances for damage and open a few cartons (the ones that contain your most fragile items) to see if your breakables have survived the trip safe and sound;
• Consult the floor plan of your new home and have all your larger household items put directly to their designated places and all the boxes taken to the rooms where they belong.

2) In case you arrive before your belongings, you’ll probably have only your survival box with you. There will be little you can do before the rest of your possessions arrive, but you will at least have the chance to clean your new home while it is still empty. If you have cleaning supplies in your box of essentials, you can get straight to work. If not, you may want to purchase some basic cleaning materials, so that you can get your new place in pristine condition by the time your shipment is delivered.

[Useful tip] It’s highly advisable to have your new home thoroughly cleaned before taking your household items inside – it will be much easier, quicker, and more efficient to clean the premises while they’re still empty. If you won’t have the time to clean your new place yourself, consider hiring professional moving services to do the job for you – you need your new home to be spotless when moving in.

Unpack Your “Open-First” Boxes

There is a good reason why your “open-me-first” box is called so – it contains all the things you’re going to need immediately after arriving in your new home. From essential toiletries, healthy snacks and fresh drinks to basic tools and cleaning supplies, everything in your survival box is especially selected to help you meet your basic needs during the first couple of days after the move and turn your new place into a comfortable home as quickly and easily as possible.

If you have a specific “open-first” box for every separate room of the house, take it to the corresponding room and leave it there – you’ll get to it when the time is right. Your first job is to unpack the large survival box that contains everything necessary to provide a basic meal, ensure good hygiene, present some entertainment options, and deal with minor emergencies on the first day in your new home.

After that, if time allows it (and if they have already arrived), you should unpack all open-first boxes as well, so that the most important rooms in your new home become usable as soon as possible.

Regardless of whether all your belongings have already been delivered or not, however, you need to make sure that you have the crucial essentials for the first night in your new home with you. You should have them packed in a special first-night box (so they can travel with you and, also, so that you won’t need to unpack half the boxes in order to find your toothbrush and your pajamas).

Here is what to pack for the first night in a new house:

• Toiletries and personal hygiene items – toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, hair products, skin care products, shower curtain, towels, etc.;
• Bedding – sheets, blankets, pillows, pillow cases, etc.;
• Clothes – comfortable nightwear and underwear, as well as a change of clothes for the next morning;
• Medications – a first-aid kit, pain relievers, allergy meds, yours and your family members’ prescription medicines, etc.
• Electronics – phones, tablets, laptops, music players and any other electronic devices (and their chargers) that will allow you to find any information you may need, contact friends and relatives you have left behind, and relax and have some fun in the evening before falling asleep (listening to music, watching movies, etc.).
• A night lamp;
• Your kid’s favorite stuffed animal and storybook (if applicable);
• Your pet’s bed, blanket and favorite toy (if applicable).

[Useful tip] In case you’re moving long distance and your new home is not furnished, it’s highly advisable to bring an air mattress with you. If you arrive before your items, it will provide you with the comfort you need on the first night in your new home.

Ensure Your Good Night’s Rest

No matter how exhausted you may feel (both physically and emotionally) by the time you arrive at your new home, you won’t be able to go to sleep before you make the bed and take a much-needed shower.

So, make sure you set up the bed(s) at the earliest opportunity (even if it is still midday, making the beds should be the first task on your list – you’ll be grateful for that prudent decision at the end of the day):

• If your new home is furnished, the beds will be already in place and you’ll only need to unpack the bedding;
• If there are no beds in your new home, you’ll have to set up your old ones (your own master bed and your kids’ beds, if applicable) as soon as possible. They will most probably have been disassembled for the move and now you’ll have to reassemble them (or have them reassembled by the professionals) and get them ready for the first night in your new home. Have in mind though that furniture reassembly requires specific tools and may take a long time;
• If your new home is not furnished and your items have not arrived yet, you’ll have little choice but to inflate your air mattress and tell yourself that it will be like sleeping among the clouds.

When the beds are ready, it’s time to set up the bathroom – arrange your toiletries, hang the shower curtain, take out the towels, and prepare everything necessary for a nice, hot shower.

Plan for Dinner

After the bedroom and the bathroom, you need to turn your attention to the kitchen. It is unlikely that there will be enough time to arrange all your pots and pans and hundreds of other kitchen items or to cook dinner – you only need to ensure that there will be a table and some chairs to sit on, as well as some basic utensils (plates, mugs, silverware, etc.), so that you can eat your first meal in your new home (whether it’s a take-out or some canned food) in relative comfort.

If you’re up to it, you may opt for eating out instead of ordering in – a nice dinner in a charming local restaurant could be the perfect way to relax, celebrate your successful move, have a good time with your family, and take a look at your new surroundings at the same time.

Either way, you’re advised to find out what restaurants are located in the vicinity and get the phone numbers and menus of takeout places in your new area in advance, so that you don’t have to waste time searching when you’re finally ready for dinner.

[Useful tip] It is a good idea to unpack the coffee maker and the toaster before you go to bed on the first night in your new home – the morning will seem much brighter when you have a cup of fragrant coffee in one hand and a delicious toast in the other.

SEE ALSO: Important things to do after moving into a new house

Ensure the Well-Being of Your Children

Moving with children is a great challenge and ensuring your little ones’ safety and comfort on their first day in the new house is probably the most difficult and most important part of it all:

# If your kids like it there on the first day in your new home, they will overcome their anxieties more easily and will get more enthusiastic about the new world around them;

# On the contrary – if they feel lonely, bored, and unhappy on the first day in your new house or apartment, their fear and negativism will increase and will result in many troubles down the road.

So, make everything possible to ensure your kids’ comfort and happiness from the very first day in your new home:

• Provide plenty of their favorite snacks and drinks;
• Keep a couple of their favorite toys with you at all times;
• Find them something interesting to do while unpacking your belongings and setting up the rooms – hook up the TV, let them play a video game, surprise them with some new comics or a new board game they can enjoy on the freshly cleaned living room floor, etc.;
• Take them out for a walk at the earliest opportunity – explore the neighborhood together, take them to the nearest playground, visit some local attractions, etc.;
• Re-establish their daily routine as soon as possible and set up their rooms in the same way as they were before the move – this will help reduce the stress and restore the feeling of security and order that is very important for young children;
• Show your beloved angels how much you love them and how proud you’re of them for being so brave during such a demanding time.

Take every possible precaution to ensure your children’s safety – keep them away from the moving chaos, childproof your new home, and make sure there’s a trustworthy person by their side every time your kids go out in the new, unfamiliar neighborhood.

Take Care of Your Pets

It’s only natural that if you have pets, tending to their needs will be one of the first things to do in your new home. Your animal friends are likely to be scared and upset by the abrupt change in their environment (not to mention the chaotic moving activities and the stressful trip to your new home), so you need to find a way to calm them down and reassure them that they’re going to be safe and happy in their new surroundings:

• Give your pets food and water (use their old bowls and dishes and give them the same kind of food they usually eat);
• Set up their bedding in the same way as it was in your old home;
• Put out some of their favorite toys to provide some entertainment and reassure your little friends that their items have not been left behind;
• Keep your pets safe and comfortable – set up their things in a safe and quiet room where they will be able to calm down and relax. Have in mind that your stressed animal friends may try to escape (or may easily get lost if allowed to wander around the familiar surroundings), so it’s advisable to keep them in a confined space during the first days in your new home;
• Keep in mind that your sensitive animal friends need special attention during the first weeks in your new home and make sure you find the time to play with them, talk to them, take them out for walks (if applicable), and do anything else that will reassure them of your love and care.

Of course, different kinds of pets have their own specific needs and pose their own unique challenges when moving house. Follow the links below to find some useful tips for moving with the type of pet you have:

Moving with dogs

Moving with cats

Moving with birds

How to move a fish tank

Moving cross country with exotic pets

Observe New Home Traditions

Last but not least – one of the most common, and allegedly most important, things to do on the first day in a new house is to summon good fortune and chase evil away. Whether you’re superstitious or not, a home blessing ritual is certain to give you a positive start in your new life:

• Ring a bell to scatter negative energies and invite good fortune into your home;
• Light a candle to cast out the darkness, sanctify your home, and bestow a blessing upon its occupants;
• Burn sage to ward off evil spirits;
• Bring bread and salt with you to make sure your family will never know hunger and your life will be full of flavor.

You’re certain to sleep better when you’ve done everything possible to bring good luck to your new home, that’s a fact. And a good’s night sleep is the perfect ending to your first day in your new home.

Get a Good Sleep

All things said and done, it’s time to go to bed and fall asleep. You need to refresh yourself, replenish your energy, and get ready for the brave new world that awaits you in the morning.

Bonus Tips for Your First Day in Your New Home

• Take a picture of you and your loved ones standing by the front door of your new home – it will be a cherished reminder of all the joy and excitement you felt on the first day at your new house;
• Take out and arrange the items you need on a daily basis to make things easier and less stressful for you on the next morning;
• Don’t push yourself too hard – you’re not going to finish unpacking in one day, nor will be able to make your new place feel like home right from the start. Settling in will take time. Creating your dream home will take time. Adjusting to your new life will take time. Just take care of the most important things, then take a break and spend some quality time with your loved ones;

• Reward yourself for the successful move;
• Write a moving review to rate the services of your chosen moving company and help other home movers find good and reliable relocation partners;
• Start on friendly terms with the people next door – say hello to any neighbors you come across during the first day in your new surroundings, ask them for restaurant recommendations or any other useful advice, be considerate and avoid doing loud work like hanging pictures or vacuuming late at night, etc.;
• Play your favorite relaxing music in the evening –  whether you feel scared, or lonely, or just overexcited, it will help you sleep on the first night in your new home;
• Do whatever will help you feel good on the first day in your new home – not just the important, useful things, but something that will make you smile and rejoice at your relocation adventure.

After all, the first day and night in your new home are very special – make them exciting and unforgettable for all the right reasons!