Moving into a new home? I know how exciting it can be! The hardest part of a move is getting in the house. I’ve compiled a list of a few things you can do after your move to make sure your experience is comfortable.

1. CHECK MAJOR APPLIANCES: Be sure to check all the appliances to ensure everything is still in working order after the move. You want to make sure nothing was broken in transit or stopped working suddenly. Look at things such as your stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, refrigerator, and microwave. If you brought any appliances yourself and you used movers, you’ll want to make sure everything still works with them, since mover’s insurance companies give a limited time frame for when you can make a claim.

2. CHECK ALL OF YOUR BOXES & FURNITURE: Be sure to go over all your boxes and furniture to make sure nothing got damaged during the move. Be sure that everyone has arrived and didn’t get lost in the process. If you notice something is missing a month later, it may be too late to file a claim with the moving company. Even if you don’t plan on unpacking everything as soon as you move in, just do a quick review and inventory everything you brought to protect yourself and your belongings.

3. SET UP UTILITIES: There’s nothing more frustrating than moving into your home to realize the lights don’t work. Make sure you’ve contacted all of the necessary utility companies to have everything turned on in time for your move.

4. REGISTER INTO A GOOD SCHOOL: You may have already known to look for a school for your kids prior to your move, but if you haven’t yet found one, be sure to research all the schools local to you to find the right fit for your family. The sooner you can find the right school and register, the easier and less stressful it will be to get them in and settle.

5. REGISTER YOUR CAR: If you’ve moved to a new state or country, you’ll want to make sure to register your car in your new hometown and update your driver’s license, tags, and plates.

6. CONNECT TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Join sites like Nextdoor.com or get a subscription to your local magazine/newspaper to stay in touch with what’s going on in your neighborhood. Be sure to also join local community Facebook groups. You can find out about events or concerns relating to your community.

7. GETTING YOUR MAIL: Have you updated your address from all the people you’ll be expecting to get mail from? Like your bank, friends, family, and services you still pay for after your move. Check with the post office to have things redirected to your new address while you work to update your info with everyone else.

8. FIND THE RIGHT PROFESSIONALS: If you’re moving far from your last home, you’ll want to have the right connections. Find a new doctor, dentist, vet, handyman, plumber, etc. Add them into a contact book that’s easily accessible.

9. EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST: If you have kids and had to change their school or daycare then you will need to supply your emergency list upon registration. Be sure to get your contacts organized and compiled in an accessible and memorable place.

10. INSURANCE COMPANIES: You likely selected a home insurance company during your purchase process, so that should be taken care of. If you didn’t select a home warranty you may want to consider that especially if the appliances are older. You’ll also want to get your auto, insurance changed over to your new address.