Moving home can be a chaotic time. There is a lot to remember – and inevitably some tasks will get forgotten. Below are a few of the tasks that people overlook during the madness of the move.
Labelling boxes
When you reach your new home, it could be useful to know what is in each box. This allows you to carry boxes to certain rooms and prioritize boxes to unpack which may contain essential items. You can label boxes by writing a list of contents on the side. Alternatively, you could number each box and create a list of contents for each numbered box in your phone.
Unpacking/defrosting the freezer
A lot of people forget to unpack and defrost the freezer before moving. This can make the freezer heavier, plus it may end up defrosting in the moving truck – causing water to spill out and potentially cause water damage to other contents during the move. In the leadup to moving, aim to empty the freezer by eating everything in it that you can and then take the time to defrost it before it needs to be moved.
Hiring cleaners
An agent or landlord may demand that you clean the property thoroughly after you move out. If you don’t have time to do this cleaning yourself, consider whether it’s worth hiring house cleaning services. Many of these services do end-of-tenancy cleans and moving cleans. It does mean spending extra money, but it could also be essential for getting back a rental deposit.
Arranging petsitters
Got pets? It’s a good idea to arrange a pet sitter so that your pets can be out of the way when all the furniture is being moved out. This could be a close friend or family member. Alternatively, you could hire a pet sitting services. Childcare could also be useful for making sure young kids are out of the way and kept safe.
Updating insurance information
After you’ve moved, it’s important to update any insurance information immediately. If you need to make a claim, but you’re no longer living at the address that is on your policy document, you could find that your insurance becomes void. Most insurance companies allow you to quickly update your insurance information online.
Notifying your bank
You should also notify your bank immediately after you move. This is important to prevent documents containing sensitive financial information being sent to your old address. You may be able to update your address via your online banking app, however some banks may require you to call them.
Changing the locks
When moving into a new property, changing the locks can be a worthwhile security measure. The previous tenant or owner may still have keys to the property – or they may have friends or family members they’ve given keys to. Changing the locks prevent any strangers who still have keys from being able to access your home. You can hire a locksmith to change the locks and cut you a new key.
