Your First Day Home

Congratulations on finding your new home sweet home! Sometimes finding the right house can be a long, complex process. You can breathe easy now: the paperwork is signed, the mortgage approved, and the keys are in your hand. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life and we couldn't be more excited for you. 

Settling into your new home is similar to settling into a new season. With spring upon us here in Calgary, everyone is looking for a fresh start. We are adjusting to the new sunlight hours, clearing out the garage for a deep clean, taking down winter décor and pulling out the pastels and florals, and just generally preparing for something new. Lucky for you, a fresh start is inevitable. 

While having a new home is exciting, it can also feel... empty. It can take some time, some thoughtfulness, to make a new space truly feel like yours; feel like home. Everyone experiences the same thing, so you are not alone. If your new home isn't quite feeling settled yet, don't worry! It will, you just need to give it time. 

To help your new home feel settled, try the following tips:

1. Hang pictures on the walls! Personalize your space with photos of friends and family, art prints that make you happy or inspire you, the kitchen menu chalkboard and funny bathroom sign. Make the space yours! Worried about damaging the walls? Use 3M hooks. They are easy to put on and take off, and are stronger than they look. 
2. Fully set up your favorite space! Whether the bedroom, home office, living room, kitchen or bathroom is your favorite space in the house, fully set it up. Don't worry about fully unpacking the boxes for all the other rooms just yet--sometimes that can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on whatever space will make you feel most at home, then go from there. 
3. Get to know your neighborhood! Go for a walk around the block. Find out where the parks are, what is the best local food joint, the fastest way to the grocery store, etc.. If you're a social person, introduce yourself to the neighbors and join your local community association. 

A home is whatever you make it, so make it yours.