How to Celebrate Moving Into a New Home

 Moving into a new home is a joyous, exciting event. Whether you have purchased your first home, upgraded to a larger home to accommodate a growing family, or are moving into your first place after leaving home, moving is an occasion to celebrate. The manner in which you celebrate will depend on your family, friends, and lifestyle, but could include hosting a housewarming party, and throwing a “getting to know you” party for your neighbors.

Method1

Hosting a Housewarming Party

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   Send out invitations. Invitations can be sent out via the postal service, your phone, your email, or even by creating an event on Facebook. Use the medium you feel most comfortable with. Online invitations can be easier, as you will not have to locate the addresses or phone numbers of all of your friends and family members.

   • If sending out paper invitations is too time-consuming or stressful, consider using an online invitation site capable not only of sending invitations, but also keeping track of RSVPs.
   • Make sure you include the time, your address, and any additional pertinent details, such as details for parking, and general directions to your home.
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   Unpack and organize your home. A housewarming party is difficult to plan and follow through on if there are boxes stacked everywhere, or you are in the middle of painting. Clean and arrange your home prior to the party, choosing a date that best suits your needs.^[1]

   • Typically, the first 2 weeks after moving into a new place, you are busy setting up, cleaning, and making any needed changes. Give yourself a two-week grace period, and have the party after your home is unpacked and settled into.
   • Make sure all valuables are secured before the day of the party. While you likely trust your guests, it is better to keep valuables hidden or under lock and key than to end your party and discover something missing.
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   Provide a variety of food and drinks. When you throw a party, your guests will likely expect food of some sort. Depending on how large your party is, providing all of the food can get expensive. Fortunately, you have the option of making a meal yourself, doing a potluck dinner, or providing light snacks and cocktails.^[2]

   • If you are making a meal yourself, make sure you have an accurate headcount. Be sensitive to the dietary needs of others, and provide at least two main dishes, one of them vegetarian or vegan.
   • If you go the route of a potluck dinner, give your guests an idea of how large a party you expect, and the types of foods they might want to bring, such as dips or side dishes.
   • If your preferred method of feeding is finger foods and cocktails, provide a wide variety of options, from mini sandwiches to vegetable and cheese platters. Have plenty of back-up drink mixes and serving platters, as finger foods tend to go quickly.
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   Expect to host a tour. Part of a housewarming party is showing off your new digs. Prepare accordingly, but feel free to avoid entering bedrooms, garages, and other reasonable off-limits spaces. If you feel comfortable, you can also give your guests the option of meandering through your home according to their own time and interests.^[3]
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   Choose a home dedication or blessing. As part of your housewarming party, you can invite guests to say a few words to invite positivity and light into your home. This can be a religious ceremony, or can be a secular one--the choice is entirely yours.^[4]

   • You can contact your religious or spiritual leader for information about any traditional rituals or practices your faith might have. They may need to be performed by a religious layperson, or may be able to be performed by you or a loved one.
   • If you’d like a secular home dedication or blessing, consider inviting family or friends to speak positivity or their own blessings into your home.
   • Utilize meaningful items. For some, this might mean religious icons, while for others, this might be as simple as some incense or a bundle of sage. Keep in mind that this is your home, and your blessing; it can be whatever you want it to be.
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   Send thank you cards. You can have a small book available by your front door for guests to write a quick note in, along with their address, or you can send follow-up notes online.

   • Many guests will show up with a gift. Although it is considered rude to request gifts, don’t forget to express sincere gratitude for any gifts brought.
   • Make writing notes a family affair, if there are multiple people in your family. This will get the work done more quickly, and will be a more personal, intimate touch than a generic card from a single family member.

Method2

Hosting a “Getting to Know You” Night

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   Host your party outdoors. While you will likely want to share the inside of your home with family and friends, you may be uncomfortable inviting strangers into your home, especially if you have valuables strewn throughout. You can choose to have your party inside, but when inviting a lot of unknown people, it is safer to host it in your front or back yard, or a designated park or picnic space.

   • If you do choose to have your party outdoors, make sure you have necessary protections against bugs and temperatures. In summer, consider using outdoor fans and mosquito candles, while in winter, you can rent small outdoor space heaters.
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   Drop off invitations. Unlike a housewarming party, which invites guests from all over, a getting to know you evening is specifically for neighbors. Drop off your invitations personally, taking a moment to introduce yourself.^[5]

   • The simplest way to get to know your neighbors is to knock on the door and say hello. Introduce yourself and your family, if applicable, and offer your invitation, while telling them a little bit about what to expect from your party, such as, “It’s just a small gathering to meet our new neighbors. Feel free to drop by.”
   • Most people are available between 10 and 2 on Saturday mornings, or between 5 and 6 on weekday evenings. Drop your invitations off during one of these times.
   • Keep an eye out. If you have not yet introduced yourself and see your neighbor outside working on the lawn, take advantage of the opportunity to say hello.
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   Create a casual atmosphere. You don’t want to make your new neighbors feel as though they are hoodwinked into attending your party. Create a casual atmosphere as you invite them, and in the written invitations. This will allow them to feel a bit more freedom in their decision to come to your affair or stay home.

   • The easiest way to create a low-pressure party is to create it as more of an open house. In an open house, guests are free to drop by a leave anytime within the allotted time period, without the pressure to arrive at a certain time, stay the duration of the party, and leave.
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   Prepare finger food. An informal event such as this one necessitates informal dining options. Rather than a four-course meal, or even a sit-down meal, have finger foods and a few drink options available for your neighbors. ^[6]

   • This is another instance when you can invite a potluck-style mix of food. When you deliver your invitations, you can say something like, “Feel free to bring your favorite dish or snack.” If you go this route, don’t count entirely on your neighbors providing food--instead, treat any neighbor’s offerings as a pleasant surprise.
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   Prepare games. Your neighbors will most likely have children who may be bored by an adult party. Consider having a few small game stations at your party. You can set up a table with board games outside, or you can use traditionally outdoor games such as horseshoes and cornhole. Whatever games you decide on, make sure you invite your guests to play them and demonstrate by playing them, yourself.^[7]
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   Prepare to answer questions. Although the purpose of your party is to get to know your neighbors, your neighbors will likely want to get to know you, too. Be prepared to not only make small talk, but to also answer questions about where you come from, where you work, what you like to do, etc. Provide them with any information you feel safe and comfortable indulging.^[8]

   • Be gracious if neighbors ask too many questions. In some situations, you may have to politely decline an answer, or steer the conversation in another direction. If this is the case, remember to be kind; after all, you will be living in close proximity with the people at your party.

Expert Advice

If you want to celebrate as soon as you move in:

• Pack your kitchen items onto the moving truck last. That way, you can start unpacking it as soon as it comes off the truck, and you can cook dinner in your new home the first night.
• Plan to have help the day after you move, if possible. Schedule a day for your friends to come over and help you unpack. There will be a lot going on during the day you actually move, but it goes fast. The next day, when you're facing all of those boxes, you'll really appreciate having extra help.
• Keep the unpacking party light and energetic. Make it fun by playing upbeat music as you work. Also, have a set ending time, and serve everyone food and drinks as a reward at the end.

From Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®

Professional Move Manager