So now that you’ve bought your dream home – how do you get all of your stuff into it? Here are some things to consider before you move.
1. Simplify.
As much as you hate to do it, this is the perfect time to sort and eliminate those things that won’t fit into your new life and home.
Rule of Thumb:
If you haven’t used it in five years – you can probably live without it. If you haven’t worn it in two years – it’s probably out of style, even if it could still fit.
So, now’s the time to have that garage sale you’ve been thinking about for years.
2. Schedule repair & renovations.
If there’s any work that needs to be done to your new home, it’s less stressful for everyone – namely, you and the contractors, if you have it done before you unpack and settle in.
3. Select a moving company.
As soon as you know you’re going to move – start interviewing moving companies. Look for companies that are insured, licensed, & bonded.
If you invite a mover’s representative to inspect the contents of your home, they should be able to tell you how long the move will take, what it’ll cost, and the size of the truck you’ll need.
Two or three estimates will give you a good impression of what you will need and what it’ll cost.
4. Contact utility companies in new and old places.
Little things like having running water, electricity, and even phone service connected on moving days (at both ends) may seem like luxury, but are, in reality, necessary.
Tip: Plan to have services turned off the day after you leave, and the day before you arrive.
Plan to have your services turned off the day after you leave the old house, and the day before you arrive at the new one, if possible.
Also, don’t forget to have your cable box picked up before you leave.
5. Discontinue delivery services.
There’s nothing that says, “nobody lives here” like a pile of old newspapers in the front yard. Call and discontinue your paper delivery, laundry service, or any other delivery services that you have.
Your real estate consultant will be able to recommend how to get in touch with the same services closer to your new home.
6. Save newspapers.
As soon as you know you’re going to move, start saving those papers. They provide good buffer when packing boxes.
Packing Tip:
You’ll want to use clean, unprinted paper for the first layer of wrapping, so that ink doesn’t get all over your things.
7. Submit change of address.
Visit the post office, in person or on-line to find all the forms you need and some helpful information about moving.
Different types of mail have different forwarding periods, so it’s best to take care of this ahead of time.
Summary: The Moving Plan
- ✅ Purge: Sell or donate items you haven’t used in years.
- ✅ Renovate: Do dirty work before unpacking.
- ✅ Utilities: Ensure an overlap in service dates.
- ✅ Safety: Cancel deliveries so the house doesn’t look empty.
- ✅ Supplies: Save newspapers (but watch out for ink!).
- ✅ Mail: Forward your address online or at the post office.
Taking these steps now will ensure that your first few days in your new home are spent celebrating, not stressing.
Want early access to serious buyers?
If you’re going to be moving in the next six months, what you might not realize is that there are a significant number of buyers searching for homes like yours.
In fact, for every buyer actively viewing homes right now, there are 5-10 more about to begin their search, or eagerly waiting for the perfect property to come up.
If you’re interested in getting a head start on finding a buyer for your home, leave us some details below… We’ll see if we can find a match!
Want to know what your home is worth?
Before you put your house on the market, you need to find out how much it’s worth in today’s market, so you can make your plans based on the most current information available.
We can prepare a detailed Pin-Point Price Analysis for you that shows the most current market activity in your area for homes like yours, and we can recommend an optimal marketing price range that will give you the best odds of selling quickly – and for top dollar!