You’ve just moved into your new house or apartment in Oslo. All of your furniture and belongings are there. You, your family and your pets are starting to settle in. It’s time to live happily ever after, right? Not quite yet. Getting everything moved is an enormous undertaking and congratulations for doing so. But there are a few more things you should take care of before relaxing into your new Oslo digs. Read on to learn what they are.
Make Sure Your Utilities Are Working
You most likely contacted your local utility companies before moving to make sure everything would be turned on before moving in Oslo. But it’s still a good idea to go around your home and ensure everything is working. This includes all of your electrical outlets and lighting fixtures. Don’t forget any exterior lighting. Do the same for your water. Ensure that you have hot and cold running water from all of your taps. Check that any washer or dishwasher hookups are also getting water. Make sure the toilets flush and the tank refills. If you have a gas stove, check that the pilot light is lit and that all the burners and the oven work. Test your internet connection too. You want all of your utilities ready to serve your needs.
Take Inventory
It’s a good idea to take the time to be sure everything that was supposed to be moved into your new home actually was. Check furniture and any boxes. Look for possible damage. Open the boxes and ensure that everything that was packed in them is still there. Should you see anything missing, immediately contact the moving agency to have them track it down. A reputable company will correct an honest mistake. They will also be insured to cover any damage that may have occurred. Don’t wait several days or weeks to take this step. Do it as soon as you are in your new home.
Find Your Fuse Box and Water Main
In case of emergency, you want to be able to turn your water off or change a fuse or flip a circuit breaker back on. You can’t do that if you don’t know where they are. This should have been part of a realtor showing you the house, but if not, find it on your own. They are usually located in the basement or in the garage. After locating them, make sure not to store things in front of them. You want to always have easy access.
Unpack Essential Items First
The first things you should unpack and set up are the two most important rooms. The bathroom and bedroom should be first. Get toilet paper, soap, washcloths and towels in place. You’ll also want toothbrushes, toothpaste and shower items. Your family will absolutely need to use the bathroom that first day.
You will want a good night’s sleep after such a busy, work-filled day. Get the beds set up and unpack your sheets and bedding. Make sure you also have your pillows. Make the beds so that you have a comfy place to sleep. Other rooms can wait a day or so, but you will need these two right away.
Connect Appliances
If you moved appliances from your old house, get them connected. You will need your refrigerator as soon as you buy some food. Likewise, your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer will come in handy. This could even include setting up a coffeemaker which many people consider an essential appliance.
A tip about the refrigerator. When moving it, oil can run from the compressor into the cooling lines. Once the fridge is set in its place, wait about three hours before you plug it in. This will give the oil time to flow back into the compressor and ensure that the refrigerator works properly.
Get Rid of Packing Materials
Moving involves lots of packing materials. Boxes upon boxes, newspaper, bubble wrap, tape, perhaps some rope and twine. It can make quite a mess. You want to clear your home of all this stuff once you no longer need it. Make sure to recycle the boxes, paper and plastic. You can clean your home and still be green. If anything is reusable and you think you may need it in the near future, store it someplace out of the way. Just make sure it’s something you can and will use. You don’t want to start cluttering up your new home the first day.
Moving from one house to another in a big city like Oslo can be a gargantuan task. It’s a relief when everything is finally in the new home, but the job isn’t over yet. Take these steps to complete the task. Then all that’s left is to care for and enjoy living in your new house.
