Moving day is behind you. The truck is gone, the boxes are stacked, and every part of you wants to sit down and stop making decisions. That is fair. But there are a few things worth doing in the first day or two before you get into unpacking mode. Here is what we tell people after we finish a move.
Post-Move Advice from Professional Movers in Hillsborough
Take Pictures First
Before you slide a single piece of furniture against a wall, walk through every room and take photos. If you are renting, those pictures are your record of any damage or wear that was already there when you arrived. Without them, you are arguing from memory when it comes time to get your deposit back. If you bought the place, photos of the home in its original state give you a clear before-and-after if you ever decide to sell. Buyers like seeing what changed and what was original to the house.
Check Your Belongings for Damage
Insurance companies and moving carriers both expect claims to be filed within a reasonable time after delivery. Do not wait a week to open boxes. Go through your belongings and look for anything that was damaged during the move. Pay particular attention to major appliances. Plug them in, run them through a cycle, and make sure they are working the way they should. If something is wrong, you want to catch it while the move is still fresh and documentation is straightforward.
Change the Locks
You do not know who has a key to your new place. The previous owners may have given copies to neighbors, family members, a dog walker, or a contractor. Keys get lost and copied. If the locks have never been changed, there is no way to know how many people could walk through your front door. Changing the locks when you move in is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your home and your family.
Confirm Your Utilities Are Working
Ideally your utilities are already set up before moving day. Once you are in, go through and verify that heat, electric, water, and any other services are actually running the way they should be. Finding out your hot water is not connected at 10 p.m. on move-in night is the kind of thing that is easy to avoid if you check early.
Get these four things handled in the first couple of days and you will be in a much better position to settle in without loose ends hanging over you.
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