Five Tips for Starting Life Off Right in Your New Home

Moving into a new home is an exciting time. You’ve got a new place that you can transform into whatever you want, and a new neighborhood to explore. Perhaps you’re moving into your first apartment after leaving your parents’ home, or maybe this is the first house you’re getting with your family. No matter where you’re going, a new home is exciting, but it’s also a little overwhelming. You want to start off on the right foot so that the next few months of adjusting are easier. Here are a few tips on how you can do this.

Do Renovations Early

First, if there are major changes you want to make to the home, try to get these done early. Once you’re settled into the house, you’ll find it harder to get larger projects completed. Rather than having to move all the furniture out of the way, or moving the kids into another bedroom while you renovate theirs, try to get these things done before you even move in.

Some early renovations you might want to consider are: replacing floor tiles or carpeting, painting the walls, making any major repairs, or adding any additions to the house. This may delay your move in date a little, as you’ll have to wait for the completed work, but it will be well worth it when your home is how you want it and you don’t have to worry about changing it later.

Make the Move Easier

One of the most stressful parts of getting a new home is simply moving into it. You need to find a way to pack up all your belongings, transport them to your new home, then unload them. If you don’t take some precautions, you will likely find that your moving experience becomes overwhelming, and this is no way to start off life in your new home.

Luckily, there’s a few easy things you can do to make your move simpler. For starters, hire good local movers. For example, someone living in Santa Monica would want to hire someone from Santa Monica, and not someone a few hours away. A good moving team will handle most of the work for you and ensure that everything you own arrives safely at your new location. In addition, since they live nearby, they will know the local area better.

Beyond that, give yourself plenty of time. If you try to pack everything up and move in just a day, you’re going to have a hard time. Plan out everything you need to do in advance, then slowly work on things over time.

Finally, make sure you label everything when you’re packing up. You’re going to have a lot of boxes, and if they all look the same, unpacking the truck will be difficult. When you finish packing a box, grab a marker and write which room it’s going to. This will make life easier for both you and the movers.

Learn the Neighborhood

Now that you’ve settled into the house a bit, go out and learn the neighborhood. Introduce yourself to the neighbors, learn which streets are around yours, and find out where all the local stores are. Take some time to simply drive around and see what you find. Your hope is likely that you’ll live here for a long time, so you might as well start getting to know it. Try ordering out from different restaurants to see what you like or taking the dog for a walk down different streets. Part of feeling at home is feeling comfortable in your new neighborhood as well, so don’t keep yourself shut up inside.

Throw a Party

A great way to start life off right in your new home is by throwing a party. For one, parties are fun. You’ll always remember the first party you had at your new home, and this will bring back fond memories. Parties are also a great way to meet your neighbors, and to introduce your loved ones to your new place. On top of all that, you may even get some house-warming gifts, providing you with some much needed essentials for your new home.

Your move was likely expensive, so you don’t have to go all out on the party. Keep it to close friends and family, maybe order a few pizzas, and ask everyone to bring what they want to drink or some snacks. Add some music or some party games and you’re good to go.

Make it Your Own

Finally, work on making your new home your own. This means decorating it how you want, arranging the furniture in a way you like, and doing whatever you want to the yard. This home is yours, and you should always feel comfortable here. While it’s fine to get some home décor ideas from around the Internet, make sure you are choosing things that you like, not what you think you’re supposed to do or what you think others might like. This is your home – treat it as such.