Step 9. Settled up and Settling Down

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to relocating, especially if you're moving your family. Rule of thumb: the more kids, pets and grandparents are involved, the more stressful!

Settling into the new home can take on a life of its own if you let it. The physical and mental act of packing up and moving everything from one place to another is stressful enough, let alone trying to keep tempers from flaring. You need to be psychologically prepared for this. You'll also need a few Jedi mind tricks to stop stressing about how much it all costs.

You've exchanged vast wads of money in return for quality of life. It's a heady feeling that goes up and down, and the best thing to do is embrace it. This is a new adventure. Stress is part of the journey. Opening up to friends or others who recently bought will help normalise the journey. The focus needs to be crystal clear with lists and priorities.?

Before you get to that stage:

1. Plan for everything to go wrong and be delightfully surprised when it doesn't.
2. Factor in extra time, expense and stress levels
3. Just go with it.

Your moving story only happens a few times in a lifetime. On the one hand, there's champagne, celebration, and excitement; on the other hand, there's a whole new budget to factor in from loan repayments, relocation, new furniture and utility costs. Fast forward six months when you're firmly ensconced in your new home, and hey presto, whatever happened during relocation day will be a distant memory.?

Settling into your new home

Read on for tips and the best ways to tackle unpacking, settling in children, pets and grandparents and putting your touches onto your new house to make it home.

Unpacking

Haphazardly placed furniture sitting amidst towering walls of boxes is enough to make anyone feel exhausted. Sit down with a pad and pen, give yourself time to breathe and congratulate yourself for getting this far!

The previous owners would have cleaned the property, but it's always best to do your own cleaning. The easiest way is to attack each room individually before the furniture goes in. And then any items that have picked up dust or grime along the way can have a quick clean as you move them into the space. Empty space is a breeze to clean.?

No doubt you are feeling physically and emotionally spent. You've done the hard yards, finding this new home and packing up the old one; now it's time to check that the new space is functional.

Check gas, electricity and hot water system. Grab your overnight suitcase with all your essentials for the first night: toiletries, bed linen, essential kitchen items and a fresh set of clothes for everyone.?

The home-delivered takeaway will solve the problem of what to eat.?

Beds need to be made. If everyone needs to head straight to bed after the big day, that's fine. Before bed, make a list to hit the ground running the next day. Ensure everyone's duties are clearly outlined so they can refer to the list.

If the energy is there, unpack the essential bathroom and kitchen items to save time in the morning. It's helpful to have access to essential household functions while unpacking. Ideally, you've organised with the removalists to place key furniture items, such as dining tables, couches, and beds, in their pre-destined positions; if not, that's an excellent job to get out of the way early.

Unpack essential items first. Allocate shelving or cupboard space in place. Avoid chaos by?

Approach boxes, books, CDs and ornaments room by room.?

Unpack fragile items at the end of the process when they're less likely to get damaged.

Try to unpack slowly. This is the start of a new adventure and a journey of rediscovery. As you evaluate your things, you will put aside those items that no longer have meaning. You are opening up a new space for fresh ideas.?

The last step is the easy, fun bit: artwork, decorations, soft furnishings, lamps and mementoes.

Help your children feel at home

?Before moving:

1. Take them to the area to familiarise them with the playgrounds, schools, and shops.?
2. Set up their bedrooms: give them a safe place to chill out while adjusting.?
3. Be prepared for tears and sadness about leaving friends and all things associated with schools and sports. Seek counselling advice if they remain this way after the first few weeks.
4. Maintain the same rituals you used in the old home to help keep a sense of familiarity and continuity?

Settling pets

Settling your pet into the new home will vary depending on your type of pet. It's always a good idea to talk to your vet about managing your pet's transition.?

General guidelines for cats and dogs.

Cats

1. Wait until the house is quiet and settled before releasing your cat from its carrier box.?
2. Ensure all windows and doors are closed. Choose a temporary space to set up their kitty litter with toys and food,
3. ?Let them explore and get used to the new environment - there will be many new smells and other exciting discoveries.?
4. Build up their time spent outdoors gradually: Outdoor cats should only be released for brief outings until they are familiar with their new home and surroundings.?

Dogs

Dog-proof your new home before introducing your pooch. Check for dangerous cables or broken fences - anything unsafe. Dogs will need time to adjust. They will want to mark their new territory as they are naturally territorial.?

Surround them with their favourite blankets, bed and ball. Ideally, these will be unpacked right from the get-go. Dogs are sensitive to how we act and feel, so keep a cool head and use calm tones when introducing their new home. Before you move, take your dog to explore the area. Sticking to established routines and lots of walks will help. Be sure to walk your dog on a lead while things are still new and unfamiliar.

Decorate for a fresh start

here at Real Estate Therapy we're big fans of Design Psychology. Read our tips on how to turn the house into a home here How Matching Your Home Decore to Your Personality Can Improve Wellbeing in the meanwhile, do some basic touch ups to get the party started:

• Paint walls and other finishes
• Polish floorboards or install prefabricated flooring
• Have grout professionally cleaned
• Replace damaged tiling
• Landscape front yard and backyard.
• Install additional storage

Survival Tip:?Know what to expect before the game begins and prepare mentally for the worst-case scenario. If something is not working in your favour or if you are bumping into brick wall after brick wall...then Step Away From the Deal.

Can we help you with your property needs?

If you're looking to explore value in the market, please get in touch. We know the Sydney market well and understand it. If you'd like advice about the property market, whether you want to sell, buy or lease, we're here to help. Email: [email protected]