Moving to a new home marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in life. Although exciting, it can also be stressful if you aren’t properly prepared.
Preparing properly for your move can set you up for a smooth transition. The psychological and emotional toll of moving can be significant, so taking steps to organize the process will pay dividends.
Proper preparation will reduce stress and allow you to fully enjoy your new surroundings. With some strategic planning, you can immediately make your new house feel like home.
Below, we’ll share some tips to optimize your move-in process.
Pre-Move Tips
1. Confirm Your Move-In Date
Miscommunications regarding move-in dates can completely upend your plans if you’re not careful. Don’t just assume everyone knows the correct date - take time to verbally confirm your exact move-in day with all involved parties.
Call your real estate agent, movers, and previous homeowners, and verify the date and time. This extra step prevents mix-ups that could leave you stranded on your big move-in day.
2. Make a Backup Plan
Unexpected issues often crop up during a move, so it’s crucial to have a backup plan in place. If you’re using professional moving services, it’s worth researching and hiring only reliable ones. Companies like Solomon & Sons Relocation have a reputation for being reliable and will ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible. What’s best is that they also offer storage services, so you can keep any valuables in their storage units while moving houses.
Likewise, research hotels, short-term rentals, and other lodging options near your new home ahead of time and book a room for a few nights in case your move-in gets delayed.
Pack a bag with essentials like medications, phone chargers, toiletries, and an extra change of clothes. Also, assemble a list of important contacts like your mover, utility companies, home inspector, etc. Having all this prepared means you won’t have to worry if your move doesn’t go precisely as planned.
Preparing Your House for Your Arrival
1. Update Your Address Promptly
As soon as you have a confirmed move-in date, take care of submitting address changes, don’t wait until after you’ve moved.
Alert the post office, your bank, insurance companies, magazine subscriptions, and any other services that regularly mail items to your home. This way, you may ensure your important correspondence gets forwarded to your new address timely.
You can also let close friends and family know your new address early. Who knows, they might start sending housewarming cards and gifts to celebrate your new chapter.
2. Schedule a Deep Cleaning
Even if the previous homeowners thoroughly cleaned, expect some lingering dust, grime, and odors in your new abode. Don’t take any chances - schedule a deep clean before you move in. Tackling a thorough cleaning beforehand allows you to unpack into a pristine, fresh-smelling home.
If time permits, you can DIY the cleaning a week before move-in day. Otherwise, hire a trusted professional cleaning service to handle the job from top to bottom. It prevents you from pausing mid-unpacking to scrub floors or appliances yourself.
3. Address Any Needed Repairs
Before move-in day, carefully inspect every nook and cranny of your new property. Make a list of any issues or repairs needed, no matter how minor. And this might include patching holes in walls, fixing leaky faucets, servicing appliances, or updating flooring. Addressing maintenance problems beforehand prevents unpleasant surprises after you start living there. You want to fully settle into a structurally sound home without worrying about underlying issues.
4. Get Extra Moving Insurance
Protect your belongings by securing additional moving insurance for the transit. Consult your insurance agent about supplemental policies to cover valuable possessions, antiques, or collectibles properly. Also, confirm your homeowner’s insurance has been activated to cover your belongings in the new property. This extra protection gives you peace of mind if any unfortunate damage occurs during the move.
5. Reserve Nearby Parking
Ensure the moving truck can park as close to your new home’s entrance as possible. Contact your property manager (if renting) or HOA (if owning a complex) about reserving a premium spot. See if nearby neighbors will let you use their driveway or vacant guest parking for the day.
Proper parking placement prevents exhausting long hauls from truck to door. It also reduces the risk of damage from carrying items at excessive distances.
6. Book Local Storage if Needed
If your new home isn’t ready for move-in day, consider booking a storage unit nearby. It provides flexibility in case renovations run behind schedule or rooms need repainting. You can safely store boxes and furniture until the property is 100% prepared.
Storage also helps with an overflow of belongings that won’t yet fit in your new space. Take your time fully unpacking without clutter. This option prevents a stressful first week where you’re trying to cram too much into an unfinished home.
7. Schedule Utility Transfers
Contact all utility companies to activate services like power, water, gas, sewage, and garbage collection at your new address. Ensure they are all scheduled to switch by your exact move-in date so your home’s basics are up and running on day one.
Nothing dampens the first-night experience like moving into a home with no electricity or hot water. Among utility arrangements, don’t forget to schedule the installation of internet, cable TV, and any smart home devices. Having Wi-Fi and entertainment operational makes your first night much less hectic.
Confirm you have all the proper modems, routers, cables, and other equipment. If you had customized services like DVR at your old home, ensure the new packages are equivalent. Moving is stressful enough without having to also wrangle new technology.
Conclusion
Moving entails tackling various tasks, but thorough preparation sets you up for success. By tackling logistics like parking, cleaning, repairs, and insurance ahead of time, you can prevent stressful surprises.
Transferring utilities, updating your address, and arranging services like Wi-Fi ensures your new home is comfortable and functional upon move-in. Strategic planning and organization allow you to settle smoothly into your new abode. So, implement these tips to fully enjoy your new home from day one.
