Ed Neuhaus 
The boxes are stacked in every room, the WiFi password is scribbled on a napkin you already lost, and you have no idea where the nearest grocery store is. Your first week in a new city is one of the most disorienting stretches of adult life. Research consistently shows that moving ranks among the most stressful life events right alongside job loss and divorce. Sounds about right.
But here’s what I tell every client I work with at Neuhaus Realty Group who just closed on a new home. The first week feels like chaos, but it actually has a pattern to it. And if you follow a loose plan (emphasis on loose, because your first week will NOT go according to plan), you’ll go from “what have I done” to “ok I think I like it here” faster than you think.
I’ve helped people relocate to Austin for 19 years now. I’ve watched hundreds of buyers go through this exact week. Some handle it beautifully. Some call me on day three in a mild panic because they can’t find the Costco. Both are completely normal.
So lets break this down day by day.
Days 1 and 2: Handle the Essentials (Survival Mode)
Your only job for the first two days is to make the house livable. That’s it. Don’t try to be productive. Don’t try to explore. Just get your base camp set up.
Utilities and internet first. If you haven’t already confirmed your electricity, water, gas, and internet are on, do that before you unpack a single box. I cannot tell you how many people show up to a house on moving day and realize the power isn’t on yet (in August, in Texas, that’s a special kind of miserable).
If you’re moving to the Austin area, Austin Energy handles electricity within city limits, but if you’re out in Bee Cave, Lakeway, or Dripping Springs you’re likely on Pedernales Electric Co-op. Don’t assume. Check your closing docs or ask your agent.
Find your grocery store. You need food. This seems obvious but you’d be surprised how many people survive on DoorDash for a week because they haven’t figured out where to shop yet. Just pick the closest one and go. In Austin, that’s almost always an H-E-B (and if you’ve never been to an H-E-B, you’re in for a treat). Whole Foods was actually born here in Austin too, so you’ve got options.
Locate the nearest pharmacy and urgent care. You don’t want to be Googling “urgent care near me” at 10pm with a sick kid. Find both on day one. Write the addresses down or pin them in your phone. Same goes for the nearest emergency vet if you have pets. (If you’re moving with animals, we wrote a whole guide on moving with pets to Austin that covers the vet and pet registration stuff.)
Unpack the kitchen and one bedroom. You don’t need the whole house done. You need a place to sleep and a place to eat. Everything else can wait. As is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, “for every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned” and I think about that every time I see someone try to unpack their entire house in 48 hours and burn out by Tuesday. Don’t be that person.
Days 3 and 4: Start Exploring (Discovery Mode)
Ok, your base camp is set up. You can make coffee and you know where the bathroom is. Now it’s time to drive around.
Drive your neighborhood with no agenda. Not the GPS-directed route to the grocery store. Just drive. Get lost on purpose. You learn a neighborhood by wandering it, not by following a blue line on your phone. Notice where the parks are. Notice where the traffic backs up at 5pm. Notice which streets feel good to you.
This is actually one of the most important things you can do in your first week in a new city. The feel of a neighborhood takes time to absorb but those first impressions matter. (We have a full guide on how to choose the best neighborhood for your lifestyle if you’re still in the research phase.)
Find your coffee shop. I’m serious. This is not frivolous advice. Having a “regular spot” does something to your brain. It anchors you. It gives you a reason to leave the house and a familiar face behind the counter within a couple weeks. In Austin, there are independent coffee shops on basically every corner. Summermoon, Houndstooth, Spokesman, pick your poison.
Locate your gym, your park, or your trail. Whatever your version of exercise is, find where you’ll do it. If you’re a runner and you just moved to Austin, congratulations, you now live near some of the best trail running in Texas. Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail is the big one but there are dozens of greenbelt trails scattered through the Hill Country. If you moved to West Austin or the 78746 area, the Barton Creek Greenbelt is basically in your backyard.
Eat somewhere local. Not a chain. Find a taco truck, a BBQ joint, a Thai place that a neighbor recommended. Food is one of the fastest ways to start feeling like a place is yours. And asking “where should I eat?” is the easiest conversation starter with anyone you meet during these first few days.
Days 5 and 6: Tackle the Admin (Adulting Mode)
This is the day most people dread but honestly, if you batch all the boring stuff into two days, it’s not that bad.
Driver’s license. If you moved from out of state, the Texas DPS gives you 90 days to get a Texas driver’s license. Don’t wait until day 89 right. The offices can have long wait times and you’ll need to bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and two documents proving your Texas address. Pro tip, book an appointment online. Walking in is gambling with your entire afternoon.
Vehicle registration. Vehicle registration must be done within 30 days of establishing Texas residency (separate from the 90-day driver’s license window). Texas eliminated mandatory safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles in January 2025, but you still need an emissions inspection if registering in Travis or Williamson County. Take your paperwork to your county tax office. Travis County, Hays County, or Williamson County depending on where you landed.
Voter registration. If you care about having a voice in local elections (and in Texas, local elections affect your property taxes directly, so you should care), start the process at votetexas.gov. Note that Texas does not have fully online voter registration. You can fill out the application on the website, but you must print, sign, and mail it in. It takes about five minutes to complete the form. You must be registered 30 days before an election to vote in it.
Doctor, dentist, and specialists. Don’t wait until you have a toothache. Call your insurance company and get a list of in-network providers near your new zip code. If you have kids, finding a pediatrician in week one is huge for peace of mind.
Schools. If you have school-age children, hopefully you sorted this before the move. But if you’re still finalizing things (or if you moved mid-year), this is the week to physically visit the school, meet the front office, and get enrollment paperwork started. Austin has some excellent school districts. Lake Travis ISD and Eanes ISD are two of the strongest in the area. We’ve got detailed school comparisons in our moving guide if you need them.
Day 7: Start Building Your Life (Connection Mode)
You’ve survived six days. You know where the H-E-B is. You have a coffee shop. Your boxes are mostly unpacked (mostly). Now the real work begins.
Introduce yourself to at least one neighbor. I know. If you’re an introvert like me this sounds terrible. But it matters more than almost anything else on this list. A neighbor who knows your name will grab your packages, tell you when the HOA meeting is, warn you about the coyotes (yes, coyotes, welcome to Texas), and generally make your street feel like yours.
You don’t need to bring a casserole. Just wave and say “hey, we just moved in, I’m [your name].” That’s it. No big production.
Download Nextdoor. Love it or hate it, Nextdoor is how neighborhoods actually communicate now. Lost dogs, recommended plumbers, garage sales, when the trash pickup changed. It’s the digital version of the neighbor who knows everything and it’s honestly pretty useful when you’re new.
Find one community thing. A church, a running club, a book club, a pickleball league (Austin is overrun with pickleball right now, you will not have trouble finding a game). The goal is not to commit to anything. The goal is to show up once and see if it sticks. Connection is built through consistent low-stakes encounters and that’s exactly what a weekly group gives you. You’re not looking for best friends on day seven. You’re planting seeds.
Do something fun. Seriously. After a week of unpacking and paperwork and figuring out where the gas shutoff valve is, do something that reminds you why you moved here. Go to Barton Springs. Drive out to a winery in Dripping Springs. Walk South Congress. Eat brisket at a picnic table somewhere. Moving is hard, and you deserve to enjoy the place you chose.
The Stuff Nobody Tells You About the First Week
A few things that won’t be on any official checklist but matter more than you think.
You will feel lonely. Even if you moved with a partner, even if you moved for a great job, even if you’re excited about the city. There’s a weird grief that comes with leaving a place where you knew which lane to be in at every intersection and which barista knew your order. It passes. But it’s real and it’s ok to feel it.
The second week is harder than the first. Week one has adrenaline. Week two has reality. The novelty wears off and the “I don’t know anyone here” feeling hits harder. This is normal. It does not mean you made a bad decision.
Your old city will look better in your rearview mirror. Nostalgia is a liar. Every place looks better once you leave it. Give your new city at least 90 days before you start comparing. I’ve worked with clients who were miserable at day 30 and completely in love with Austin by month six. It takes time.
Accept help. If your agent offers to connect you with people, say yes. If a coworker offers to show you around, say yes. If a neighbor invites you to a block party, say yes. Your instinct will be to “get settled first” but getting settled IS the people, not just the boxes. At Neuhaus Realty Group, I try to connect my relocating clients with people in their neighborhood whenever I can. That’s not something every agent does but it matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your First Week Is Just the Start
Look, moving is one of the hardest things people do. And the first week in a new city is the hardest part of moving. But you made the decision, you packed up your life, and you’re here now. That took guts. The rest is just logistics and time.
If you’re relocating to the Austin area and you haven’t found a home yet (or you’re still figuring out which part of town is right for you), I’d love to help with that. I’ve been doing this for 19 years and I’ve helped hundreds of people figure out their first week, their first neighborhood, and their first home in Central Texas.
Lets grab coffee and talk about it.
Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.
