New Home? Here Are Eight Things to Do ASAP Moving into a new home is an exciting experience. The new space is filled with potential, and you have the freedom to set it up however you want it. However, those first few weeks after moving can be quite chaotic, leading to the overwhelming stress of having too much to do.

Take a breath, slow down, and handle the essentials first. Here are the top priorities when you move into a new home.

Check on Your Belongings

First and foremost, check to ensure that all of your belongings have made it to their final destination. Whether you’ve used a moving company or called upon your friends with trucks, it’s important to ensure you have everything. You can make this process easier by drafting an inventory as you pack before moving.

This may be your only chance to recover lost or forgotten items. Take your time, sort everything into the rooms where they belong, and check that you brought everything with you.

Outline a Floor Plan

Before you start unpacking, take a walk through your home and get a feel for the space. In most cases, people moving into a new home have only been in the space once before. Take your time getting familiar with the rooms and outlining any issues that need repairs or attention. Note where the electric panel and water shut-off valve are located in case any issues arise.

Take this opportunity to create a floor plan to determine where you’ll put things. Use an app to make it easier to visualize the space and where your furniture will go.

Set Your Prioritized To-Do List

Once you have an idea of the work ahead, create a prioritized to-do list. Many of the things in this article should be on this list. Use a prioritization system to determine what should be updated or repaired as soon as possible and what can wait until your time and budget allow. This exercise will help you break the upcoming work into manageable chunks.

Call a Locksmith

Consider calling a locksmith within the first 48 hours of being in your new home. A skilled locksmith can rekey your current locks or replace older models with newer, more secure alternatives.

When you move into a new home, you never know how many keys are out in the world. Talk to a locksmith about the best options to keep your home secure.

Check Your Utilities

Check to ensure your utilities have been successfully transferred to your new home. Ideally, you would have put in a request with a transfer date in advance of your move. If your water, electricity, and gas aren’t working, you’ll need to have this issue corrected ASAP.

Unpack the Essentials

Be selective in what you unpack during the first few days in your new home. Plan on unpacking enough to get by so that you can shower, change your clothing, and sleep the first night. It can help pack a “carry-on” bag with the essentials, similar to staying at a hotel.

When unpacking the rest of your home, the kitchen should be a top priority. Unpacking this room gives you what you need to cook food and keep your take-out budget low.

Change Your Address

Another vital step to complete within the first week of moving to a new home is submitting your change of address to the necessary agencies and businesses in your life. Remember to submit an address change to:

• Doctors and dentists

• Employers

• Bank

• Schools

• DMV

• Credit Card companies

• IRS

You can also pay to have a mail forward put in place to buy yourself more time.

Meet the Neighbors

Finally, take some time to say hello to the neighbors. Meeting the neighbors is an integral part of getting to know the neighborhood and creating a network to keep your community secure.

With these eight simple steps, you can make the transition into your new home much easier.