Here are 12 things to do after moving to get settled in a new city
Now that the residential movers have finished unloading your belongings, it’s time to get settled. We’ve put together suggestions to help you get settled in a new city.
But first: Take the time to congratulate yourself!
Moving to a new city isn’t a slam-dunk. It takes courage, planning, money, and energy.
And now you’ve made it.
Settling in means getting your new home in order, locating community support, and establishing new connections. Even if you’ve moved to another neighborhood or section of your current city, these tips will still apply to you. Think about how different it is in one part of your city compared with another.
Long story short: Even if you’ve moved long-distance (across the country) or a short distance (across town), you want to review our Moving to a New City Checklist.
Before the Move
Prior to the big day, leave yourself plenty of time to get your moving supplies. These include packing supplies, moving boxes and other packing materials, important documents, medical records.
Be sure to also leave your contact information with your old landlord (if you’ve been renting) so they can send you your security deposit if you have one coming back to you.
Speaking of that, before you even start packing, make sure you fill out a change of address form at the post office. Double-check that the new address is correct.
Consider holding a garage sale to reduce your moving load and help you get rid of unwanted items, such as books, furniture, and seasonal items.
Finally, think about how to tip your movers for a job well done. See if you can add gratuity to your credit card payment — although most movers will likely prefer cash.
After the Move
Organize Your New Home
Now that you’ve got that all sorted out, here’s your Smooth Move People moving checklist with 12 things to do after moving day to get settled in a new city.
A top priority is making sure all your belongings arrive damage-free. After that, you’ll need to ensure your house is functioning to provide you and your family with a safe place to live, work, and play.
- Check electronics and appliances (if you moved them on the moving truck). Portland movers and insurance companies will take reports and process any damage claims.
- Inventory your furniture and boxes as part of the moving process. Here, too, if you have any missing or damaged items, contact your residential mover and homeowner’s insurance company for reimbursement.
- Confirm utility accounts (gas, electric, cable/satellite, water/sewer) are in your name, that your mail has been forwarded correctly, and any extra services such as trash pick-up (including trash/recycling containers) or home security systems are set up.
- Do a thorough walk-through of your house to learn its setup. Locate and check the labels on the fuse box to confirm how the house is wired. Find the main water shutoff. Check for unexpected leaks, infestations, or damage, especially if your house has been vacant.
- Update your security by changing the locks on exterior doors, checking window closures, and installing smoke detectors on each floor. Consider adding a carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguishers to your house and garage.
Find Your Community Resources
As we mentioned above, these tips apply whether you’ve moved across the country or across town. Finding community resources is the next step to take after you’ve unpacked essential items in the most-used areas.
What are those essential items and where are the most-used areas? Things like bed sheets, pillows, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, toilet paper, food, plates and silverware, to name a few. As you’ve probably already figured out, three of the most-used areas are your bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.
Now it’s time to head out and become a resident in your new city.
- If you’ve made a long-distance move, you’ll need a new driver’s license and will need to register your vehicle.
- Stop by your local city or township hall to register to vote. Local governments often have welcome packets with useful information for newcomers, like the location of the library, parks and recreation services, and community events.
- Families with children will need to register with the school district. If you’ve moved during the summer, talk with the school administrator about scheduling a tour for your child(ren) and meeting teacher(s) prior to the fall start.
- Take a walk or drive around your neighborhood to find other useful resources: grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, post offices, and police and fire departments. Look for personal essentials like the coffee shop, gas station, dry cleaners, and shopping areas.
Get Connected with Others
In the first few weeks after your move, begin building relationships. Most people like to help newcomers become part of the community, so don’t be reluctant to ask questions.
- Neighbors and work colleagues will have suggestions for physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and even hairstylists. They’ll be resources for learning about the local culture including museums, restaurants, and sports teams. And you’ll get tips on the best routes to use when traveling to work, school, and area attractions.
- Local philanthropic organizations like churches, the YMCA, or the United Way can also help you become connected to others in your community.
- Local schools or universities will have websites with calendars of activities, clubs to join, and special events.
Smooth Move People: A Reliable, Professional Portland Moving Company
If you need a professional Portland mover for short or long-distance moves, contact our team at Smooth Move People. We’ll take the worry out of your move, so you can focus on settling in.
Smooth Move People is a family-owned, reliable, affordable, Portland-based moving company. We offer the lowest rates in the state — really! We charge as low as ODOT will allow — and offer exceptional, turnkey services.
Insurance
In this piece, we mentioned moving insurance. Let’s take a few minutes here to talk about some of the moving insurance options you’ll have when you partner with Smooth Move People.
Please keep in mind that this information is not intended to cover all aspects of moving insurance. For that, you’ll need to speak with your insurance agent. They can fill you in on the details of the different types of coverage, including liability coverage, basic coverage options, and more.
But it may be helpful to know that Smooth Move People includes a few options for you as part of our moving services in Portland and beyond.
For example, we provide what’s called Released Value Protection. This is provided free of charge. Generally, this protection values your goods at $.60 per pound per item.
Another option, which costs $85, is known as Replacement Cost Insurance. With this option, any item damaged during a move is covered for repair. If it is determined to be damaged or broken beyond repair due to the fault of the moving company, the item will be replaced with a similar item. As mentioned above, this insurance costs $85 and covers your goods up to $10,000.
Well, that about covers it!
If you are planning a move, let our licensed and experienced team at Smooth Move People help! Our affordable rates and reputation for quality and efficient moving services are some things you can count on. Contact us today to get your move scheduled.
We can pack, move, unload, provide supplies for your upcoming home move, or even move your office or business. Call Smooth Move People at (503) 444-8936.
