20 Things to Do in the First Week After Moving: Your Complete New Home Checklist

Once the last carton is inside, it's tempting either to unpack everything that night or to leave it all for a month. Neither works well. The first week goes better in stages: check the delivery before the crew leaves, get the house liveable for one night, then work through the practical jobs a few at a time.

Here are the 20 tasks, grouped by when to do them.

Before the movers leave

1. Count and check against the inventory

Count cartons against the numbered packing list. Look at furniture, mirrors, glass tops and appliances while the crew is still there. Photograph any damage and note it on the delivery receipt before you sign. If you find something later, report it in writing as soon as you can. Our guide on damage found after the movers leave explains the steps.

2. Get furniture placed and reassembled

Beds, wardrobes and the dining table are much easier to position while there are people to lift them. Point to where each piece goes before reassembly starts, and check every bag of screws has been used.

3. Keep heavy appliances standing before switching on

Let the refrigerator stand upright for a few hours before switching it on (follow the maker's guidance). Make sure the washing machine's transit bolts are removed before its first run.

The first night

4. Open the essentials bag first

Chargers, medicines, toiletries, a change of clothes, towels, a torch, snacks and water. If you packed it properly, this is the only bag you need tonight.

5. Make up the beds

Sleep matters more than a tidy kitchen on night one. Set up beds or mattresses for everyone before anything else.

6. Check water, power and the toilet

Run every tap, flush every toilet, switch on the geyser, and find a working socket for the phones. Report anything that isn't working tonight, not next week.

7. Secure the house

Lock every door and window, including the balcony doors, and check the main lock works from both sides. Put the spare keys somewhere you will remember.

8. Keep the meal simple

Tea, a simple meal or a takeaway. Leave the kitchen unpacking for tomorrow.

Days two and three

9. Clean before you unpack

Wipe wardrobe shelves, kitchen cabinets and bathroom shelves before filling them. It's far easier with the shelves empty.

10. Set up the kitchen basics

Gas stove, water purifier, a set of utensils and basic groceries. Arrange the rest of the kitchen over the next few days.

11. Find the utility controls

Locate the electricity meter, main switch and MCB board, the water shut-off valve, the gas valve, the inverter and the internet router. Label the MCB switches if they aren't marked.

12. Change or rekey the main locks

In a rented or resale home you don't know how many keys are still around. Changing the main door lock cylinder is a small cost for peace of mind.

13. Test the internet and mobile signal

Check the signal in each room. If broadband isn't installed yet, book it now, as installation slots can take several days.

The rest of the week

14. Unpack room by room

Finish one room before starting the next. Bedrooms and bathrooms first, then the kitchen, then the living room, and leave décor until last. Flatten empty cartons as you go and keep a few for storage.

15. Give everything a home

Decide early where keys, documents, medicines, chargers and shoes will live, and keep them there. It's much harder to fix once everything has been put away at random.

16. Update your address

Start with the bank, employer and insurers, then Aadhaar, driving licence, vehicle RC and online shopping accounts. We have a full list with the official routes in how to change your address after moving.

17. Register with the society or RWA

Give your details to the society office or residents' welfare association. Ask about maintenance payments, parking allotment, visitor rules, waste collection days and any domestic-help verification they require.

18. Check safety basics

Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, a stocked first-aid box, a torch with spare batteries and an emergency light. In an apartment, find the fire exits and the stairwell.

19. Make a repairs list

Leaking taps, loose handles, dead switches, damp patches. Note them all, fix urgent ones first, and send the list to your landlord in writing if you're renting.

20. Find your local essentials

The nearest pharmacy, hospital, grocery store, ATM, petrol pump and police station. Save the numbers of a local electrician and plumber. Then introduce yourself to the neighbours, who will usually know all of these already.

Common first-week mistakes

• Signing the delivery receipt without checking
• Throwing away packing before checking every carton
• Leaving cartons in corridors and on stairs
• Putting the documents folder "somewhere safe" and forgetting where
• Delaying the address change until a bank letter goes to the old house

Frequently asked questions

What should I unpack first after moving?

The essentials bag, then bedding, then toiletries and medicines. Kitchen basics come next morning. Everything else can wait until you work room by room.

What if I find damage after the movers have left?

Photograph it, keep the packing material, and report it to the mover in writing as soon as possible, quoting your consignment number. If you had transit insurance, check the policy's time limit for reporting.

How long should unpacking take?

For a typical 2BHK or 3BHK, aim to finish the rooms you use every day within the first week and the rest within two or three weeks. Some movers also offer unpacking as a paid service.

Still planning the move itself? Our packers and movers in Dehradun team can pack, move, unload and reassemble, so day one is about settling in.