The first week in a new home is the most important one. Get it right and the rest of your move falls into place — get it wrong and you'll spend months hunting down things you should have handled on day one. After 35 years and thousands of moves, here's the exact checklist we hand to every customer the moment the truck drives away.
Why the first week matters more than the first day
Moving day gets all the attention, but it's the seven days that follow that actually determine how settled you feel. Utilities need to be confirmed, locks need to be changed, and your unpacking sequence — if you get it wrong — means you'll be sleeping on the floor next to a fully assembled entertainment center while your bed is still in pieces.
The checklist below is organized chronologically: same day, days 2–3, and days 4–7. Work through it in order and you won't miss anything critical.
Same day the truck leaves: Safety and essentials first
These are the tasks that can't wait even 24 hours.
1. Change every lock on the property
This is the single most important thing you can do on move-in day. You have no idea how many copies of the old key are floating around — previous owners, contractors, neighbors, real estate agents. A standard deadbolt rekey costs $15–$30 per lock if you call a locksmith; buying and installing new hardware yourself runs $30–$80 per door. Budget roughly $100–$250 to secure a typical three-bedroom house.
Don't forget:
- Front, back, and side exterior doors
- Garage door entry (change the code on keypads)
- Detached garage or shed if it connects to the house
- Mailbox lock if it takes a key
2. Locate and label every shutoff
Find and physically test these before you need them in an emergency:
- Main water shutoff (typically near the water meter or in the basement/utility room)
- Individual shutoffs under every sink and behind every toilet
- Gas main shutoff (outside near the meter — get the utility company's tool if needed)
- Electrical panel — label every breaker that isn't already labeled
Tape a handwritten label directly to or beside each shutoff so anyone in the house can find it in a panic. This takes 20 minutes and has saved our customers from flooded basements more times than we can count.
3. Confirm utilities are live
Check that every utility is actually working — not just "transferred." Run hot water, flip breakers, test the heat or AC, and confirm your internet activation date. If anything is off, call immediately; service holds can take 24–72 hours to resolve. For a full setup checklist, our guide on setting up utilities and internet in a new home walks through every room.
4. Do a damage walk-through — tonight
Before you unpack a single box, do a slow walk through every room with your phone camera rolling. Document every scuff, scratch, and pre-existing mark on walls, floors, and appliances. This footage protects you from security deposit disputes (renters) and protects you if you later need to file a damage claim with your mover. Date-stamp the video and save it to the cloud immediately.
5. Set up your bedroom and one bathroom — nothing else
Resist the urge to unpack everything. Get one bedroom livable (bed assembled, sheets on, lamp working) and one bathroom functional (toilet paper, soap, towels, shower curtain). That's it for tonight. You will not regret this.
Days 2–3: Documents, deep clean, and your priority rooms
Update your address — start the list now
The USPS mail-forwarding form (filed at usps.com or any post office) takes effect in as little as 1 business day but officially up to 7–10 days after submission — file it the moment you have your new address confirmed. For every other agency, our complete address-change checklist lays out the full order of operations, including the DMV, Social Security Administration, banks, and insurance carriers.
Priority address updates (days 2–3):
| Agency / Institution | Why It's Time-Sensitive | Typical Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| USPS mail forwarding | Catch everything else | File immediately |
| Employer / HR | Payroll & tax forms | Within 1–2 weeks |
| Bank & credit cards | Fraud alerts & statements | Within 1–2 weeks |
| Health insurance | Provider network access | Within 30 days |
| Vehicle registration & driver's license | State law varies | 10–30 days (state-specific) |
| Voter registration | Varies by state | 15–30 days before next election |
| IRS (Form 8822) | Tax correspondence | Before next filing season |
Driver's license and vehicle registration deadlines are set by state law and vary widely — typically 10–30 days after establishing residency. Check your specific state's DMV requirements rather than guessing. You can browse movers by state to find local resources for your area.
Deep clean before you fully unpack
It's dramatically easier to clean an empty kitchen, bathroom, and closets before your belongings fill them. Focus on:
- Inside all cabinets and drawers (lining them now saves hassle later)
- Oven interior and refrigerator coils
- Bathrooms — grout, behind the toilet, shower head (soak in vinegar if calcified)
- HVAC vents and return-air covers (remove the grilles and vacuum)
Change the HVAC filter
This is almost always forgotten. A clogged filter in a previous owner's home tanks air quality and efficiency. A standard 1-inch filter costs $5–$20; higher-MERV filters run $20–$40. Write the replacement date on the filter itself with a Sharpie.
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Days 4–7: Unpacking in the right order
The correct unpacking sequence
We've seen people unpack in every possible order. The one that works:
- Kitchen — sets the rhythm for the whole house; you need to be able to cook
- Kids' rooms (if applicable) — kids settle when their space feels normal fast
- Living/common areas — focus on furniture placement before filling shelves
- Home office — especially if you're working remotely during the move
- Garage and storage spaces — last, and only after you know what's staying
For room-by-room unpacking strategy, our guide to unpacking after a move has the specific box-opening sequence that keeps your floors clear as you go.
Test every appliance
Run the dishwasher through a full cycle. Run the washer and dryer (check the dryer vent isn't clogged — this is a fire hazard). Test every burner on the stove. Flush every toilet and run every faucet to check for slow drains. Identify any issues now, while you're still in the window to negotiate repairs with the seller or flag them with your landlord.
Check smoke and CO detectors
Test every detector. Replace batteries in any that beep or fail the test — 9V batteries are typically $5–$10 for a pack. If detectors are more than 7–10 years old (check the manufacturing date stamped on the back), replace them entirely. NFPA guidelines recommend replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and CO alarms every 5–7 years.
The complete first-week checklist at a glance
| When | Task | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Change all exterior locks | 🔴 Critical |
| Day 1 | Locate and label all shutoffs | 🔴 Critical |
| Day 1 | Confirm all utilities are live | 🔴 Critical |
| Day 1 | Damage walk-through video | 🔴 Critical |
| Day 1 | Set up bedroom + one bathroom | 🟠 High |
| Day 2 | File USPS mail forwarding | 🔴 Critical |
| Day 2 | Deep clean before unpacking | 🟠 High |
| Day 2–3 | Start document/address updates | 🟠 High |
| Day 2–3 | Replace HVAC filter | 🟡 Medium |
| Day 3–4 | Unpack kitchen | 🟠 High |
| Day 4–5 | Unpack kids' rooms & office | 🟠 High |
| Day 5–6 | Test all appliances | 🟠 High |
| Day 6–7 | Check/replace smoke & CO detectors | 🔴 Critical |
| Day 7 | Update remaining documents | 🟡 Medium |
What people most often forget
After walking through thousands of move-ins, these are the items that consistently fall off the list:
- Registering with a new primary care doctor and dentist — waitlists in many cities run 3–6 months; start now
- Notifying your children's school or arranging new enrollment — school transfers often require proof of address plus 5–10 business days for records
- Updating subscriptions and delivery services (Amazon, meal kits, recurring packages) — missed deliveries to a former address are annoying; stolen ones are expensive
- Homeowner's/renter's insurance effective date — confirm your new policy is active before your old one lapses; there should be zero gap
- Introducing yourself to neighbors — sounds low-priority, but a neighbor who knows your face is your first line of security
Frequently asked questions
How soon after moving in should I change my locks?
The same day, before you go to sleep that night. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the previous key exist. A locksmith can rekey your existing hardware in under an hour for roughly $15–$30 per lock, so there's no good reason to wait.
How long do I have to update my driver's license and car registration after moving?
It varies by state, but most states require you to update your driver's license within 10–30 days of establishing residency and your vehicle registration within a similar window. Some states, like California, require a license update within 10 days. Check your specific state DMV website — fines for missing the deadline vary but can start around $25–$100 in many states.
What's the first room I should unpack after moving in?
The kitchen. It's the most time-intensive room to unpack (lots of small items, lots of decisions), and getting it functional early means you can cook instead of ordering takeout every night. Once the kitchen is done, tackle whichever room has the most daily impact on your family — usually kids' rooms or the home office if you work remotely.
Do I need a new homeowner's insurance policy when I move?
Yes — your existing policy covers your previous address. You need a new policy in effect for your new home starting on the day you take possession (typically the closing date or lease start date). There should be no gap between the two. Call your insurer at least a week before moving day so the new policy is ready.
How do I document pre-existing damage when I move in?
Walk through every room with your phone camera on video mode, narrating what you see. Photograph every mark, scratch, scuff, or stain. Date-stamp everything and back it up immediately to cloud storage. If you're renting, send copies to your landlord in writing within 24–48 hours of moving in — email creates a timestamped paper trail.
What utilities do I need to set up on day one vs. later?
Electric, gas (if applicable), and water need to be live on move-in day — no exceptions. Internet can usually wait 24–48 hours if your activation appointment is scheduled. Cable/satellite TV can wait until you're fully unpacked. If you're working remotely, treat internet as a day-one priority and find a mover who can work around a tight activation schedule.
Moving into a new home is a process, not a single event — and the customers who feel most settled at the end of week one are the ones who worked through a list like this rather than winging it.
If you're still in the planning phase, browse verified mover reviews to find a crew you can trust, or chat with Robert, our AI moving assistant on Majestic Moving Companies, for personalized guidance on what to tackle next.
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