Moving home is not an easy task. Moreover, moving all your things to a completely new location is even harder. However, you should also note that moving is also an exciting adventure—especially if you are relocating to a place you’ve never been to before. But most people still find it a big challenge when moving.
That’s why we have created this moving checklist to assist you when you make that decision to move. Following this checklist, together with some guidance from your peers, you will have a seamless experience during your forthcoming move. Besides, the checklist will assist you in doing everything necessary between now and your moving day.
Find a reputable moving company
Some people prefer moving their belongings—especially if they don’t have many household items. However, this isn’t a good idea, especially if you plan to move everything in your home. The best thing to do in this case is to find a good moving company.
One of the best ways to find a good moving company is to ask your friends, especially those who moved recently. Also, make sure that you specify the assistance or type of service that you require for the move. This can be from packing and moving everything, to loading your already-packed furniture and boxes.
Get the necessary packaging items
This is important if you choose to pack your items. Ensure that you get quality packing items like moving boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and other materials that will protect your household items. Most moving storage facilities and moving companies sell sturdy moving boxes. You can find the rest of the items at your local store.
Start packing early in advance
When you start packing your items, it’s when you’ll realize how long it can take. That’s why it’s advisable you start packing early in advance. Think of whether you’ll need a skip bin to assist you in disposing of unwanted items. Or, do you need to organize a garage sale to get rid of reusable items that you don’t need?
Also, ensure that you get packaging material that will protect your fragile household items. Things like bubble wraps and padding can assist in protecting your glassware and other related items. Additionally, it’s important to observe the weight limits of your packing boxes. Lastly, make sure that you clearly indicate the room each box should go to. You can use different colored stickers for each room to make your unpacking process easier.
Gather all your important documents
Yes, everyone has those important documents in their house. You can easily lose these documents when moving, especially if you packed everything in a rush. Some of these documents include birth certificates, academic certificates, medical records, social security cards, insurance policies, and other related items.
This is the right time to discard whatever you don’t need and organize and label all the important documents that you need to carry along. You should never overlook important documents when moving. Otherwise, you’ll end up regretting in the future.
Transfer utilities
It’s important to set up all the physical utilities in your new home before moving in. The most important things that you’ll need to set up include electricity, water, and gas. At times, you may or may not determine the company that you’d like to work with—and this will depend on the location of your new home.
Typically, utility companies don’t take a lot of time to activate your request. However, you should make sure that you update them about your moving date early in advance. According to Toronto movers at Torex Moving, doing so prevents any possible delays, especially if your move is during the moving season, where these companies have lots of clients to service.
Schedule home renovations
This is an important exercise that you should never overlook when moving—be it you are moving to a new house or apartment. Note that certain repairs like doors and windows that won’t lock and leaky plumbing will require immediate attention.
Ensure that the previous owner or property manager takes care of these repairs before moving into the house. If they cannot do that, work on it as soon as possible. However, you will be in charge of certain home improvements, like installing built-in bookshelves or repainting your home. Ensure that you get them done before moving in so that you don’t have to be worried about them when moving it.
Take inventory
Don’t forget to record all the items that you want to move—especially if you hire movers. This will assist you to have a clear record of everything that gets into their truck. Then, compare your inventory sheet with the moving company’s sheet as well. Make sure that you note anything that’s missing or damaged beforehand.
If possible, take photos of valuable and fragile items. These items include your appliances and electronics, as well as antique items. It’s important to note that an accident can happen, regardless of how responsible or careful the moving company is. In case of an accident, you will need to prove that these items were in good condition before loading them into the moving truck when seeking compensation.
Lastly, make sure that you take a final look at your house. Some of the spots that you can miss easily include the kitchen cabinets, washers, dryers, and bathtubs.
Clean your old house
Make sure that you clean your old home before you move out. Even though this might seem like a lot of work, it can go a long way in saving you the cleaning fee that can be deducted from your deposit. Don’t forget to clean the pantry and refrigerator too.
If you had rented out your previous house, make sure that you do a final inspection with your landlord before moving out. Check for any damages, and discuss how much money will be subtracted from your deposit to cater for repairs.
Revisit your moving plans with the moving company
Well, this might not look important. However, confusion with the moving time and date can happen a few days before you move. Therefore, it’s advisable to call the moving company and confirm whether the plans are still on. Besides, don’t forget to book a parking spot for the moving truck in case you live in an area with such requirements.
Also, make sure that you revisit the moving plans with the movers on a moving day to make sure that everyone is updated. Moreover, you need to state the time that you expect to spend when moving. Remember, you might be paying your movers per hour—and observing time will save you valuable money.
Make sure that you have an essentials kit
These are what you will need when moving, and a few days before you settle down. The items in this kit can include clothes for the first few days before you unpack, first aid kit, and maybe your kid’s teddy bear.
The best way to do this is to create a list of the items that you need to include in this kit. Moreover, you should keep the boxes open, well-labeled, and easily accessible. Probably, you won’t finish unpacking for a few days, and this kit will make things easier for you before settling down.
