Unpack, Organize & Get Your NEW House in Order

Breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been a day. You signed your name at least thirty times, got a shiny new set of keys, and the movers have unloaded all your worldly belongings into your very own new construction home. But as you glance around your lovely new home, you feel overwhelmed rather than relieved when you see the piles of boxes that greet you in every room. Never fear! We’ll help with you a game plan of what to tackle when, and your new home will feel like “home” in no time.

By dividing what you need to do into categories, starting with unpacking and organizing, followed by what you need to do to get your household in order (literally and figuratively) our below task list may help.

 

Let’s unpack and organize.

You were likely able to tell your movers what big pieces of furniture you wanted where. What they might not have been able to help with are some of the smaller details, like your kitchen cabinet organization, trinkets placement and linen closet setup. Take these areas and tasks one item at a time and you’ll have results you love in no time.
 

1. Unloading boxes: As you unpack, try to avoid rushing and haphazard placement. Put some thought into how you’ll live and how you want functional areas to work, placing your items near where they will be used. Need professional organizer help? Consult one of these Lowcountry pros.
    
2. Appliances: Your brand-new home probably came with gleaming brand-new appliances.  Your builder will likely have shown you how to use them during your walk-through before your closing. Check your owner's manual to be certain that you’re clear on their operation. If you brought appliances with you, check them out after getting them set up in your new home.  Be sure to fill in & mail any necessary warranty cards on new appliances to ensure that you’re receiving the fullest extent of coverage that comes with them.
    
3. Utilities: This category typically encompasses your internet, cable, electricity and telephone (if you opt for a land line). Many of the new home neighborhoods in the Charleston area have buried fiber cabling for internet, phone and electricity. And some developments have preferred vendors serving the neighborhood which makes your selection of who to get internet from less difficult. Check in with your chosen provider/s to be certain your accounts are set up and you are receiving the quality signal you expect for your internet and or bundled phone, cable or satellite. Make sure your electrical bills are configured to arrive at your new address, especially if you set up your account before your move.
     
4. Connect your tech and media equipment: Setting up your audio and video equipment might not be as simple as it was in the past. With sound systems, digital recorders and streaming devices being the norm, you’ve no doubt got a bundle of wires to connect. If you’re not a wiring geek or can’t tell a USB cable from a HDMI cable, you might want to call in a little electronic set up help. Home Advisor lists a number of consultants to AV set up in your home. 

 

 

Let’s get your house in order.

A big part of moving is setting yourself up in the larger context of your new community. Luckily many of these details are tasks you can address prior to moving day.
 

1. Change your mailing address: Be sure you’ve notified the U.S. Postal Service of your new address and have set up a mail forwarder.
     
2. If you have kids, register them for school: If you have children, it’s likely that shopping for particular school districts was a big part of your new home search. If you’re like the majority of families, you’ve selected your new home with your kids’ attendance zones in mind. If you have not yet registered your children for school, visit the district’s website and learn what you need to do to get registered.
   1. Charleston
   2. Berkeley
   3. Dorchester
       
3. Square away your Driver’s License / Vehicle Registration / Voter Registration: If you’ve relocated to South Carolina from another state, you have a limited amount of time to get your vehicle registered. According to the SC DMV, “If you move to South Carolina from another state, you have 45 days to transfer your vehicle title and registration.” In South Carolina, when you register your vehicle, you can get your new Driver’s License and register to vote at the same time! To begin the registration process, check out the South Carolina DMV’s website for the correct forms, details on what to bring regarding documentation and paperwork, as well as the location of the DMV office nearest you. Be advised, before you can register your vehicle, you’ll need to pay the county property tax on your vehicle and bring your tax receipt with you to the DMV. Personal property tax on your automobile must be paid at your county assessor’s office. If you’re in the Lowcountry, chances are you are located in one of the three counties listed below:
   1. Charleston County Assessor's Office
   2. Berkeley County Assessor's Office
   3. Dorchester County Assessor's Office
       
4. Update your insurance: Be sure to notify your auto insurance company, your life insurance company and your health insurance company that you have moved. You probably already have your homeowner’s insurance taken care of, but double check that to and be sure you’re covered against perils such as hurricanes and earthquakes (In 1886 the Charleston area experienced a large earthquake and there are very small, slight tremors from time to time, even now. For a detailed list of earth motion in South Carolina, consult the USC Seismology page.)
    
5. Mark your calendar for garbage, recycling and yard waste collection: Do you know the schedule for collection of these items in your neighborhood? Each county and city typically have pre-determined days of the week or month for each. Ask your homeowner’s association for a schedule or consult your city or town’s website for more information.
    
6. Locate healthcare professionals in your network: Don’t wait until you have a toothache, or flu to select a team to help you care for your health. Consult your insurance plan’s list of physicians and dentists to identify those who are in network. Then ask the people you got to know in the community during your homebuilding process, such as your sales team, or new neighbors, whom they might recommend. Consult Google Reviews for doctors near you and Healthgrades to see how these healthcare pros measure up.
    
7. Physical fitness: If your new home community doesn’t have a fitness center as part of their amenities, research local YMCAs, gyms and swim clubs to find one near you. Don’t forget your children either. Check out your town’s recreation department team sports offerings and get the kiddos registered for the next season of soccer, baseball or swimming. City Detail Pages
    
8. Involve yourself in your new community: Make plans to meet your neighbors and attend upcoming community events. One of the many challenges to relocating is leaving old friends and neighbors behind. Get started on making new friends and meeting your neighbors by attending community events in your development or town. There are lots of community calendars in the Lowcountry. Here are the ones we suggest for a wide range of events and fun things to do.
   1. Charleston Scene - Even though this is the Charleston Scene, it includes events and activities happening in the entire Lowcountry.
   2. Charleston City Paper Calendar of Events - Don’t miss the Freeloaders section with tons of free, no-charge activities!
   3. Holy City Sinner - Continually voted one of the best sites around, this site has all the latest news of what’s happening in the greater Charleston area.

 

 

Sit back and celebrate your noteworthy accomplishments!

You did it! You’ve opened boxes, got the kids settled, and can look forward to the next fun event in your neighborhood or simply sit back and watch a movie on your newly wired sound system. It has undoubtedly felt like a marathon, but you’re done! (and if you’re not, those boxes will still be there tomorrow) Bravo!

 
 

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Thank you for reading and sharing our articles from The Greater Charleston New Homes Guide. Our business is to know Charleston, SC's new home construction, home builders, neighborhoods, and homes so we may assist you as you take your new construction home journey. Please take the time to explore our site. The Greater Charleston New Homes Guide is considered the best and most reliable ‘local’ resource to new home construction, builders, neighborhoods, and homes throughout the Lowcountry since 2004.

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