10 Key Tasks to Complete Upon Arriving at Your New Home

Your belongings are packed in the moving truck, the family SUV, and your convertible. The old house is now empty, waiting for its new tenants, and you're headed to your new home. You've got the cash to pay the movers, plus a generous tip, a new set of keys, and the security code. Your floor plan, marked with the placement of everything, and the mover's inventory list are in your folder. The kids are having fun with their cousins at your sister's, while your brothers-in-law are waiting to help unload the truck and arrange the furniture at the new place. But what else should you do when you get there? Read on for the next 10 steps to find out.

10: Protect Your New Home from Pests

If you can get into your new home a day or two before the moving truck arrives, use that time to tackle a few important tasks. You might want to set off a bug bomb or arrange for an exterminator to spray the house. Even if you don’t spot any insects, they’re likely around, and you don’t want to welcome pests into your new space. It’s much harder to find and get rid of them once your belongings are inside. Plus, you’ll avoid exposing your kids or pets to chemicals during pest control treatments.

9: Begin with a Clean Slate

Another excellent use of your empty home is to give it a thorough cleaning. This is especially helpful if you followed the pest control suggestions earlier. Take advantage of having a completely clear space to clean the floors, baseboards, and windows with ease. You won’t get another chance like this with all your furniture in place. Clean the countertops, shelves, and drawers, and replace any shelf paper if needed. Run a test cycle in the dishwasher and washing machine, scrub out the oven if necessary, and clean the fridge and freezer. If you can, hire a cleaning service to speed up the process. If you can't clean before the movers arrive, a cleaning service will be invaluable afterward.

8: Explore the Local Market

In many cultures, it's a tradition to bring bread and salt into a new home. The gesture symbolizes ensuring the family will always have food—bread for nourishment and salt to add flavor to meals. Whether you choose to follow this custom or not, it’s a good idea to check out the local market for some essential items. With all the moving activity, someone is sure to get thirsty or hungry. Stock up your fridge with drinks, sandwich ingredients, and snacks. Also, be sure to grab cups, napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper while you're there.

7: Check Your Belongings

Once everything is unloaded, compare your inventory list with what has been delivered. Did everything make it to your new home? This is when having both your inventory list and a floor plan with labeled spots for each item is really helpful. You can take a tour of the house, checking each room to ensure that all your belongings have arrived safely. Also, make sure to open some boxes with fragile items to verify they survived the move. If Grandma Sophie’s china and Great Uncle Claude’s stemware made it in one piece, it’s likely that the rest of your items did too.

6: Unpack Essentials and Stay Organized

If you didn’t hire movers to help with unpacking, don’t feel the need to tackle it all at once. Sort your labeled boxes so that you can focus on only the things you need right away. This way, you can organize your new home as you go, rather than rushing to shove things into closets and cupboards. Look for items like towels, bed linens, toiletries, and other must-haves. Unpack a few outfits for the next few days, find your coffee maker and favorite mug, and don’t forget to grab Fido’s food and water dishes, along with a couple of his favorite toys.

5: Install Window Treatments

Ideally, you’ve planned for the movers to finish unloading the truck before lunchtime, giving you ample time to settle into your new home. A crucial part of settling in is installing window treatments. While we don't recommend tackling all windows at once, focus on covering the most important rooms. At night, you don’t want your family and belongings on display for everyone to see. If window coverings haven't been addressed yet, grab some sheets from the "linens" boxes to temporarily cover the windows until you decide on options like tab-tops or Roman shades.

4: Make the Beds

While you’re sifting through boxes filled with linens, unpack enough bedding to set up beds for everyone who’ll be sleeping at your house. Skip the guest rooms for now unless you’re expecting company. Focus on the kids’ rooms and your master suite. Find your daughter’s favorite purple princess blanket and your son’s robot-themed flannel sheets. You want their first night in the new place to be special. And don’t forget your husband’s anti-snoring pillow.

3: Meet the Neighbors

After hours of unpacking, take a break and get some fresh air. Grab the kids, leash up the dog, and take a stroll around the neighborhood. If you can, try to meet a few neighbors while you're out. If the family across the street is playing basketball, stop by and introduce yourself. If the couple next door is working on their garden, compliment their landscaping. If you see someone else out with their family or dog, take the opportunity to say hello. The sooner you get to know those around you, the quicker your new place will start to feel like home.

2: Enjoy a Family Meal

Moving can be exhausting and overwhelming. After a long day of unpacking and organizing, take a break and enjoy a meal together. Don’t stress about cooking from scratch—especially if the kitchen’s still packed up. Grab takeout from the nearest restaurant or order delivery. At dinner, you can relax and plan your next steps. You could unpack the kitchen, or perhaps unwind in the den with some ice cream sundaes and a favorite DVD. How about mint chocolate chip and "Princess Bride"?

1: Get Some Sleep

We can’t stress it enough—moving is tiring and stressful. After a full day of moving furniture and unpacking, it’s important to get a good night’s rest. No need to burn the midnight oil. The boxes will still be there tomorrow, and you’ve already sorted the essentials. By getting a proper amount of sleep, you'll be recharged and ready to take on whatever comes next, whether it’s unpacking the library, hanging artwork, or even taking a break to explore your new neighborhood.