New homeowners are surprised by all the activities involved in moving into a new home. The tasks to be completed before moving a day can seem overwhelming, but breaking them down into steps makes it easier.
It is important to create a list of what belongings are being moved. Plan for any damage that may occur during the move, especially if fragile/older items are moved in trucks without any protective covering. The following are some tips on what to expect when moving into a new house.
Packing and Unpacking
Pack all specific items such as toiletries, towels, linens, and tools that you will need immediately. If renters are moving into unfurnished apartments for rent, they will need to buy comforts for their new house right away. Make sure valuable goods are stored in a safe place.
It is also vital to plan to unpack everything on the move-in day. You can enlist assistance from friends and family to make certain boxes that can get off trucks and into new homes.
Make a packing list by room and number each box to go in a room. Pack all tools needed to hang pictures, put together furniture, or assemble other items to be unpacked right away from their boxes. If renters are moving into an unfurnished home, they may need to buy tools for hanging pictures. Decide on what items will go in which rooms, based on where needed most.
Asking for Help
When you are moving, whether it is across town or the country, it is almost always necessary to get assistance from movers. Many people hire the services of local moving companies to help them transport their stuff cross-country. If your family and friends are close by and willing to help, they may be able to move your furniture for you at a lower cost than what other movers would charge. It will certainly save you money.
While making the necessary arrangements for your move, get in touch with whoever is responsible for delivering your items. Sometimes some different movers or helpers come by early on day one and later on day two, or sometimes it will be all one company who comes both times. If you plan to be home during your delivery, it’s a good idea to ask the company about these things and be sure you know who will be helping. You can then plan around their arrival times.
When you call up companies for a long distance moving quote, one of the first questions they will ask you is the time it will take to finish your move. Make sure that you give them the appropriate answer. It is helpful to be as accurate as possible when giving your time so that everyone knows what to expect.
If you have important packages delivered to you on a moving day, there’s a chance that some of them could arrive late. Or worse – they might not arrive at all. Many companies will try to get your belongings out the very day they receive them, so it may be difficult for them to inform you in advance if they’re late. Luckily, this problem is easily solved. You can either have your company call or email you when deliveries come on the day after they are sent to know when to expect them or ask if they can be delivered at a different time on a moving day.
Making a Cleaning Schedule
Moving to a new home is an exciting moment, but it can also be overwhelming. Before unpacking the first box, make a cleaning schedule for your new home. This will organize your tasks and help you complete the process as quickly as possible. For instance, before moving a day, turn on the water to let it run through pipes and flush out any dirt built up. The next day, start cleaning all kitchen appliances, the windows and organizing for garbage pickup.
Empty all boxes and put everything away as soon as possible. Putting everything away, organizing, and ensuring everything is in its place will make it much easier to clean up later, because you know exactly where everything goes. Get rid of unnecessary boxes by recycling or donating them, particularly if you’re planning on getting rid of some items before you even move in. Hang up your clothes and put all the linens into their appropriate places when unpacked. If you have children, plan appropriate spaces for their toys and make sure to clean up as soon as they’re done playing.
Clean the furniture before it’s moved in. Before you move anything into the house, wipe down all surfaces that will be visible, such as headboards, tables, and shelves. You can even tape off baseboards or other areas that will not be disturbed during the move. This extra step will make your cleaning routine much easier once you move things in. Clean all large appliances before they are used. If you plan on using any kitchen appliances or larger-sized electronics, clear some time for them to be cleaned before they’re used. Kitchen appliances may have been transported in dusty vehicles, and even if it’s a new refrigerator, you’ll probably want to wipe down the exterior.
Clean all the floors before putting down the rugs. Even if you plan on putting some rugs in, make sure to sweep or mop all floors before stashing them away so they will be clean when you need them. This is especially important for hardwood floors that might get scratched by your furniture’s legs over time if not taken care of.
Depending on the size of your new home, you can have a separate cleaning schedule for each room or just one where everything gets done. If you have pets, give them a special area so their mess does not spread through your entire house at once. When cleaning, consider using products without harsh chemicals. Make your own with simple ingredients that are more eco-friendly and just as effective.
Additional Expenses
Prepare yourself for expenses you may not have had in your previous home when buying a house. Relocating into a new home is exciting, but there are bound to be some costs that you had not considered before. Most people have to think about their security deposits, utility fees, landlord and tenant laws when moving. The security deposit can be large depending on the size of your house and where you live, and it is used to pay for damages after you leave that go beyond normal wear and tear. Electricity and gas bills are not typically included in a rent price. If they are provided as free utilities, usually there will be an extra charge once you move out that includes all of these bills from the past year or two. If utilities are not included, plan to pay for them yourself.
When planning for moving costs, it is important to consider the things you might have to pay for that are not explained in your lease, such as lawn maintenance services. This can all be avoided by asking about these additional charges before signing the lease, but even if you ask about them, there is no guarantee that they will remain the same over time or what they will cost at different times.
Another expense that you need to budget for is transportation. Work out if public transit or carpooling will be more beneficial for you.
Repairs
When you move into a new apartment, you may need many repairs. It is important to look at what needs fixing to minimize the need for future repairs. It is also important to know how to fix these problems, so they do not cause more damage or become larger problems.
Expect holes in the walls and ceilings. There could be holes in the walls and ceilings when you move into a new house. This is because most homes will have many nails sticking out of the wall from previous renters. These need to be hammered down, so no one gets hurt by them poking out. Ceilings may also have dents where heavy objects were dropped and left sinking into the ceiling.
You need to consult custom home builder services to fix this soonest, so no one can fall on it. Other dents in the ceiling may come from regular wear and tear rather than accidents.
Repair doors that do not stay closed. When you relocate into a new house, there may be doors that do not stay closed. This problem comes from doors being put in new and sliding out of place easily. An excellent way to fix this is to sand the edges of the door that barely touch when it closes. Alternatively, you may need to sand them down to stop touching completely, or you can sand them more to get better traction on the door frame. Another option for getting the doors to stay closed is to replace the screws with longer ones or put them on different brackets.
Repair damaged appliances and furniture. When you move into a house, there may be appliances and furniture that are broken or damaged. This can happen when people try to take things out of the house without paying close attention to what they are doing. It also happens when people do not handle heavy objects like cabinets, large dressers, and bookcases with care. Broken appliances can be easily fixed by replacing an individual broken part or taking it to someone who works on appliances. The only issue with that may be the price of fixing something like an oven versus buying a new one. Furniture can usually be sanded down and refinished to look new again. If the furniture is more than five years old, it may be worth replacing the item if the damage is too much.
Replace damaged flooring. Flooring can also get damaged when people move in. It commonly happens to wood floors because they are easily scratched or stained with water or shoe scuffs. It can also happen to tiles in bathrooms because they can get chipped or loosened from large amounts of steam. To fix this, the flooring may need to be sanded down and refinished to look shiny and new again. In bathrooms, chipped or loose tiles may need to be replaced if there is too much damage. When a tile is loose, it can be fixed with a thin layer of caulk or tile adhesive under the existing tile. This will allow it to stick on both sides of the tile and hold down the existing tile while also allowing you to scrape off any grout that is on top of it.
Sorting Moving Boxes
You need to start packing and sorting your items soon after buying or renting the new house or apartment, even if it is not completely ready for occupancy. You can stay in a nearby hotel while packing, instead of trying to work at home and packing simultaneously. If you need storage, begin looking around for a good storage company as soon as possible. You can use this time to get rid of unneeded articles, old mattresses, or those that cannot be easily stored in your new house or apartment, such as garden equipment.
Sorting through items. It is vital to decide on a storage company. You will need to pack your things and store them until they can be moved into the house or apartment and unpacked. Organizing what needs to go in the moving truck and what will be stored is key.
The first option is to pack everything you want to move into the truck and leave the rest at your old house or apartment. Another option is to put more breakable things in storage while packing the more sturdy items to move with you. It is time-consuming, but it is less risky. You can also set aside breakable items for storage and other household goods for moving.
Storing possessions. The storage company should provide any equipment or packing materials you need to store your belongings. The storage facility will have strict rules on handling your things, so familiarize yourself with them before loading up the moving van. There may be a charge to store items, so it is recommended that you create an inventory list of everything you are storing. You may also need to take photos or videos of your stored belongings in case damage occurs, and the storage company needs to show proof.
To conclude, moving into a new house or apartment is the start of an exciting new chapter in your life. It may be daunting, but it is vital to understand that moving is largely physical labor that requires time and patience. You need professional help buying a home and the entire moving process.