You will only get one “first night” in your new home – your piece of the American Dream made manifest! Is moving among the top five life stressors? Absolutely! But you can manage that by being organized and prepared. And please – don’t forget to relax so you can enjoy this major life step and even celebrate a little, no matter how small the gesture.
Last Out, First In
In order to get ready for your first night in your new home, it is a good idea to prepare for it as you would a vacation – but a no-frills vacation, more like camping! In fact, there may not even be power yet! So, don’t forget some flashlights.
A good place to start when readying for your first evening in your new house is to take a last-out, first-in approach. Meaning, consider the necessary items you need from day to day just to do life, essentially. The last things that would get packed because you need them should be the first items you cross your new threshold holding!
Fill a Few Boxes
If your belongings will not be arriving right away, prepare for the first night by filling as many boxes as you can with your daily life essentials that will travel with you by car to your new residence. Mark the contents you place in each one for greater ease in being able to find needed items once you arrive.
- Make sure you have a kitchen box with cooking basics, a couple pots and pans, utensils and flatware. Consider purchasing paper goods to get you through a few days’ worth of meals. Trash bags will be invaluable, along with an old-fashioned can opener, dish liquid and paper towels. Also, some bottled water, some dry goods and some favorite treats for family members.
- A bedroom box should have linens and pillows for each family member.
- A bath box should be filled with towels, washcloths, a shower curtain, toiletries (don’t forget toothbrushes and toothpaste!), a first aid kid and plenty of toilet paper.
- A family box containing a couple of games, books and plenty of chargers for everyone’s devices, extension cords, maybe even a DVD player and a couple favorite movies – will service you well as your family hangs together on the first night.
- A box containing important home documents, like family records including birth certificates and social security cards, as well as tax information, bank records, school records and medical and insurance information.
Involve the Entire Family
Each person in the family will need an overnight bag filled with a couple of changes of clothes, pajamas, slippers, personal care items, and medications. Kids like to be involved and feel like they are being helpful, so don’t be afraid to put them to work gathering their pajamas, clothes for a few days, shoes, a favorite toy or stuffed animal, a couple of books and necessary coats or boots. Don’t forget to pack your pets’ food, treats, leashes, water and food bowls, brushes and any medications.
The Clean Sweep
One of the most important activities to undertake when first moving in is to give your new home a major cleaning, from top to bottom. Start stocking up on cleaning products like buckets, cloths, trash bags, baking soda, vinegar, furniture and glass cleaners (including some anti-bacterial ones), mops, brooms, and a stepladder , along with some basic tools in case you need to make some minor repairs. Like your first night in a new home, you will probably only have an empty house this one time, so clean it until it sparkles to be ready when all your belongings arrive!
Last but not least – take some time to gather as a family and celebrate! Maybe order pizza for delivery and open that bottle of bubbly you bought when your mortgage was approved. Take a deep breath and enjoy!
Related Read: To-Do List Before Moving into a New Home
