Your Ultimate ​Move-In Guide

Are you ready for move in day? Chances are you’ve been running around getting everything in order for this big day. It’s going to be exciting, and no doubt—a lot of work. Here are some tips to make moving in go smoothly.

1) Do a final walk through. Walk through your new home before you start unloading and make sure all agreed upon repairs were completed and everything looks the way it should.

2) Greet your neighbors. Don’t wait for your Wakefield neighbors to come over with freshly baked cookies—go meet them! Unpacking can wait a few minutes while you focus on building your new community. Introduce your family members and let them know you’re excited to get to know them better. You can also leave them a print out with your names and phone numbers so they’ll have your contact information handy if they need it.

3) Keep cleaning supplies handy. Most North Shore sellers leave their homes clean for buyers, but before you start putting items away in cabinets and closets, you may want to give them a quick wipe down while they’re empty.

4) Find out when garbage day is. And if your new home is in an area with recycling, find out what items they take. You’re going to have lots of trash and empty boxes for pick-up. Ask a neighbor if you’re unsure—this is also an easy way to break the ice and introduce yourself!

5) Sort first, unpack later. You may have found that, when packing, filling boxes by room wasn’t feasible; you may have some random items in boxes that belong in different rooms. First, sort these items and place them in their correct rooms, but wait to put them away until all your items are sorted.

7) Unpack one room at a time. If you have kids, unpacking their rooms first might be a smart move to help them get comfortable. You may also want to get your bathroom set up sooner rather than later so you can enjoy a hot shower at the end of the day without running into the need to unpack after you've already grown exhausted. Once you’ve prioritized, go through each room at a time and unpack the contents to keep things feeling more manageable.

8) Plan how you’ll unpack the kitchen. The kitchen will likely be the most time-consuming room to unpack, and you’ll want to get it right to avoid re-organizing while there’s still more unpacking to be done. It’s helpful to organize everything on the counters in front of cabinets before shelving these items so you can see if the flow works for you and your family.

9) Keep a donation bin handy. As you’re unpacking you may realize that certain items don’t fit or won’t have a use in your new home. Keep a large bin nearby to drop items into as you unpack. Starting your new home clutter-free is a wonderful start.

10) Reassembling furniture. Hopefully, while packing, you taped any assembly hardware to their corresponding pieces to avoid loss or separation of crucial screws, pads, etc. Even if nothing requires actual reassembly, you may wish to tighten some joints and secure other items throughout your new home to avoid unnecessary deterioration or safety risks. Make sure your tools are nearby or carry a tool belt as you unpack for ease of access. If you forget how something goes back together, don't fret! Look online for product guides posted by the manufacturer for download.

11) Pack an overnight bag with essentials. Think about what you’ll need for the next day or so. Items like your toothbrush, toiletries, soap, and a change of clothes will definitely come in handy at bedtime and in the morning if you're unable to unpack everything on Day 1. Leave these items in your vehicle until you need them so they don't get mixed up with everything else that needs to be unpacked.

12) Pizza! Have a few phone numbers handy for local pizza delivery to feed your moving helpers and enjoy the day without worrying about cooking later. This can be another great question to ask your new neighbors if you haven't gotten to meet them yet!

Preparing to buy or sell? These 12 tips are a great guide for getting ready to move, but your local realty expert could provide some additional insights on how to mitigate any concerns or additional questions you may have. Reach out for more one-on-one advice here and don't forget to check out more North Shore real estate tips on the blog!