Do’s & Don’ts to Know Before Moving into a New Place
While moving into a new home is exciting, it can also be an intimidating process. Along with the thrill of a new place to call home, is the opportunity to begin a new chapter of your life. No matter if you’re moving across country or to the city next to your hometown, moving is always something to be enthusiastic about.
You have the opportunity to design your new place to fit your aesthetic preferences and create a space that feels cozy and aligns with your energy and spirit. While you may already have found your new home, the next step is moving in, which can be a daunting task. This guide will lay out the important do’s and don’ts to know to help you settle into your new place.
Do: Communicate with your new landlord, as well as your former landlord
Let your former landlord know the date and time you are planning on leaving and dropping off your keys. It is common for landlords to perform a walkthrough with tenants to assess any damage to the property. Your belongings should be packed up and placed out of the way to make sure your landlord can assess every nook and cranny.
You should be prepared with a few questions when communicating with your new landlord. Here are a few important ones to ask:
When will I receive my keys?
Where should I park my car/truck on move-in day?
Will I need to complete a move-in checklist prior to my arrival?
How will I be expected to pay first month’s rent? If paying rent online, will I need to set up a new account?
Don’t: Procrastinate
Moving requires quite a bit of time and energy, so feeling stressed and exhausted by the amount of work on your moving schedule is to be expected. However, not staying on top of your moving plan or waiting until the last minute for things can cause bigger problems and even more stress. In order to have the smoothest move possible, you need to address the packing, loading, and moving arrangements promptly.
Do: Think about hiring professional movers
If you want to have an extra smooth moving process, hiring professional movers is the way to go. Professional movers can be more effective with moving large furniture pieces, like mattresses, couches, over-sized appliances, and/or heavy boxes. Hiring professional movers will also give you peace of mind knowing that your belongings will make it safely from your current home to your new home.
There are many critical factors to take into consideration when looking for a moving company to hire. Below is a list of the key factors to consider to ensure you work with the best helpers possible:
Budget
Reputation
Licensing and insurance certificates
Budget-friendly rates
Don’t: Forget to read your lease carefully
Prior to signing your lease agreement, make sure to read it thoroughly – and then read it again. If anything doesn’t make sense to you, make some notes so you can have your new landlord provide clarification. This is extremely important before signing. Be sure to pay close attention to any policies concerning pets, visitors, parking, or on-site amenity usage.
It’s best to do all the analyzing you need to do now, to avoid a mistake you might regret later on. Verify all terms and conditions to validate your understanding, prior to signing.
Do: Make a packing checklist
There are many things you will need when moving into a new place. From daily essentials to personal items you cannot live without, your packing list is most likely going to be long and all-inclusive. Here is a packing list to get you started:
Bedroom
Mattress
Bed frame
Sheets
Pillows
Comforter
Lamp
Storage
Hangers
Hamper
Bathroom
Bath towels
Shower curtain
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Bathmat
Toilet brush and plunger
Trash can
Kitchen
Appliances (fridge, microwave, blender, toaster, etc.)
Utensils
Pots and pans
Tupperware
Glasses and mugs
Living Space
Furniture (coffee table, sofa, lighting, etc.)
Décor
Electronics (TV, stereo system, smart devices, etc.)
Storage
Hopefully with the above do’s and don’ts, your moving process will be less stressful, and you can relax a little. Moving tends to be exhausting, but you should try your best not to let the stress take the fun out of your overall experience!