Moving into your first Metro Atlanta home is exciting, and just like going camping, there are going to be some items you’ll wish you remembered when you get there. Even the most prepared, with carefully labeled boxes and bags, get caught off guard when they realize their carefully labeled bathroom box with some “essential essentials” is nowhere to be seen. This move-in day checklist is compiled from Rockhaven Homes’ years of helping both first-time homebuyers and experienced movers alike settle into their new home.
If you’re purchasing a new-construction home in Metro Atlanta, Rockhaven Homes offers communities designed with today’s homebuyers in mind. Once you’ve found your new home, these move-in day essentials can help make the transition a little easier.
What Do I Need For My First Night In A New Home?
Move-In Day Essentials For New Metro Atlanta Homebuyers
One of the most helpful tips is to prepare two dedicated move-in day boxes, separate from the rest of your treasures and the trove of items coming with you. Consider it a set of care packages for yourself and your helpers! Store these items in an easy-to-access spot, like your car rather than your moving truck, so they can be set aside in your new home when needed.
What Bathroom Items Do I Need For My First Night In A New Home?
Bathroom essentials are needed before the bathroom is even unpacked. Toilet paper, hand soap, and a couple of hand towels make the difference between an emergency and a huge convenience. Create a box for your car to take into your new home first thing!
What Kitchen Items Do I Need When I Move Into My First Home?
Just like a prepared camper, having paper plates, plasticware, napkins, paper towels, and your favorite SOLO cup means you’re not snacking off a cardboard box top or trying to waterfall water with three friends. Is your fridge hooked up and ready to go? Better prepare a cooler with water bottles and snacks, especially if you’re moving in the Metro Atlanta heat!
The rest of the checklist is hardly optional, so be sure to print, screenshot, or save your own version of these must-have items. Then place these items in your car for easy access:
✔️Paper towels for quick spills and easy cleanup.
✔️A trash can & trash bags to toss packing materials and garbage as you go.
✔️Cleaning supplies like wipes and a basic cleaning spray to help you wipe down counters, handles, and surfaces.
✔️A basic toolkit to help with small setup tasks as you unpack.
✔️A step stool to safely reach high shelves, cabinets, and storage areas.
✔️Batteries in a few common sizes for remotes and other household items.
✔️Phone chargers so you don’t have to search through boxes when your battery runs low.
✔️Bedding, so you have what you need for your first night’s sleep, ready to go.
✔️A first-aid kit to help with small cuts or scrapes that occur while unpacking.
✔️Water bottles & snacks to keep you fueled and hydrated throughout the move.
✔️Garage door opener so it’s ready to go when you start unloading boxes.
✔️Lightbulbs for lamps and other fixtures you may want to set up right away.
✔️Window blinds to give you privacy as you unpack and get comfortable in your new home.
Am I Ready For Move-in Day?
When moving into your first home, it is easy to underestimate the little things you’ll need on your first night. From losing the box cutter in a sea of boxes to forgetting where you put your phone charger, this guide will help you avoid some common move-in day headaches. Keep your move-in essentials in one easy-to-access place, and tackle the basics first: food, a shower, a comfortable place to sleep, and the tools you need to get settled. That’s enough to make your first night a little easier, and the rest can wait until tomorrow.
At Rockhaven Homes, our new-construction homes across Metro Atlanta are designed to give you a place to make your own. If you’re ready to find your first home, explore our communities and available homes to get started.
Questions Homebuyers May Have
Before moving day (not day of), make sure your utilities are connected, your moving arrangements are confirmed, and you have the keys or access information you need. Make sure those dedicated boxes are prepped!
Besides the two dedicated boxes we discussed, you’ll be glad you set up these items you’ll need right away, including bathroom essentials, cleaning supplies, food and water, basic tools, and bedding. Setting up these necessities first will make your first night more comfortable while you work through the rest of your boxes. Outside of that, consider items that need assembly to be used on your first evening in your new home, such as a bed frame. It’s easier in an empty room, and your tired muscles will thank you later.
Some commonly forgotten move-in items include pet food and dishes, toilet paper, hand soap, phone chargers, trash bags, lightbulbs, batteries, a garage door opener, and basic cleaning supplies. Keeping a dedicated box of essentials separate from your moving boxes can help make sure these items don’t get lost in the shuffle.
First-time homebuyers in Metro Atlanta should give themselves time to settle into their new home and community. Don’t try to move on a night you have to work the next day. Check your commute while things are relatively calm to make sure you know your options for the next work day. For anywhere in Georgia, remember to select a natural gas marketer if you have gas appliances. Just having a connection to Atlanta Gas Light is not enough. Along with preparing for move-in day, take time to learn your home’s features, locate important utilities and shutoffs, explore your new neighborhood, and get familiar with the community around you.
For years, when a new family moved into a community, the community “Welcome Wagon” would visit with snacks, cookies, or a cake, both as a friendly introduction and a warm welcome. In modern times, this practice has become a dying art among younger families, and many have now taken to reversing the roles. As you move in, consider a simple goodie bag with a few treats or a $5 coffee gift card to your new neighbors’ doors as an invitation to introduce yourself. It’s a wonderful way to foster neighborly connections in your new community. Then, as you watch others move in behind you, be the first to welcome them and carry on the welcoming tradition!