Moving to a new home is stressful. Everything from packing up your life, planning the logistics of moving, cleaning your old place, and settling into your new one can seem overwhelming. Because of this, it’s easy to forget some important things you’ll need to do before making the transition. Luckily for you, we’ve created this helpful guide with some important things to keep in mind before packing up and getting out the door!
1. Create a to-do ist
Before you move, create a list of everything you need to do. You should know how to pack your things and move them and unpack them. This will save you time and money because it helps prevent mistakes when it comes time for the move.
2. Declutter your current home
- Start with the obvious things. Clear out clothes, magazines, knick-knacks and other clutter from your bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
- Don’t forget about the garage, attic, basement and storage units you’ve got scattered throughout your home. Even if they’re currently empty spaces—or filled with stuff, you don’t use anymore—getting rid of that extra crap will make your new place feel much more spacious once it’s time to move in!
- Don’t forget about kitchen cabinets either! Have a good look inside and see what’s hidden inside: baking pans from decades ago? Never used gadgets? Old spices? Items such as these can be donated or disposed of.
3. Change your address
Changing your address is one of the most important things you can do before moving. If you don’t change your address, all of those bills that are now being sent to your old address will continue to be sent there and not get forwarded to you. This can result in late payments, which then will cause a host of other problems, including penalties and interest charges.
If you want to avoid this, make sure you keep a list of all the bills being sent to your old address so that they can be forwarded when it comes time to close on the new house. Make sure also that everyone knows how to contact you after the move!
4. Clean your new home before move-in day
Cleaning your house thoroughly is one of the most important things you need to do before moving into a new home. It is often overlooked, but it’s very important to make sure that the house smells good and looks clean and tidy. Here are some cleaning tips:
- Wash all the dishes in the kitchen sink
- Scrub down all surfaces in the bathroom (the floor, walls, mirrors)
- Sweep or vacuum floors throughout your house (make sure they are dry before doing this)
Make sure you have enough cleaning supplies on hand so that you don’t run out halfway through your move-in day!
5. Research the best moving companies
It’s important to research the best moving companies in your area. A good way to do this is by asking friends, family and coworkers for recommendations. You should also look online for reviews from past customers; these can be helpful in determining which moving companies are reputable and offer quality services.
6. Update important documents and notify banks/utility companies
Now that you have taken care of the immediate needs like packing and getting your moving quotes, it is time to work on some other things. First and foremost, you should update your address with all the important organisations. This includes notifying the post office about any changes in your mailing address and informing banks, utility companies and insurance companies about the new location. This will help avoid frauds or losses due to any delay in delivering bills or documents after a move.
7. Bring carpets and furniture
If you’re moving to a new home, one of the first things you need to do is thoroughly clean and bring clean carpets and furniture. It is especially important if you have children or pets living with you. Carpets can harbour dust mites and other allergens, so it’s important to keep them as dry as possible during the move. If you don’t have time to clean the carpet due to heavy obligations, hire a professional carpet cleaning in Perth, and you will save a lot of time!
Also, ensure that all your furniture is cleaned before bringing it into your new home. Dust mites are not just found in carpets; they can also be found in upholstery and bedding.
8. Create a floor plan
The important thing you need to do when moving into a new home is to create a floor plan. This will help keep track of how many rooms you have, how big they are, and where all the doors and windows are located. Make a list of all the rooms in your home and draw out their measurements on a piece of paper (or virtual paper if you’re using an online floor plan). Add notes about where you want to place furniture and use this information as inspiration for shopping for furniture later on.
9. Label boxes with the room and contents.
When you are packing for a move, you’ll want to label all your boxes. This way, it will be easy for movers to put them in the right rooms when they get to your new home.
Use a permanent marker or label maker and label each box with the room name and contents. If there is an extra-large box that contains multiple smaller labelled boxes, write “Storage” on it so that everyone knows what is inside!
10. Decorate
You don’t have to spend a ton of money on furniture or knick-knacks. You can start small by adding personal touches like framed photos, plants, candles, or even a nice rug for your living room or bedroom. This will make your space feel more like “home” and less like an empty shell without any personality.
There are many things that need your attention when you move to a new home. If you don’t go through the checklist of items for pre-moving, it may become really difficult for you to settle down in a new place. Paying extra attention to some details will not only make the moving work easy for you but also save a lot of time. Other things that you might need to take care of before moving to your new house are home insurance, internet connection, child/pet-proof the place, prioritise repairs, etc. you will have a higher quality of life if you do all these things and more before you move in. Good luck!
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