November and December are, hands down, the busiest time for conveyancers like us. Not because there’s any particular high demand for our services at those times – but because most people who are buying and selling property is desperate to be in and settled before Christmas. We can’t blame them – no one wants to spend Christmas living out of suitcases, or surrounded by boxes that are half-packed and ready to go. That’s why we don’t mind working non-stop to make sure all of our clients get their keys in time for the festivities. But moving close to Christmas comes with its own set of challenges, from what to unpack first to decorating a completely new space. So let’s look at how to make the moving process efficient, and set up your new home in time for the perfect Christmas celebration.
6 Tips for Preparing Your New Home
Start with the essentials: First things first, take all of the boxes to the rooms they’re going to go into. This helps you prioritise what needs to be unpacked quickly and what could wait a few days. Then separate out the essentials – the basics that you need to settle in, even if it takes you more than a day to finish unpacking. Think kitchen items, furniture and bedding. Once you have a place to cook, eat and sleep, you can take your time unpacking the rest.
Set up a festive welcome: First impressions really do count, and you’re still building the first impression of your new house. Not to mention everyone who comes to visit! So before you go unpacking mad, consider your entranceway. You’ll want to set it up so that your guests feel welcome. Check through your boxes of Christmas decorations and invest in a beautiful new wreath. Add a doormat and put some plants in the entryway, so that your new home feels warm and inviting the second you step inside. It’s a small effort, but it makes a big difference!
Choose the focal point: Choose one room that’s going to be the focal point of the Christmas celebrations. This should be your next focus for unpacking. Which room this is will depend on what traditions you have in your home. Some families use the Christmas tree as the centre of the celebrations – so whatever room you’re putting it up in, that’s the room you should completely unpack first. Put your decorations up and make it look festive. If your main events happen in the dining room, then that’s where your focus should be.
Add something per room: Once the main room has been done. You can go from room to room, unpacking and decorating as you go. Go through the bedrooms, bathrooms, work rooms and hallway. You don’t need to overcomplicate the decorations just because it’s a new home – in fact you can just focus on getting one Christmassy thing in each room. You can always add more once you’ve got the basics done.
Get the kitchen ready: A big part of Christmas is sharing a meal with your family and enjoying good food, so your kitchen needs to be ready for this! You might even be the one hosting, especially if friends and relatives ask to see your new home. Make sure you have the right equipment and appliances to get everything done. We highly recommend using disposable foil baking trays rather than trying to dig out your real ones – it’s a lot less hassle and means you can actually enjoy your Christmas.
Keep the atmosphere cosy: The best thing about the Christmas season is feeling cosy, warm and welcomed. So this is the atmosphere you should aim for when setting up your new home for the festivities. Warm pillows, soft throws, candles – whatever makes you feel cosy and relaxed.
Celebrating Christmas in a new home is truly a beautiful gift to give yourself and your family. While the move can be a bit stressful and overwhelming, it doesn’t have to ruin the start of the Christmas season. By approaching your move with careful planning and thoughtful decoration, you can create a cosy and inviting atmosphere in your dream home.
Of course, completing the buying process quickly will give you more than enough time to transform your new space into the perfect Christmas home. That’s our job! At the moment we are absolutely slammed trying to get all of our buyers exchanged and into their homes in the next few weeks so that they can enjoy Christmas. If you’re thinking of moving in the new year, we’d love to be able to help you in the same way. Just get in touch with the team today, and we’ll be happy to help.
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