Buying a new home is exciting, but the moving process can be stressful. There’s the packing thing, and the hiring the movers thing. But there are also some other things that you should do before moving day, such as:
1. Change the Locks
When you closed on the home, your agent gave you the keys to your new home. But who else has a set of keys?
The last thing you want is a surprise guest to show up and make themselves at home.
Changing the locks ensures you’re the only one with access to your home. You can change the locks yourself, or hire a locksmith. If you supply the locks, locksmiths usually only charge for labour.
2. Steam Clean the Carpets and Install Window Treatments
Before moving furniture and boxes, have the carpets steam cleaned and install window treatments. It’s easier to do both of these things before the house is cluttered with boxes and furniture.
If you have a steam cleaner, you can do the job yourself, but it’s usually worth the cost to hire a professional. As for window treatments, you can install them yourself or hire a professional to design and install custom ones.
3. Check for Leaks
The inspector should check for leaks before closing, but it’s never a bad idea to double-check.
Be on the lookout for:
- Running toilets
- Leaky faucets
- Leaking water heater
One way to see if there’s a hidden leak is to check your water meter. Check the meter at the beginning and end of a two-hour period of time in which no water is used in the home. If the reading changes from beginning to end, you may have a leak somewhere that should be investigated.
4. Find the Main Water Valve and Circuit Breaker Box
Familiarize yourself with your new home and the location of important things, such as the circuit breaker box and main water valve.
It’s important to know where the main water valve is in case there’s a plumbing emergency, natural disaster, or you go on vacation. Test the valve by turning the knob until it’s off. Once the knob is switched to the off position, no water should come out of the faucets in your home.
5. Change Your Address and Utilities
Moving is complicated and stressful. With so many things going on, it’s easy to overlook two important things: changing your address and changing your utilities.
First, make sure that you call the power company, gas company (if applicable) and your water provider to connect your utilities. Once you have these main utilities up and running, you can worry about setting up the Internet, phone, cable and other important services.
Ideally, you should change your address before moving day. You can change your address through the post office online. If you forget to change your address, your mail will continue to be delivered to your old address.
Along with changing your address with the post office, you should also update your address information for:
- Bank accounts
- Credit card accounts
- Insurance companies
6. Change of Address for Military Personnel
A change of address after a military move is crucial to ensure that your military-related mails will be forwarded to the new address. Mails being sent in high volume to military locations are considered the responsibility of the military, forwarding them in compliance with post office regulations.
Here are the following mails eligible for forwarding:
- Priority mail
- First-Class Package Service-Commercial
- First-Class mail
- Periodicals and magazines
- USPS Retail Ground
7. Additional Tips Before Moving
Aside from preparing all the things you need to move in your new address, psychological preparation is essential. Both children and adults need to prepare for this commonly perceived stressful situation, the causes of which depend on a lot of reasons.
Children and teenagers usually experience separation anxiety, leaving their friends and school behind. They might not be ready to meet new schoolmates and neighbours because they were used to their companions in your old address. Adults and the elderly also face anxiety due to the uncertainties of moving, such as social relations and new work assignments.
Check the following helpful tips to prepare you and your family psychologically before moving:
- Involve Everyone in the Preparation: Upon deciding to move, it’s crucial to tell every family member about your plan. In this way, they have enough time to prepare themselves, too. Involving them in the preparation process will ease the stress and anxiety associated with a move.
- Tour Them in Your New Address: Moving can be associated with the fear of the unknown. Taking a regular tour on your days off or weekends when children are out of school or a joy ride in the new neighbourhood can help reduce the anxiety associated with moving.
- Be a Role Model: Make every move conversation positive and exciting instead of worrisome or fearsome. It will help inculcate to younger members of the family that moving is not a major issue if you’re prepared and willing to accept new challenges and adventures.
Don’t forget to update your voter registration, too.
POSTED BY 
