10 Tips For Smooth and Stressless House Moving
Moving home can be a very busy time, often requiring a lot of careful planning and physical work. Whether it’s increasing, shrinking, changing the sea or the trees, many of us move houses multiple times throughout our lives and we understand that there are many logistics involved in any successful move. To help you on your way, we’ve put together a moving checklist of some of the common things you may need to do before closing your front door for the last time.
Some of the steps you often need to take when moving house include:
1. Find a moving service
2. Collect packing boxes
3. Consolidate and pack
4. Pay outstanding bills
5. Disconnect and connect all services
6. Organize cleaners
7. Organize insurance
8. Update your address details
9. Redirect your mail
10. Cancel or redirect other regular deliveries
Before you start packing, it’s a good idea to take stock of your belongings to see where you can cut back. Often times, the same box may be moved from one house to another without being completely unpacked. If you haven’t used it in recent years, do you really need it?
Also,you can try to start packing your non-day-to-day items earlier, to reduce your workload closer to your move-in date.
1. Do you need a moving service?
When you move, you generally have two options: move your belongings yourself(perhaps with the help of friends or family), or find a professional house moving service. If you prefer to hire a moving service, word of mouth can be an effective way to find one with a good track record in your area. You can check the reviews online.
2.Collect packing boxes
Are you packing your household items yourself? If so, you will typically need a supply of good quality moving boxes and sturdy packing tape that won’t sag. Many moving companies and storage facilities sell boxes, or you can order replacement parts from local stores.
3. Consolidate and pack
When you start packing, you can rediscover belongings that you had long forgotten.Think about whether you need to organize a trash can to get rid of trash, host a yard sale for any saleable (but junk) items, or collect favorite items that you could donate.
When packing, be sure to use proper padding for your fragile items and check the weight limits of the boxes you are using. Clearly marking which room the box is intended for can speed up the unpacking process at the other end.
4. Take care of pending invoices
Check to see if you have any outstanding fees or utility bills. If you can, it might be a good idea to clear them before you move or let your provider know you’removing, to reduce the risk of accidentally losing paperwork or accumulating late fees.
5.Disconnect and connect utilities
When you know your move-in date, you can arrange for your utilities to be disconnected at the home you are moving from and connected and ready for your arrival at your new home. These include:
• Fixed line / broadband
• Gas
•Electricity
• Water
Sometimes utility providers will require access to your new home, which can mean a connection delay, so it might be worth making sure you have a contingency plan in place.
6. Organize cleaning
When it comes to cleaning a rental property, you often have the option of doing it yourself or hiring the services of a professional (depending on the state or territory you live in). There are many cleaners who specialize in helping people who are moving house, whether you want a bond cleaning after moving out of rental property or have your new home spotless before you move in. When deciding whether to hire a cleaner, keep in mind that most bond cleaners guarantee their work, saving you the hassle of going back to finish any cleaning that a real estate agent or landlord may find unsatisfactory; however,this option will cost you more than cleaning it yourself.
7. Consider insurance
Whether you are buying or renting, it is a good idea to consider arranging insurance to protect your belongings. You can also ask your provider about coverage during your move in case something doesn’t make it to the new property in its original condition.
8. Update your address details
Be sure to tell your service providers what your new address is, to make sure you don’t miss important mail and keep your contact details and other important information up to date. In addition to the utility providers mentioned in step 5 above, these providers could include:
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Tax and legal advisers
• Medical and dental professionals
• The Electoral Commission
• Your retirement fund
• The Australian Tax Office
• Clubs, associations and other groups
• Your children’s school
• Any subscription service
• Your state or territory highway authority, which can update your driver’s license
• Any online shopping website you use, including Amazon, eBay, and Book Depository
Also remember to inform your friends and family of your new address.
9.Consider redirecting mail
Even if you have proactively updated your address with all of your providers, it may be a good idea to consider redirecting mail from your old home to your new one. By redirecting the mail for at least three months, you can see if there are companies or friends and family who missed the memo. You can request redirection of your mail on the Australia Post website.
10.Cancel any other regular delivery.
Do you have newspapers delivered? What about shopping? Make sure to cancel regular deliveries to your old address. Also remember to cancel any other domestic services you may use, such as a gardener or cleaner, or ask them if they can switch to your new address if you prefer.
