It would be hard to deny that moving can be one of the most stressful and exasperating of all human activities. We tend to spend a lot of time fixing up our place of residence, and it’s no easy task to uproot everything and start again.
However, the process of moving does not have to be a traumatic event. For your convenience, we would like to give you this little checklist to help you stay organized and on track. These steps are meant to be followed in order, and you may need to add a step or two if circumstances warrant.
Turn On The Utilities
We will assume that all your belongings have been moved to the new house and that you have not yet finished unpacking. Before you do anything else, you should get your utilities switched over. If nothing else, you need the water turned on right away so that you can wash and use the toilet normally. Electricity, internet, and other utilities may not be as essential as water, but the house just won’t feel like home until they are turned on.
Switch Your Mailing Address
Having switched the utilities, you must now ensure that your bills come to the right address. Since you are reading this, we will assume that you have internet service. Go here, and you can change your mailing address quickly and easily.
Tend To Your Animals
If you have pets, this is the time to get them settled into the new house. You need to be careful, however, as pets will sometimes run away from a new location. Mostly, they do this in an attempt to find their old territory. Try not to read too much into this behavior, as it is merely the result of an animals’ natural aversion to the unknown.
It’s a good idea to avoid letting your pet run loose outside for a little while. Put them in a spare room or maybe in a shed…just for a little while, of course. After a while, they will take to their new home and can be dealt with as normal.
Set Up All The Big Stuff
When you are arranging the contents of your home, it is best to start with the largest items. For most people, this will mean large appliances like washers and dryers. It will also include all large items of furniture like beds, couches, and dressers.
Clean The Place From Top To Bottom
Since you have just finished arranging the large items, you might think that it’s time to start arranging the small items. However, it isn’t time for that just yet. First, we need to take advantage of all this open space. With less stuff in the way, it will be easier to clean the whole house from top to bottom. We would recommend using strong disinfectant-type cleaners. Yes, the home should have been cleaned before you bought it, but it’s always best to play it safe. It also wouldn’t hurt to read this article and get some ideas about how to create a more sanitary home.
Change Your Locks
Don’t underestimate the risk of theft at this time. Thieves will sometimes target people who are in the process of moving, as the chaos of the moving process can make it easier for them to operate. It might surprise you to know this, but most burglars don’t break windows or pry open back doors. Most of them walk right in through the front door, and many of them find ways to acquire the keys (or copies of them). The only way to prevent key theft/copying is to install the locks yourself and then carefully control access to the key.
Set Up A Security System
This is where it becomes more difficult to recommend specific measures. The level of security you require should be determined by the area in which you live. Obviously, high-crime areas require tighter security, so plan accordingly. Security measures that you might consider adding include:
- An alarm system that is meant to alert both the neighbors and the police
- Cameras pointed at all potential points of entry
- Motion alarms in the driveway
- Padlocks and deadbolts where appropriate
- Motion-activated lights around the yard perimeter
- A garage door alarm
- A VPN service to protect your home network
Inventory Unpack
Now it’s time to begin unpacking all the little things. Open up all those boxes one at a time and arrange their contents as desired. Did you make an inventory list of all your valuables before moving? If not, you should have. This list will help you to make sure that all of your valuables made it to your new home safely. If you neglected this step, just do your best to account for all the important things.
Locate Your Utility Switches
Although you may not need to fool with these things right away, you should go ahead and locate your breaker box, your main water valve (usually at the meter), and any smaller valves or switches that may exist. Sinks and toilets often have separate water valves, and large appliances like water heaters will sometimes have separate breakers. Either way, you need to know about this stuff so that you can deal with any utility-related problems that may arise.
Fire Safety
Finally, you need to equip your home to be as fire-safe as possible. You will need to create a fire protection plan. Basically, this plan will include three things:
- 1. Install smoke detectors and make sure they are working properly
- 2. Get 1-3 fire extinguishers and place them in convenient places
- 3. Designate escape routes and familiarize all household members with them
Conclusion
As a final note, we would like to offer you this advice: Don’t look at moving as a chore. Realistically speaking, it is a chore (and a big one, at that). However, you will find that your work is far easier if you look at the moving process as an exciting and enjoyable foray into the unknown. If you have found our advice to be helpful, you can show your gratitude by filling out the contact form below.
