When it comes to preparing for your first home, there are many things you need to consider. It can be a stressful and overwhelming process, but with the right preparation and advice, it can become an exciting new chapter in your life.
To help during this important time, we’ve created an extensive checklist of things to consider when moving to your first home. And don’t worry, this guide is applicable to both tenants and homeowners.
New Home Essentials
Below we’ve compiled a list below of essential items you’ll need for your new home. These will be different to what you’ll need on moving day, which we’ll dive into later.
Kitchen Items:
- Crockery (plates, dishes, cups, etc.)
- Tin and bottle openers
- Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)
- Chopping boards
- Baking trays
- Bin and bags
- Pots and pans
- Oven gloves
- Dishwashing liquid
- Kitchen cleaning products
- Sponges
- Hand towels
- Scales
- Cooking utensils (large spoons, spatula, ladle)
- Cheese grater
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Microwave
Food items:
- Milk
- Bread
- Coffee/tea
- Butter/margarine
- Sugar
- Frozen goods (ready meals, fruit and veg, oven food, etc.)
- Condiments (ketchup, mayonnaise, etc.)
- Salt, pepper, and spices
- Cooking oils
Bedroom Items:
- Pillows and cases
- Duvet and covers
- Mattress and sheets
- Clothes hangers
- Bedside tables
- Lamps
- Mirrors
Bathroom Items:
- Toothbrush and holder
- Small bin
- Soap
- Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- Toilet roll
- Toilet scrubber
- Bathroom cleaning products
- Towels (big and small)
- Shower mat
Living Room Items:
- Sofa
- Television
- Coffee table
- TV stand
- Rug
- Sofa cushions
If you’re renting a furnished property, some or most of these items will already be there waiting for you. However, those who’re buying a home or moving into an unfurnished property will have to consider each of these items.
We suggest you use this list as a basis for what is generally needed in a new home. Everyone’s different, so you’ll likely have more essentials that are on that list as standard.
Learning About Your New Home & Its Surroundings
When moving to a new property, we recommend learning about the property itself so that you can get to grips with the various quirks and noises that can be expected with a new house.
Below, we’ve segmented our helpful tips into two groups – inside the property and outside the property. Both are equally important and will make life in your new home much easier.
Inside the Property:
- Turn on the heating: Some landlords and homeowners will provide a guide on how to do this; however, it can be easily forgotten if your move-in date is during the warmer months. We recommend spending time to learn about your new heating system, even if you don’t require heating on that day.
- Find the gas and electric meters: This is a very important task, especially when you need to contact your new gas and electric suppliers. Ask the landlord or previous owner about the meters and have them show you everything you need to know.
- Kitchen appliances: This is only applicable if you’re moving into a property with a functioning oven, dishwasher and washing machine etc. We recommend turning these on and running them with nothing in them, as soon as you move in. If you’ve bought a property that comes with white goods and they are faulty, you will only have five days to ensure the previous homeowners are aware of the issue.
- Smoke/heat/CO2 detectors: Staying safe should be your top priority. Knowing where your smoke & fire alarms are located and ensuring they are working should be a critical part of any new move.
Outside the Property:
- Learn about the local supermarkets and shops: Taking the time to research your local supermarkets and shops could save you money over time. Many people will simply accept the supermarket closest to them, when there could be a much cheaper option just slightly further away.
- Locate a park near you: If you’ve got a dog, then you’ll want to know the nearest park that you can go to. You may need to do some online research or venture out to discover this yourself.
- Research local restaurants and takeaways: One of the best parts about moving to a new place is getting to try out the local eateries. We recommend researching the local restaurants and takeaways before diving in. Who knows – five minutes of research could make or break your Saturday night dinner!
- Review your public transport options: This should really be researched before choosing your new home, especially if you don’t drive. Some areas can have an extensive range of buses, trains, and subways to choose from, while other locations may require 30 minutes of walking before any transport is available. If you’re unsure, ask your neighbours or go online to find out the best route.
Important Tips for Moving Day
The big day is fast approaching, but if this is the first time you’ve moved house, you’ll likely underestimate everything involved.
Below, we’ve outlined some essential items we recommend. This won’t make the day completely stress-free, but it will help towards making it a day to remember, rather than one to forget.
Essential Items for the Moving Process
Before you even think about packing, you’ll need to gather some items that are essential to the moving process. What you require will differ from person to person; however, we believe these items are universally needed for those approaching the big moving day.
Here are our top picks for essential moving day items:
- Tape Measure: Using a tape measure will help ensure you have full understanding of the dimensions of doors, rooms, and windows before putting effort into moving various heavy items, such as sofas and beds.
- Cleaning Products: Unfortunately, the previous tenants/owners of your new home may not have left the property in a condition up to your standards. Therefore, stocking up on a wealth of cleaning products will ensure you’re ready for any eventuality.
- Toolbox: Nobody’s a fan of building furniture, and unfortunately, reversing the process isn’t much fun either. Despite this, much of your furniture (shelves, desks, tables etc.) may have to be deconstructed to make the moving process easier. Having a toolbox with all the various tools ensures you’re ready for any screw that may come your way!
- Boxes, Bubble Wrap, & Tape: Probably the most important items you’ll need when moving are sturdy moving boxes, bubble wrap, and tape to keep your boxes safe and secure. We understand how important these items are for moving and storing, so if you are a current customer of GTW, you can borrow any of these items from us at anytime. If you’re not a customer, you are welcome to buy a range of storage essentials directly from us. If you’re in the Glasgow area, contact us today to learn more.
Utilising Storage Units
When moving home, utilising your local storage company can make the process much easier. If you have a lot of stuff and know you’ll struggle to move it all in one day, then give us a call!
By renting a storage unit, you’re not only buying storage, but you’re also buying time to settle into your new home and unpack at your own pace. Many storage companies, including ourselves, allow customers to come and go as they please. This means you can stretch the moving period out as long as you need, only moving what you want, when you want.
If you’re planning a move in or around Glasgow, visit our website or contact our team to see if we can help. Our storage units are highly secure, flexible, and affordable and you can rent space from 8 sq ft right up to 250 sq ft.
Who Should You Contact When Moving Home?
Other than letting your family and friends know about your exciting new beginnings, there are a couple of other organisations you should contact. Some are more obvious than others, and many people still make the mistake of neglecting this part of the moving process.
We’ve already explored this topic in-depth in a previous article, so if you’re interested, we recommend reading that in full. It’s titled ‘Who Should You Inform When Moving Home’ and can be found by clicking here.
Here’s a quick rundown of the companies we suggest you contact when moving into your first home.
- Gas & electric suppliers
- Internet providers
- Banks & credit card companies
- Insurance companies
- DVLA
- Local council (council tax)
- Doctors’ office
- Dentist
- Mail subscriptions
- Online streaming services
The above list is a generalisation so some people may have more to contact, some less.
When you’re moving into your first home, we recommend getting the help of a friend or family member who has experience with moving home.
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s a lot you’ll have to consider when moving into your first home and all of these things can become a surprisingly hard hill to climb when you’ve never done them before.
If you’re looking to make the process easier, consider our highly secure and affordable storage units, based in Glasgow’s City Centre. Contact one of the GTW Storage team by clicking here, and we’ll be more than happy to help you!