Moving into a new home is exciting and also, let’s be honest, a lot of work. It’s not just the work of packing and unpacking; you also have to deal with all the back-of-the-closet items you haven’t thought about in years.
There are also all the address changes, coordinating with various service providers, the list goes on. To help your move be more of a joy and less of a pain, here are our top 5 tips for a smooth move.
1. Make a timeline of long-term, medium-term and short-term tasks
To keep yourself on track, make a list of what needs to be done, and when. Purging items you don’t want to move, and booking your moving company can be done weeks or even months in advance. By getting these things done early, you’ll experience less stress closer to your move.
Other things should be done a few weeks in advance, such as packing seasonal items you won’t need. Then, there are the things you need to do in the days leading up to the move, such as cleaning out the fridge. You may want to add reminders in your calendar to make sure all these tasks get done on time.
2. Keep a list of organizations to notify about your address change
There are a number of companies and government bodies you’ll need to inform about a change in address. We suggest you make a list to make sure you don’t forget anyone.
Include contacting the specific departments in your region about your driver’s licence, healthcare services and providers, any necessary government branches or organizations, your bank, your insurance companies, your magazine subscriptions, associations you belong to, and companies with which you have recurring payments. (Your pre-authorized credit card payments won’t work if you don’t update your address with the companies).
By making a list, you can check off organizations as you go, so you don’t have to spend an entire day changing your address.
3. Pack smart
Take some of the stress out of moving week by packing some things in advance. For example, non-seasonal clothing and sports equipment, certain kitchen tools and appliances you don’t use regularly (think about that cheese fondue set you use once a year!), and extra linens can all be packed weeks before the big day.
We suggest you don’t just label boxes according to the room, but also add more specific information about the contents. After you move, you might need to suddenly find a fork for a takeout meal, and having 10 boxes marked “kitchen” won’t help you.
For security reasons, avoid labelling boxes with names of expensive items, such as “jewelry” or “electronics,” and use a code word or mark the box with a colour or symbol instead.
4. Transfer your home Internet and utilities
It’s a good idea to inform your home Internet service provider of the move at least a month in advance. That way, you can ensure your Internet will be set up promptly in your new place. For your utilities companies, you’ll want to inform them of the transfer, or cancellation, at least a week in advance.
5. Set up your security system so it’s active when you arrive
You’ll feel peace of mind when you go to sleep in your new abode, knowing that your loved ones and your belongings are safe. Shortly after you move is also often a riskier period as you might not have all your curtains up yet, so potential intruders could more easily see your valuables.
Additionally, a potential intruder might peek in through your front door before deciding if they will break in. And if they notice the lack of a control panel in your vestibule, indicating that your home doesn’t yet have an alarm system installed, this might give them the confidence to try to break and enter.
At GardaWorld, we can help with transferring your existing security system to your new place, or setting up a new one. Our experts will assess your new home and propose a custom security system based on layout, budget and security concerns. We will also advise you about the measures you may wish to consider that are specific to your new home.
We recommend you call us two weeks in advance so we can install your alarm system at a time that works for you. And if you have access to your new home before moving day, we can even set up your system before you move. That way, you won’t spend any time without protection, and it’s one less thing to worry about on moving day.
Give us a call at 1 833 GARDA 33 (1 833 427 3233) or request a quote online.