The key exchange is over. Your signature is on paper, the house is officially yours. That moment feels grand - and rightly so. But as soon as the door closes behind you, you realise: this is only the beginning. A new house means making choices, keeping an overview and making sure, step by step, that everything is just right.

Not everything has to be perfect right away. In fact: it hardly ever does. What does help is knowing what to arrange and when. This checklist combines practical steps with calm and logic, so that your new home does not become a source of stress, but slowly transforms into a place that really feels like yours.

Landing for a moment: the first days in your new home

The first days are often a mix of euphoria and chaos. Boxes everywhere, your head full of ideas and the feeling that you still have a hundred things to do. This is precisely why it's smart to slow down first.

Walk through your house quietly. Take pictures of meter readings, check that everything works and note down small things you want to tackle later. Think of a sticking door, a socket that doesn't work or a tap that drips. This is not a list to worry about, but a reminder for later.

Also practical: check that you have all keys and that locks are working properly. Many people replace cylinders immediately, simply to feel fresh and safe.

Administration: boring, but worth its weight in gold

Moving house means an administrative reset. Not the most fun part, but one that brings a lot of peace of mind if you get it right the first time. Start with your change of address with the municipality and work from there.

Think about banks, insurers, your employer, subscriptions and agencies you might not think about every day. By doing this in a structured way - with a simple checklist, for example - you will avoid mail disappearing or important letters not reaching you.

Think of this as cleaning up your digital and paper life. It's a bit of work, but afterwards you'll have everything clear again.

Energy, water and internet: the silent basis of comfortable living

A new house often means different consumption than you were used to. Maybe the house is bigger, better insulated or just older. This affects both how comfortable it feels and your monthly costs.

Make sure energy and water are taken care of from day one. Internet is often only missed when it's not there, but it plays a bigger role than you think - especially if you work from home or do a lot online. These are not visible choices, but they do determine how smoothly your daily life runs.

Decorating: live first, style second

It's tempting to want to immediately decorate as if your home were featured in a magazine. Yet it often works better to live first. Walk through rooms for a few weeks, see where you automatically sit, work or relax.

Only then will you start noticing:

• Where you need extra lighting

• Which rooms are multifunctional

• Where furniture makes sense (and where it doesn't)

That way you avoid impulse buys and make choices that really fit your life.

Revisiting insurance: one moment, lots of peace of mind

A new house is a natural time to take a close look at your insurances. Your housing and living situation has changed, and with it, often your risks.

Home and contents insurance are self-evident, but many people also seize this moment to reorganise their overall insurance picture. Everything next to each other, everything fitting in again now. This often involves looking at energy.

Safety and maintenance: small beginning, big effect

Especially in the first weeks, it is smart to pay attention to safety. Smoke detectors are compulsory, but also logical. Check ventilation, look at electrics and plan minor maintenance that can't wait.

These kinds of steps may feel technical, but they make your home feel comfortable and worry-free. And in the end, that's what it's all about.

Finding your place in the neighbourhood

A house is more than bricks. Its surroundings determine at least as much. Take walks around the neighbourhood, find out where the supermarket is, how the rubbish is collected and who your neighbours are.

A short chat or simple hello moment makes a new environment familiar faster. It makes you feel not only owned, but also part of the place.

Give yourself time

Perhaps the most important checklist rule: nothing has to be finished right away. A home is allowed to grow. Your tastes change, your routines develop and some choices you only make when you actually live there.

Perfection is not a goal. Comfort is.

In conclusion

Buying a new house is a big step, and the arrangements afterwards are part of it. Combining practical matters with rest and attention will keep things organised and even fun.

Do not use this checklist as a means of pressure, but as a guide. Because the better the basics are organised, the more room you will have to do what really matters: making a house a home.