When stress takes over, even the most organized person can forget a few things.
With the complicated process involving a house move, it’s no wonder that there are things that still manage to get left behind.
8 Things People Forget When Moving House
While thinking of all the overwhelming work that needs to be accomplished before your big move, make sure you don’t miss the following:
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Contact a Removals Company in Advance
As much as possible, contact a home removals company beforehand (at least six weeks prior to your move) to ensure that there won’t be any conflict of schedule with the movers. Without a prior booking, you might end up paying for a rush booking at a higher price and worse, have trouble finding a mover that’s available and reliable.
Label Boxes
This may seem like a small mistake to make, but the impact it has on your move can be quite huge. Without proper labels, it will be much harder for you to find your belongings when you unpack later on. Always remember to label your boxes using a marker pen with details of what’s in each carton and which room it should go.
Also, don’t forget to mark any boxes containing fragile items. This way, the removalists will be extra careful when lifting, carrying, loading, and unloading them from the moving truck.
Use the Right Packing Materials
It’s easy to fall victim to cheaper packing materials. However, it can result in a number of issues, and the biggest one is putting your possessions at risk of damage. For instance, mediocre boxes will collapse easily under the weight, and bin bags containing clothes can tear open, leaving your items broken and/or damaged.
Bags or boxes that don’t seal properly can leave your belongings vulnerable to bad weather, so get the necessary packing materials from a shop or from your moving company partner.
When you hire a removals company, they can calculate the number of boxes you’ll need and provide standard packing materials to ensure the safe transport of your items.
Pack an ‘Essentials‘ Box
During your first night in your new house, the odds are you won’t be able to unpack everything. In this case, all you’ll need is a box of essentials that include:
- Toilet paper
- Soap
- Shampoo or conditioner
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Bedding
- Towels
- Change of clothes
- Trash bags
- Electronic chargers
- Snacks
- Pet supplies
- Slippers or comfy footwear
Your essentials box should be the last thing you pack before the move as it will be the first one you open once you arrive. When deciding on what should be inside your box, think about the season of your move and reflect on all the items you use daily. Alternatively, you can keep your overnight essentials in a bag you will be personally taking with you in your vehicle.
Transfer Utilities
By staying on top of your utilities, you can ensure that your new home has everything you need. Moreover, you don’t have to suffer the cost of keeping the electricity on at a house that you’re no longer residing in. Have basic utilities ready and schedule your internet installation ahead of time.
Check All the Keys From the Previous Owners
If you bought a lived-in house or are moving to a newly rented unit, it’s important that you check in advance if all the keys to your new house are with you. This is crucial if you don’t want to be in an awkward situation wherein you’re locked out on moving day. Once you’re all settled in, make sure to have all your locks changed.
Clear Everything When You Leave
Once all the boxes and other belongings are out of your old place, do a thorough walk-through of your former home. Check things that are hanging on walls, and open all drawers and cupboards to ensure you won’t leave anything behind. You can also book a cleaning service to help you with clearing your place and cleaning up to lessen your stress during the move.
Inform Key People About Your Move
Be sure to inform all important people in your life about your house move. As soon as you’ve confirmed your move date, start letting people know about your new address.
This should include your family members, friends, utility service providers, the bank, insurers, and other persons you communicate with regularly. Also, don’t forget to visit the post office and fill in a form to have all your mail redirected to your new address from the date of your relocation.
Stay Organized
The key to every successful move depends on the system you create and commit to. By being organized and writing down all the things you need to do, you can avoid forgetting important items and tasks. This will save you from a lot of hassle on moving day, and you can simply look forward to starting afresh in your new home with a positive outlook.
Author Bio:
Robert Wise, Sales Administration Manager at Nuss Removals, has been a respected figure in the removals industry for over 20 years. His attention to detail and the ability to truly understand the needs of the customer have ensured the successful relocation of thousands of satisfied individuals and families. For moving and storage across Australia and around the world, Robert’s wealth of experience ensures his customers are in safe hands.
