Tips For A Hassle Free Move

Moving into a new home is never easy and can really throw a wrench in your daily schedule for quite a while.  There are a ton of belongings to keep track of meaning planning your move ahead of time is the key to making moving in to a new home less stressful and more affordable.  As we are homeowners as well as real estate agents, we know what you’re up against.  Here are some tips to keep your move on budget and on schedule:

Time to think about moving (1-2 months prior to moving)

  • Look through your home and your possessions, deciding which items to take with you and which to sell, donate or put in the trash.
  • Decide whether you will be packing yourself, or if you want a moving company to do so for you.
  • Get in touch with some moving companies. Take your time to find a mover that fits your budget and is going to do a great job for you.  Obtain multiple estimates and check availability around the date of your planned move. Once you’ve found a company you like – book their services.  Moving companies become busy quickly and you don’t want to be stuck without their help when it comes time to relocate.
  • Renters should make sure to give their current landlord written notice that you will be terminating your rental and arrange for any deposits to be returned.
  • Have all important records or information transferred to your new address – drivers license, mail, medical, school, financial or legal documents.
  • Let any services you hire know about your move to a new address – landscapers, snow plowing, newspapers, grocery delivery etc.
  • Make arrangements to have pets boarded throughout the move or brought to your new home.
  • Begin collecting any items that are out for service or cleaning.
  • Prepare any plants in your home for a move – pruning, repotting etc.
  • Dispose of toxic garbage at the proper landfill – aerosol cans, batteries, gasoline etc.
  • Begin thinking about eating or trashing any frozen food that won’t do well throughout the move.
  • Arrange for cable, Internet, home phone or security systems to be installed once you have moved in. These sometimes book up to a month in advance so doing it now is a good idea.

As the move nears (1-2 weeks prior to moving)

  • Schedule to have your appliances disconnected and removed if you are taking them with you.
  • Pack up any items not essential to your daily life (this will keep from being overwhelmed later on)
  • Schedule to have utilities disconnected or transferred to your new address – hydro, cable, phone service.
  • Begin planning the furniture arrangement and interior design for your new home.
  • Pack up all valuable documents, jewellery, currency or other valuables.
  • Pack all gardening or landscaping tools, empty fuel from lawn mowers, roll up garden hoses.
  • Clean the refrigerator and freezer.
  • Get larger possessions ready to move.
  • Identify items that should be packed together. i.e. – kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, fragile etc.

Final Packing (1-2 days prior to moving)

  • Pack everything into sorted boxes and label them so you’ll know where things are once you’re in your new home.
  • Stack and organize all boxes so that there is ample space to move things in and out of the house – including furniture and other large objects.
  • Roll up and protect all carpets.
  • Create an inventory list of all the items that are included in your move – each box, piece of furniture and appliances.
  • Enlist any last minute help you might need for moving day.
  • Plan breaks, meals and transportation between both properties.

Moving Day

  • Complete a final check of your home to ensure you haven’t missed anything during packing.
  • Keep track of what items have been moved already and what remains.
  • Lock all windows and doors, turn off all lights and utilities, make sure everything that needs to be is disconnected and you have left the keys to the property in an accessible place.

Moving Into Your New Home

  • As you are moving into your new home you should check that few things are working and in order:
  • Are the utilities connected?
  • Is there power and water coming into the home?
  • Make sure your keys work properly.
  • Other considerations:
  • Begin positioning your furniture according to your plan. Do this before the boxes begin piling up and space becomes tight.
  • Check your inventory to make sure all items have made it to your new home.
  • Arrange for appliances to be installed.

Making a plan for your move will help you stay on track and keep your from scrambling at the last minute.  One of the best recommendations we can suggest is to keep an inventory list of all your possessions so that nothing gets overlooked during your move.  Speak with one of our real estate agents for more tips and experienced advice to take the stress out of moving.