What to Do During the First 24 Hours in a New Place to Help You Get Settled ASAP
The first day in a new place is vital — it can make a difference on how the first few months after a move go and set the tone for the rest of the time you live there. So how should you spend the first 24 hours in a new place? Consider this list as your guide for those precious first hours.
Document everything and save it all or send it.
If your landlord has asked you to fill out a condition report, do it as soon as you’re able to, and follow their instructions on whether you’re to drop it off to them or send a digital file, and include photos if you can. Also make plenty of notes and photos to keep yourself.
And while there might be plenty of other things you want to dive into doing, also consider doing a walk-through and taking notes of certain maintenance items you want to do, like making your windows more energy efficient, replacing old incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, checking smoke detectors, and more. You don’t have to do anything just yet, just make a list.
Take pictures of each space.
Snap photos of every room before you start hauling boxes into your new place or unpacking. You’ll thank yourself later as you’ll have something to reflect on to see the “before” shots prior to transforming your place into your cozy new home. It’s a fun way to track your progress and appreciate how far your space has come.
Clean some spots that seem to need it.
Even if your new home was cleaned before you moved in (and hopefully it was!), sometimes there still seems like a few spots need a little extra attention from you. Some folks prefer taking extra swipes over places like toilet seats and doorknobs.
We like to suggest you do an extra clean in places that you might not be reaching often when your furniture and other belongings get into place, like behind the fridge, under the bed, along the baseboards, or in corners that get blocked by larger pieces.
Swap the toilet seat.
Consider swapping out the toilet seat. It’s a small change that instantly makes the bathroom feel cleaner. Even if everything was scrubbed down beforehand, this simple update can go a long way in helping the bathroom feel truly yours from day one.
Put all the boxes in the right rooms.
You don’t have to unpack all the boxes yet, but at least try and move the boxes to the correct rooms they belong in. Whether you unpack in one long, unbroken string of hours or peck at it a bit as your first weeks in your new home go by, it’ll make it easier to put away and put together small areas and whole rooms faster if you’re not darting from room to room.
Put together all the furniture and put it where it’s supposed to go.
This is probably the task you really want to put off, but it’s one of the necessary steps to help make your new place feel like home. Start with the furniture that needs to be assembled, getting them together and putting them in the rough areas of where they need to be located. If you weren’t able to see the space before you move in and don’t have a furniture plan in place, go with your gut and know you can always adjust it later.
Make your bed.
Trust us on this one. Once your bed is assembled and in place, make it so you don’t have to try and find and wrestle with sheets after a long day of moving boxes.
Take out and arrange your daily stuff.
There are some things you just need on a daily basis. From toiletries, to towels to coffee-making supplies, take out the things you need and arrange them as best you can, and you’ll make having to get ready for work in a sea of boxes a lot easier.
Introduce yourself to any neighbors you come across.
You don’t have to bring over warm, oven-baked cookies or anything, but if you happen across any neighbors in your first 24 hours in your new place, don’t tuck your chin and run (even if you are dirty from moving). Say hello and establish friendly terms early on, because let’s be honest — making friends as an adult isn’t always easy.
Plus, it’s always helpful to know your neighbors in case you need someone to water your plants, grab a package while you’re away, or answer questions about the area.
Avoid doing loud things like hanging paintings and vacuuming late at night.
Even though you’re bent on working through the night to get as much stuff done as possible, your neighbors are probably just trying to enjoy their lives (and sleep) as they normally are. So try not to be extra noisy and start out on the most considerate foot first.
(If there’s still time) Complete one room as much as possible.
Choose a small space and try to “complete” it as much as you can. Unpack the boxes for that room and put stuff up where it needs to go (while making note of any storage solutions you might need in that space). You don’t have to hang the art just yet, but go ahead, unwrap it, and lean it somewhere close to where you think it’ll go.
Do all this so when the sea of boxes that seems never-ending threatens your sanity in the coming weeks, you’ll have one spot in your home you can retreat to so you can forget you just uprooted your life!
Check out the The New Mover to discover the latest tips and most innovative hacks to make your next move the smoothest one yet. This content was presented by a sponsor; it was created independently by our editorial team.