6 Tips for Moving into Your Newly Built Home

Guest blog written by Kassi Mattice
– Two Small Men With Big Hearts

Is there a better feeling than moving into a home that has been newly built just for you and your family? With a few obvious exceptions, we don’t think so! When the build is complete, you’ve taken your final walk-through, and inspections have been finalized, the anticipation and excitement you’ll feel are nearly unmatched. Every detail of the design, from the countertops to the bathroom tile, reflects the choices you made for your perfect home.

You may have heard before that after weddings and funerals, planning a move is one of the most stressful things we can do. To make sure your move to your dream home doesn’t make the list, we’ve prepared tips to help you get organized and stay on top of every facet of your upcoming move. Here’s our advice for moving into a newly built home:

 

Create or find a moving checklist

There’s more to keep track of than most of us anticipate when we’re preparing to move. You’ll want to plan ahead in increments of time – 1 month, 2 weeks, 1 week, and day of – for what should be accomplished by these dates. Two Small Men with Big Hearts Moving has a free, printable checklist on their website that you can use to plan each step of your move, as well as to keep track of your progress. 

Build flexibility into your moving date

If you have the option, you should plan your moving dates with flexibility in mind. If a delay occurs, you won’t be as stressed – you’ve already given yourself breathing room and space to change your big moving day if needed. Planning for the unexpected can give you peace of mind, even if everything is likely to run smoothly and on-schedule.

Choose a moving company

You should begin researching local moving companies about 6 weeks before you move. There’s a lot to look for when deciding on your mover: start by checking out their online reviews, ask for referrals from family and friends, and gather quotes from a few companies before you decide. You should book your move 4-5 weeks in advance – particularly if you’re moving at the end or beginning of the month – to ensure you can secure the date you want. 

There are a few red flags to keep in mind when it comes to movers, too:

• No professional movers will charge for a quote
• Business information online should be up to date
• If their quote is significantly lower than other companies, be suspicious
• If their sales agents aren’t friendly and helpful, move on

Check out your new neighbourhood

The period before you move is the best time to get familiar with your new area, particularly to figure out if there are any quirky features of the roads that you should familiarize yourself with before your first commute to the office or your kid’s school. Bringing your family along for the ride will help them feel more comfortable in the new neighbourhood, too!

Update your address with utility companies

Switching over and turning on your utilities at the new home is easy to forget or push to the last minute, but you should schedule it in advance so that your first official night in your new home leaves you with happy memories. 

You should also forward mail from your old address to your new address for 6 months to a year to give yourself flexibility in updating addresses with businesses and acquaintances you don’t hear from by mail that often. 

Moving day – get your keys!

Check with your builder to arrange for key pick up, then start enjoying your new home! One of our favourite recommendations to make the new home really feel like it’s yours is to have a big house cleaning day. Cleaning your space before moving your stuff in will enhance the feeling of ownership you have in your new home. 

Your last step is to get a good night’s rest. Moving into your new home can be stressful, but it’s so worth it in the end.

Happy housewarming!