First Night Nerves

#1 Play games – Whether it’s Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble or Pictionary board games help to cure the boredom when in a new home struggling to find what to do. Especially if you are without power, as long as your family can keep their cool when you buy that property they wanted in Monopoly.  

#2 Explore the house – Every house has its secrets, no matter how well you think you know it. Whether that’s spiders in the loft, or some old creepy flickering lightbulbs, you’ll find whatever it is taking a glance around the house. This is also an opportunity to make use of the garden if the weather seems nice enough for it.

 
#3 Plan the look for your rooms – Help your family pick their rooms, but once you know which room is yours you can start planning the look you want for the room. Modern or traditional? Italian-style furniture? It’s all down to you. Some apps even let you create 3D models of what furniture would look like in the room and place them around using your camera.
 
#4 Meet the locals – There’s no better way to get settled in your new home than greet the neighbours and get to know who lives on your road. If you feel confident enough to invite them over, that could improve your relationship with them. Or if they invite you in, it gives you a break from all the pressures of recently moving house.
 
#5 Light candles – Sometimes a new house just doesn’t smell… new. That’s why it’s always best to have a set of candles at the ready, at which point you can litter them around the house and create a charming aroma. Also, if your house is without electricity it’s the only way to keep your house well-lit at night until power is restored.
 
#6 Tidy around the house/the garden – If the house is a mess, it’s time to go through the things left by the last vacant that you don’t want or need. If your items aren’t in the house yet, it should be completely clear with nothing left behind so it is prepared for when you do bring your stuff into your new home. If the garden’s been left with overgrowing grass or needs weeding, it’s an ideal point to do that.
 
#7 Make sure other family members feel settled – What is your new home without your family there to support it? Whether it’s you and your partner, your partner and kids, or just you alone one of the most important things is to be sure you’re happy in this new environment and that everyone else feels the same. Dedicate some time with every family member to ask them how they feel about the new home. This can make everyone feel much better and get any concerns off of their chest.
 
#8 Dinner plans (takeaway, microwave meals, whatever works!) – Your first meal in your new home: it’s understandable if it’s not the healthiest or best-cooked meal you’ve ever had. That’s usually the opposite of what your family would want. Everyone would be satisfied with pizza, Chinese or anything simple so you’re not dedicating the whole night to a nice meal. This is even more so the case in a new home without power.
 
#9 Set up the internet – Odds are most of your family will be begging for this if you have the power: why spend quality time together when you can catch up with all your social hubs and post about the fact you’re moving house while you move house. This will be especially handy if you have kids who become bored very easily, it’s likely that won’t be the case with the internet online. Which would be a bit problematic if your first night is without power.
 
#10 Get unpacking – Get it done and over with. Come on, pick up that box and start sorting through your underwear and socks, the ornaments you won at a fair, those old movies you got on DVD 10 years ago that remain in the packaging because they still haven’t been watched. The sooner it’s all been unpacked the sooner you can call this home and settle in. 
 

Any suggestions for what else you can do on the first night of your move? Comment below and let us know!