Moving into a new home can be an exciting time, but it can also be a lot to manage. Maybe your head is already swimming with projects and ideas you need to tackle, or maybe you’re feeling confident and organized about this next step. Wherever you find yourself, here are some things you may be forgetting.
You may have swept through the interior of your home and made a packing list, but don’t forget about the outdoor items. From patio furniture to plants, be sure you have a plan in place.
Will you need a parking permit for you or your movers? If you live in a metropolitan area, this may be the case. Research your city to see if it has any local guidelines on parking permits. If you are using a moving company, confirm if they will be providing the permit.
You probably won’t forget your furniture that you use every day, but don’t forget to check other areas of your home where you store items. Attics, crawlspaces, garden sheds, and garages should all be checked to be sure you are not leaving anything behind. Be aware of items secured to the back of doors, like art or mirrors that may easily be overlooked.
At the very least, you will need to update the address on your car insurance. If you are moving to a different state, you will likely have a limited window of time to update your car insurance, vehicle registration, and driver’s license.
Put together a box, tote, or suitcase of your most essential items that you will need in your new home. This can include a few changes of clothes, toiletries, medications, and items that you use on a daily basis like cell phone chargers. You can also include grocery items and paper plates. The idea is that this will be the first box that you unpack, so you will not have to hunt for your most used items.
If you are hiring a professional moving company, consider withdrawing cash to tip your movers. You can also purchase bottled waters or other cold drinks to offer the movers.
Does your new home have enough smoke detectors? Are they functioning? Each state has their own laws for smoke detectors. Be sure to regularly replace your batteries in your alarms if they are not hardwired.
In case of a plumbing emergency like a burst pipe, you should always be aware of where your main water shut off valve is located. Stopping the water flow quickly in an emergency can cut down drastically on damage, so you need to be able to act fast. Share the location and directions for how to turn the water off with other members of your household, such as your property manager.
If you will be moving with a pet, you can read some tips here. Moving can be stressful for animals as well, so be sure to stick to your routine with them as much as possible.
If you have any jewelry or important documents such as passports, gather those ahead of time and create a special storage space for them. Consider keeping them on your person or nearby to know where they are at all times during the move.
If you need to move musical instruments, consider using a moving company that has experience moving such items. A lot of instruments have delicate internal structures and some of them, like pianos, can be very heavy to move.
Be sure to cancel any local memberships for gyms, wholesale stores, and other businesses that you will not have at your new location. If you use a dry cleaner, double check that they have nothing that belongs to you. If you have medications, be sure those have been picked up from the pharmacy and consider getting extra refills.
Moving can be stressful, so don’t forget to unwind. It may be fitting to let someone else do the meal prep for a night and bid your favorite restaurant in town adieu. Indulge in your favorite things to destress, whether it’s a long walk, booking a massage, or just putting your feet up for a bit. Remind yourself of the reasons that motivated you to move in the first place, and soon you will be settled in your new home.
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