Moving house is a huge undertaking and takes careful planning and preparation. But once you have the keys to your new place and the stress is over, what can you expect of those initial 30 days?

Picture the scene. You've rushed around visiting solicitors' and estate agents' offices to get the transaction over the line and finally have the keys. Your belongings are packed, and you're living out of boxes. You probably haven't cooked meals for yourself for a few days, and the local pizza shop has been a godsend. The removal company have just put the last of your furniture into the van, and it's time to get going. You pull up outside your new home. Now what?

1. Get the kettle on - The removal company will bring your belongings into the property. You might have been super organised and labelled the boxes with the relevant rooms they need to go into, but the most common thing a new homeowner will have to search for is the kettle. Tea is the first thing most people make in their new homes, so it pays to have a box of tea-making essentials close to hand or clearly labelled.

2. Cleaning - It's said that the vast majority of us will clean a property before unpacking our belongings when we move in, regardless of how clean it was left by the previous occupants. So, have your cleaning supplies clearly marked and easily accessible if this is something that you will want to do.

3. Have a 'first-night' box or bag - similar to staying in a hotel for a night. That way, you will know where your toothbrush, PJs, and clean clothes for tomorrow are.

4. Move your furniture around until you have settled on the best spot for you and your Feng shui - you don't have to simply lay out your rooms like the previous occupants did.

5. Make a plan - will you want to put your own stamp on the property in the first month? Many of us have DIY plans when we move into a new home, and it is a great way to put your stamp on the property to make it feel like yours. Consider for a moment if you plan to do this straight away - if you do, perhaps don't unpack the items for a particular room until it is decorated?

6. Get to know the community - take time to introduce yourself, get involved in local events and visit the local pub for a meal. Getting to know the community and the people that live in your new town will help you to feel settled and welcome quickly.

After so much upheaval, it can be very reassuring to feel settled in your new home quickly, to restore some normality in your life, and to return to equilibrium. Settling in quickly frees you up to get to know your new surroundings and meet your new neighbours. You have worked hard to get here; buying and selling a property is a long process filled with twists and turns; by settling in quickly, you can begin that life that you have dreamed of in your new home and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

If you are hoping to move in 2024 and want to set the ball in motion now, contact our property experts to help you.