Moving Essentials – For a pain-free moving day and a great start in your new home
While most of us remember the big things like packing and hiring movers, there are crucial details that often slip through the cracks during the hustle and bustle of moving. Here are some of the essentials and commonly forgotten things you need to remember to make moving day a lot less stressful and settling into your new home a more enjoyable experience.
Who Needs Notifying?
Updating your address with various services and institutions is a task that’s easy to forget but incredibly important. Here’s a checklist to help you:
Postal Services: Arrange for mail forwarding with your local post office to ensure you don’t miss any important correspondence.
Financial Institutions: Update your address with your bank, credit card companies, and any investment firms.
Insurance Providers: Whether it’s for your car, home, or health, inform your insurance providers of your new address.
Subscription Services: Don’t forget to update your address for subscription boxes, magazines, and online shopping accounts.
Government Agencies: Notify the DVLA, voter registration, and other relevant government bodies of your change of address.
Healthcare Providers: Inform your doctor, dentist, and any other healthcare providers of your move.
Arranging Utilities and Services in Advance
Moving into a new home without essential utilities and services can be a nightmare. Here’s what you should arrange ahead of time:
Internet and Phone Services: Schedule an installation appointment for your internet and phone services before you move. This ensures you’re connected as soon as you settle in.
Electricity and Gas: Contact your utility providers to set up electricity and gas services in your new home. Don’t forget to schedule the disconnection of these services at your old residence and read both your old meters and the ones in your new home on moving day.
Water: Ensure you notify your provider you are moving, and if you have a water meter, read it at both your old and new on moving day.
Waste Removal Services: Find out about waste collection days and recycling policies in your new area.
Practical Packing
Using the right packing materials can make settling into your new home much easier and prevent damage to your possessions.
Many professional moving companies provide packing materials for large and electrical goods, and crates for smaller items, however, you will probably still need to invest in some good strong boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and marker pens to label the boxes. This will help you find things you need quickly and ensure moving companies place boxes in the right rooms for easy unpacking.
Updating Pet Microchip Information
For pet owners, ensuring the safety of your furry friends during a move is paramount. One often overlooked detail is updating the microchip information for your pets. It’s crucial to update your new address and contact details on the microchip database as soon as possible. This simple step can be a lifesaver if your pet gets lost during the moving process or in a new area once you have moved into your new home.
Booking Cleaning Services
Cleaning your old home can be a daunting task, especially after packing and there are so many other things you need to do.. Hiring professional cleaners can ensure you leave your old place in good condition, and it can be beneficial to have cleaners prepare your new home before you move in.
Preparing an Essentials Box
In the chaos of moving, it’s easy to forget about the first 24 hours in your new home. Pack an essentials box with items like toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchenware, medications, important documents, chargers, and snacks. Having these necessities easily accessible can make your first night much more comfortable.
Moving is more than just packing boxes and hiring a removal company. It’s about transitioning your entire life to a new place. By keeping these often-forgotten tasks in mind, you can ensure a smoother move and a more comfortable start in your new home. Remember, planning and organisation are key to a stress-free move!
