I don't know about you, but when I move home, once I've got the keys I have to clean... everything. Only once I've scrubbed the entire property can I begin to even think about unpacking. Now, I thought I was the only one (other than my Mother) who has this peculiar habit, but on talking to friends and colleagues, it seems that everyone has something that they feel they need to do before the boxes get opened. So, just to prove that there is a little bit of 'Monica' in all of us, here's my top ten list of things that (some) of us do when we move... and a few handy hints to hopefully make it all a little bit less stressful.
Finish packing
Now, I'm not advocating a last minute approach to this, but clearly many folk end up in this situation for whatever reason. So, if you've left it until the eleventh hour to sort yourself out, here's my advice on getting the job done quickly. Clothes can stay on hangers, and, grouped together in lots of five or six, can go into black bin bags to make a temporary suit cover. Wrap crockery and cutlery in white lining paper, not newspaper. This means that you don't have to wash the ink off your plates before you use them, so you can just stick them straight into the cupboard at the other end. Bubble wrap - everything. Seriously, if in doubt, get the bubble wrap and sticky tape on it. Think of the fun you'll have popping it later.
Locate nearest DIY store
This is mostly a male tactic. However ladies, if your beloved is getting under your feet, then sometimes sending him off with a list of essentials can be very helpful, not to mention relationship-saving. Things that may come in handy are some self-drilling rawlplugs and picture hooks (well, you are going to want to put things on the wall at some stage, aren't you?) a Stanley knife and spare blades – ideal for opening boxes quickly and easily – and a lot of heavy duty bin bags to cope with all the rubbish.
Change the locks
A very sensible move, especially as you never know who has a spare key. If you have a typical Yale lock, then changing the barrel isn't difficult and you can get a replacement at most hardware stores. Don't just do the front door though – check to see if the back door, garage door and any French windows also have locks that need replacing. Don't do what I did the last time I changed the locks – which was to immediately leave the new keys inside, meaning that I had to break into my own property! Whilst we're on the subject of security, if the place you're moving into has a burglar alarm, check the code then change it. Make sure everyone in the family knows how to turn it off as well. Wailing sirens late at night will not make you popular with your new neighbours!
Plug in the Telly
There is a practical reason for doing this as soon as you can. Televisions are quite fragile and it only takes a bit of a knock to render your precious plasma out of action. If you have used a professional removal company, you need to report any damage to the team leader as soon as you can, so it does make sense to check that your TV and any other major electrical appliances that you may have moved are working correctly soon after you arrive. Some removal companies will even set your appliances up for you – check with yours to see if this service is included in your quote. While we're thinking about breakages, make sure that you contact your home contents insurer and check to see what your policy covers in terms of accidental damage when moving home.
Organise the kitchen
I just can't settle until I've worked out what goes where in the kitchen and put it all away. Seriously, I've been known to do this at 3am, and from talking to others, I know I am not alone. The answer? Label the boxes clearly as you pack them with what's in them as well as what room they need to go in on arrival. Thus, once the kitchen is clean, you can easily work out what you have and what needs to go where. Try to replicate how you organised your last kitchen in the new place (e.g. cutlery drawer at the top if that's where it was before) so that you and your family aren't playing 'hunt the crockery' for at least a week.
Make the bed
When someone once told me that the first thing they do in their new house is set up and make their bed, I thought they were a bit deranged. That was before I'd experienced the 'joy' of moving home myself. It makes sense though - at least if you have a bed ready to go, at the precise moment that it all gets a bit much (either for you, your partner or your kids) you don't have to start mucking about with mattresses and bed-frames at midnight. Keep all your bedding handy and put it straight into the bedroom it's destined for on arrival. Likewise, put dressing gowns and PJ's in with the bedding so you can find them easily and quickly when you need them most, e.g. when you're knackered.
Attempt a full 'Spring Clean'
If you're lucky enough to be moving into a brand new home, this isn't too bad – a whizz round to get rid of the building dust and a quick spritz around the fridge and freezer before you turn it on should suffice. Some developers even have the property professionally cleaned for you prior to handing over the keys – marvellous! However, if you are moving into a previously occupied property, then really you need to take a view on how much cleaning you need to do and how much you can realistically achieve in one day. Sometimes a Mum/sister/lovely friend will offer their services to assist – in which case thank them profusely and don't even think about turning them down. If additional helping hands are not forthcoming and budget allows (and I have done this in extreme circumstances) then get organised before moving day and hire a professional cleaner to come in and do the business. It will cost you around a hundred pounds to do your kitchen and bathrooms along with a thorough dust and hoover. Trust me, it's probably the best hundred quid you'll ever spend.
Take down the 'Sold' sign
Tempting as it may be to take it down and burn it on day one (particularly if the estate agent involved was a bit of a twerp), technically, it's someone else's property (e.g. the twerp estate agent's). So when you go and collect your keys, smile and politely – difficult, I know - ask them when they are taking down their sign. The agent won't be in a hurry, because a 'Sold' board in your front garden equals free advertising. But persistent nagging should yield results. By law, they have to remove it within fourteen days of the sale completing (it's against planning laws to have it up any longer). But if the offending board shows no sign of disappearing, then put in a quick call to both the estate agent and the local planning office to complain. Don't forget to let the agent in question know that you are talking to the local planning office – they can get a fine if they are breaking the law.
Introduce yourself to the neighbours
I am lucky enough to have probably the loveliest neighbours in the world. Why do I think this? Very simply, on the day they moved in, when their world was in chaos and life was at its most stressful, they took five minutes to knock on my door, say hello and apologise for the noise and any inconvenience they were causing. Not that they were causing me any inconvenience but it was just a nice thing to do, and it got our relationship off to a great start. Wherever you are moving to, make sure you smile and say hello to anyone and everyone you meet. If you get the chance, introduce yourself and your family, and generally show them that you are the sort of people that it will be a pleasure to have as neighbours. If you're on the shy side, then a little note to say hello and sorry for any disturbance goes a long way.
And in at number 10, top of my survey of things that we do when we move is... drum roll please...
Replace the toilet seat
Now, I thought it was just me. But oh no, after extensive research, it seems that practically every other woman I questioned on this will only settle for a box-fresh place to perch her bum in her new home (even some guys mentioned this too, so clearly it's not just us ladies being Princesses after all). Changing a toilet seat is normally a very quick and easy thing to do – most loos have a standard seat fitting – and it's something that even the most DIY-inept individual can achieve. A word of caution though – make sure it's on securely. The first time I changed a toilet seat I thought I'd done a great job, only to fall off it in the most spectacular fashion after a couple of glasses of wine later in the evening celebrating my new pad. You have been warned!