There’s plenty of things to do when moving to a new home, and you might feel too caught up in all of it. To prepare for moving, you must create a checklist. First thing you need to do is to look for a place where you will move to, if you’re moving to California, there are a lot of affordable apartments for rent in Burbank that come with great amenities. Second, you also have to plan out how you will move your furniture, appliances and other belongings to your new home. That’s why it’s important to hire reliable movers in Seattle for help, prioritize, and have a plan of what needs to be taken care of first. That’s where we can come in and give you some clear guidelines, so read on. Here are the things that should top your list when moving into a new house.
Proper Packing Is Key
One thing that could make your whole move easier and faster is proper packing. How do you properly pack? Start by decluttering – decide what you don’t need and whether it’s good to be donated or it should go to trash. This is the part where you need to learn to let go – if you haven’t used something in a while, chances are you won’t use it again, so toss it. Do this first, so you have fewer things to pack, and you don’t have to do it in your new home.
Then pack the items you don’t use so often. Seasonal clothes, holiday decorations, special china – all of that needs to get packed first. Label the boxes and color-code by room. Leave only the things you’ll be needing while in the old house, during the move, and the first couple of days in the new home. Medicine, personal hygiene products, towels, linen, some clothes, some kitchen items, and documents are what come to mind first.
Make Sure You Hire Reputable Movers
Another one of your priorities should be finding reputable movers in Seattle you can rely on. Everyone can rent a truck and call themselves a mover nowadays, so make sure you are hiring a licensed and trustworthy mover. You can do so by using apps that only accept licensed and vetted companies or simply by asking friends and family for recommendations. This way, you’ll avoid scammers or simply unprofessional individuals who can end up causing you trouble rather than helping – and costing you much more money. So, find good movers and find them early on, so you’ll have more time on your hands.
Get Your Utilities and Mail in Check
As you don’t want to spend your first couple of days in your new home without electricity, water, or heating in any season, especially winter – get your utilities in check before you move. Depending on the area, you may have the option of choosing a provider, so make sure you’ve chosen the best option. These companies usually connect you upon request, so let them know when you will be moving in.
Another thing that you want sorted is your mail. Make sure your bills and mail are updated to your new address before you move in. The same goes for cable and internet. While these may not seem like top priorities, being without the internet can feel like being without electricity or water, especially if you work remotely. Get those installations done 2-3 weeks before you move in.
Rekey and Inspect Your New Home
By the time you’ve moved in, who knows how many people might have had the key to your new place. Handymen, neighbors, relatives, workers, former tenants, real estate agents – all of them needed a way into your house, and we don’t know if all of them returned the key without making a copy. So, just to be sure, rekey your lock.
Another thing you want to do before you move into a house is to call a professional to thoroughly inspect it. The eagle eye of an expert can notice signs of previous leaks, traces of mold, or corrosion. If anything needs fixing, it’s better done while the house is empty. The same goes for electrical wiring – have a professional over to make sure everything is wired up right or if you need to upgrade your service mains or the switchboard.
What’s the Best Way to Unpack After You’ve Moved?
This is the time you’ll be happy you packed properly and color-coded your boxes. Unpack room-by-room and start with the bathroom and kitchen. Those are the rooms you’ll be using most. When you unpack, start with the items you need right away or use on a daily basis. So get that linen and towels out, sets of clothes you’ve designated for the first few days, and proceed with the other items. Once you unpack your bathroom, kitchen, and essentials, you can go easily and split the packing into several days or weeks, depending on the size of your move. After you’ve unpacked, don’t forget to add some final touches to make the new house your own. Then, enjoy the new home with your family – it will all be worth it.
