Things People Forget When Preparing Their Home to Move

a person worries about forgetting

Relocating is often an exciting endeavor.

A new location can bring with it a fresh start and all good things that come with it.

With that said, the act of moving itself tops nobody’s list of favorite things to do. Sweat, toil, and frustration are all too often the name of the game.

The good news is that you can avoid much of the discontent by planning and preparing accordingly.

Keep reading as we explore some of the often-overlooked tasks to tackle in preparation for moving.

Make An Inventory

Knowing what you have is crucial when preparing a home to move.

Not only does it protect you against discrepancies with the moving company, but it can give you peace of mind that what you are looking for actually exists when you settle into your new home.

If you are a pencil and paper person, make a list of the key items in each room of your home. If you are more in tune with the digital era, some quick photos and videos are a great way to keep track of what you have.

Collect Supplies

The average American household receives about 21 Amazon deliveries each year.

That’s a lot of boxes.

But when it comes time to move, most people can’t find a box anywhere and have to hustle to their local home improvement store and buy a stack.

Therefore, begin collecting supplies the moment you find out you are moving. Stockpile those boxes. Get plenty of bubble wrap and packaging tape. Have markers and labels handy to clearly denote what each box contains to expedite move-in at your new location.

Divorce Yourself from Junk

Americans love their stuff.

So much so that many households can’t use the second parking spot in their garage.

So much so that at least one guest room is completely inaccessible.

So much so that the self-storage industry has ballooned to $39 billion as people are forced to pay rent on items that will no longer fit in their home.

This can make finding a place to start quite daunting when it comes time to move.

Be honest with yourself. Do yourself a favor and rent a residential dumpster. Toss out broken, damaged, or otherwise degraded items that you will never get around to fixing in your new home. Donate clothes that haven’t been worn in the past six months. Take pictures and create a digital keepsake album of bulky bikes, children’s toys, and other out-of-use recreational items to avoid having to transport and store the real things.

Update Insurance

Contact your insurance provider and inform them of your move. Update homeowners and auto coverage as necessary. Inquire about any special coverages that will protect you and your belongings during the move. At the least, have up-to-date appraisals of any valuable artwork or antiques and make sure they are adequately covered during the transition.

Submit A Change of Address Form

Yes, the post office is still a thing.

Even if you feel like you do all of your business online, jury summons, mail-in ballots, and other key legal documents still require a mailing address.

Therefore, ensure that all of these documents are sent to the correct location and submit a change of address form with the USPS.

Deep Clean All Exterior Surfaces

Carpet cleaning is a fairly common to-do item on most moving checklists. It’s just intuitive to get the professionals in there once all furniture is out of the way. Likewise, scrubbing kitchen/bathroom tiles and touching up the grout is essential to get the property sparkling for new tenants.

However, it is equally important to take a high-quality concrete and masonry cleaner and get to work on exterior surfaces. Driveways and patio floors can become stained with leaking car fluids, sediment, and food spills. Not only does this detract from curb appeal, but it can compromise the structural integrity of these essential exterior areas and open the door for cracking during the freeze/thaw cycle. As such, getting these surfaces in top condition should be a top priority before moving out.

Perform Small Touch Ups

Small household issues can become lost in the bustle of day-to-day life. Leaky faucets. Cracked windows. Worn out caulking.

These seemingly small concerns begin to stick out like a sore thumb once the home becomes stripped down. Therefore, invest in the best tools for insulation, exterior decking, and routine maintenance and take care of these issues before the new tenants have a chance to complain.

Take Off Time From Work

Many moves are the result of work relocations.

But when they aren’t, it may surprise you to find out that getting time off to pack, prepare, and actually move becomes an issue for some people.

Make sure that you coordinate your notice and start date to accommodate the transition. If you are a remote professional, request enough time to get done everything that is needed. Parents: remember that childcare is essential during moving. Even if you personally take time off, keeping the babysitter is a great idea to prevent toddlers from unpacking everything you have gotten ready.

Let No Small Detail Slip Through the Cracks on Moving Day

With the proper preparation, moving does not have to be a monumental chore. From a detailed inventory to small touch-ups, consider any of the pro tips listed above when preparing your home to move. For more of the latest trends in the contemporary moving industry, explore the resources at All Around Moving for ideas and inspiration!

We hope you found this blog post on Things People Forget When Preparing Their Home to Move, useful. Be sure to check out our post Getting Your Home Market-Ready Before the Move for more great tips!