NEW HOME CHECKLIST: PRE-MOVING ESSENTIALS

While moving is an inevitable life experience, not many would describe moving into a new house as a “fun” activity. Moving can take a whole weekend of your time—sometimes even more!—and this doesn’t even include the time it takes to unpack and get settled into your new home. While moving out is the biggest hurdle, moving in is a challenge in itself, usually forgotten until you get there and realise your furniture doesn’t fit, or that you have less space for your things than you thought you would, or that you’ve forgotten to label the moving boxes and have no idea where anything is! After all the effort of moving out of an old house, the last thing you need is more stress when you get to your new home.

With all the planning, packing, moving, and cleaning, the whole process from start to finish can take a long time. But while moving into a new house can seem like a tiresome task, there is some good news: moving doesn’t have to be awful! Making proper preparations should make moving into a new house less stressful and considerably less time-consuming.

If you’re in the process of moving into a new house, take a look at our checklist below to figure out what tasks you can do to ensure your move is as hassle-free as can be.

Moving Into a New House: 12 Important Tasks to Do Beforehand

1. Choose a moving date

While most people prefer to move on weekends or a holiday, you can save money on moving truck rentals if you move mid-week and mid-month—aka when the demand is lowest. Holidays are peak seasons, so the rates are typically higher.

If you can plan in advance, choose a move date sometime in the months between October and April, when demand will be lowest and plan your work leaves in advance. Another bonus? The roads are less congested mid-week, making for a faster move for less expense.

2. Pick a legitimate moving company

If you’re hiring a moving company, don’t overlook company reviews! Be sure to do your homework and choose a mover that’s licensed and insured, with professional movers on staff. Handling your home items takes care and a certain level of expertise—hiring a less-than-ideal moving company may result in the damage of your furniture and other personal items.

Once you’ve chosen the right company, call immediately to schedule your move date with them and find out their list of non-allowable. Non-allowable typically includes aerosol cans, paints, pesticides, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, and more, depending on the moving company. Get this information ready before packing up your home so you have time to set the non-allowable items aside.

3. Do some research on your new neighbourhood

Be sure to research your new neighbourhood before the big move. You’ll save yourself time by exploring the area in person before the big move date, rather than wandering aimlessly around the neighbourhood after you’ve moved in.

Especially important to note is where the nearest grocery and supply stores are, as you’ll be frequenting them the most while you’re settling into your new home. If you have school-age children, you might want to check out the nearest schools as well.

4. Send out a moving announcement

You don’t have to send a moving announcement to the whole neighbourhood, but it would be beneficial to let trusted friends and family members know when your big move date is.

Your announcement could also double as an open invitation for the recipients to come over and help with the moving process. It may also be best to tell your employers as well so that they’ll know not to contact you for anything work-related while you’re moving into a new house.

5. Change your billing address

In the midst of the moving-out chaos, it can be all too easy to forget to change your billing and subscription addresses. Unless you want your credit cards declined, it would be prudent to change your address as soon as possible.

This is also important for transferring utilities. Make sure to contact your utility service providers to let them know about the move, and schedule disconnect and connect dates for things such as cable and internet. While updating your billing address before the move date may seem like a dull chore, you’ll be thankful to have the errand done in advance rather than when you’re knee-deep into the moving process.

6. Purchase the proper supplies

When moving, you’ll need several rolls of packing tape, markers and labels, and the proper type of moving boxes. It’s important that you don’t use damaged boxes when moving! Filling them up with heavy items will make the box break when you pick it up, making whatever you’ve packed inside fall to the floor.

Certain items, such as your television, mirrors, and artwork may even require a different kind of box altogether, such as a telescope box. Do some research beforehand to ensure that you have all the right supplies for packing up your former home.

7. Organise items to be moved

Organise your items into three piles before packing them up. Pile #1 should be the items you’re bringing to the new house, Pile #2 should be things to be sold or donated, and Pile #3 should be the things you intend to put into a storage unit. If Pile #2 is particularly large, try hosting a garage sale before the move. Having less stuff to move will only make your relocation less stressful and less expensive.

 If you aren’t labelling the boxes, you’re making a giant mistake! The boxes will inevitably get mixed up on the way to your new home, and you’ll be left opening every single box to check for where you put your toiletries and pyjamas.

 When organising the items to be moved, label the boxes according to their corresponding rooms, such as “kitchen,” “bathroom,” “closet,” etc. Also, all fragile items should be labelled as such to avoid damage en route.

8. Pack a moving-day survival kit

After moving into a new house, you don’t want to have to sift through hundreds of boxes just to find your clothes and your toothbrush. Instead, pack a moving-day survival kit with a few changes of clothes, pyjamas, toiletries, medicine, and whatever items you’ll want to have on hand when moving into a new house.

9. Reserve a storage unit

Especially important if you’re downsizing, a storage unit will be helpful if you’re not ready to sell or donate any of your items. It’s recommended to reserve a unit well before your move, though make sure the unit you choose is in a well-maintained facility with good security features.

10. Paint the walls or closets of your new place

Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring professional painters, it’s best to do the painting of your new home several days to a couple of weeks before you move.

Why? The empty rooms will be much easier to paint, as there will be no need to move furniture, take down draperies, clear out closets, or take the artwork and other decors off the walls. Plus, moving all your items into a freshly-painted room will feel that much more comfortable and rewarding.

11. Have the mechanical equipment cleaned and serviced

As soon as you’re set to move, check the heating and cooling systems in your new home and make sure they’re clean and well-maintained. This is especially important because if the cooling system breaks down at the peak of summer, you’ll not only be quite uncomfortable, but you’ll also have to pay extra to have a technician come over and service the machine.

By having the equipment serviced in advance, you’ll guarantee the longevity of the units while saving money by preventing repair costs.

12. Clean up your old home

Don’t be rude to whoever moves into your former home! Before moving into a new house, don’t forget to do one last sweep of your former home. After making sure everything is packed up and extra items are sold or donated, do a deep clean of your old place by vacuuming the floors and wiping down surfaces.

Ready for the big move?

If you’re finding moving into a new house a bit more difficult than you thought, save yourself the struggle and book with TheLorry! Our network of expert movers will make sure your things are swiftly delivered to your new place. Rest assured, your items will be in good hands. Happy moving!