Ten things you need to do on the first day you move to your new apartment

Moving day is exciting and exhausting, and after more than 80 years of moving people into their new homes, we know that the first day in your new apartment can be a little bewildering. There you are, surrounded by what seems like hundreds of boxes, and you just want to feel at home. But you’re not even sure where your pajamas are and you haven’t been this tired for a long time.

To help you with this crazy first day in your new apartment, we’ve made you a handy checklist. If you take care of these things the first day, you’ll feel like you’re back on your feet and ready to face your new home and apartment with your game face on.

1. Make sure the appliances are working. Before you unpack your cooler or head out to the grocery store, make sure the refrigerator is running, the garbage disposal turns on, and the dishwasher runs. If anything isn’t working, you can get the building supervisor right to work on it before it gets too late.

2. Do some basic cleaning. Unpacking will go much better if you make sure your apartment is clean before you begin. If kitchen cupboard shelves are dusty, wipe them down before you put any food away. Sweep or vacuum the bedrooms before you set up the beds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Get food. The whole world looks brighter when you’ve had a good meal, so make sure you get one before you’re too worn out. If you can get enough groceries for the next couple of days, you’ll find that you’re much more productive (and happy!). For your first meal, try something ultra-easy like delivered pizza.

 

 

4. Get kids and pets settled. If you have children or animals, get them situated as quickly as possible. Make sure your pets have food and water and aren’t underfoot while you work. If you kids are old enough, give them jobs to do like hanging their clothes in their closets or putting books on shelves.

 

5. Check the smoke detector. Before you go to sleep the first night in your new apartment, make sure your smoke detector is fully operational. If the test button doesn’t work, install new batteries and try again.

 

6. Identify the emergency exits. While you’re thinking about safety, find out where the nearest emergency exits are from your apartment. You can usually find a diagram near the elevator or staircase in your apartment building. Make sure everyone in your household knows about the emergency exits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Contact the utilities companies. If you need to put the electricity or gas in your name, make sure you call the day you move in so the companies can get accurate readings. You may also need to call about phone, satellite, Internet, and cable.

 

 

8. Fill out a change-of-address form. Stop by your post office and fill out a form to get your mail forwarded to your new address. Also, contact magazines, newspapers, and companies you do business with to tell them about your new address.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Cover the windows. If you don’t have blinds or curtains on your windows, you may want to get something up before the sun goes down. If you can’t find anything else, you can always hang a bed sheet over a bare window until you can get to the store and buy proper window treatments.

 

10. Celebrate! Moving is an accomplishment, so do something to celebrate. You won’t be able to unpack everything your first night in your new home, so get the essentials done and then put up your feet. A little ice cream never hurt anyone after a long day of moving.