Boxes must be packed and a mountain of tasks accomplished before receiving that glistening set of keys to your new residence. Where is a new homeowner to start? Some home buyers have the luxury of slowly moving into a brand new residence, though some could be within an urgent deadline and must proceed in a matter of hours. Staying organized helps to keep the moving procedure on the right track as the day approaches.

Request Previous Owners

In addition to the keys, the previous homeowners are a wealth of info to be tapped before they ride off into the sunset. Make sure you ask as many questions as you can to avoid frustration later when inevitable problems arise. If your plan is to keep the paint colors the same, ask whether old headphones stay or what the exact shades are called. Ask owner’s manuals for all appliances and if any warranties are transferable. Ask operational questions about installed safety systems, irrigation systems, central vacuum systems, cable television service and other media hookups. Valuable contacts would include any builders, handymen or other people who understand the house well and what fixes or upgrades have been done. Most homeowners will be combined and provide as much info as you can to you as the newest resident.

Packing and Unpacking

Whether you use a moving company or move your belongings yourself, organizing and tagging boxes is essential for unpacking afterwards. The advice website FlyLady.net recommends collecting boxes, plenty of packing tape, transparent garbage bags, newspapers, scissors and colored permanent markers prior to beginning to pack. If time permits, type through your family’s possessions and intend to keep only those items that you use frequently. Pack five boxes per day, if your program permits, and label and color code them by room, or perhaps by drawer. Create a master moving list on a clipboard, suggests Fly Lady, and assign each box a few with its contents and also designated area described on the master list. If you’re using a moving company, you also need to understand how many boxes are to be transferred. Pack a box of items that you will need immediately upon arrival in your new home, advises Fly Lady, including cleaning materials, basic kitchen utensils, food, clothing, bedding and a telephone.

Notifying Important Parties

Along with packaging, another time-consuming undertaking of moving is notifying the right parties, scheduling new solutions and forwarding your mail. RealSimple.com counsels families to arrange for children’s school records to be moved to new schools up to two weeks prior to moving day. Fill out a forwarding request with the Postal Service and close any post office or safe deposit boxes that you no longer wish to utilize. Important parties to inform, as listed by Real Simple, include banks, credit card companies, brokerage companies, magazine or newspaper subscriptions, employers and utility companies. Schedule utilities and cable television service to be connected at your new residence as well. A month prior to moving, select new health care providers and have medical records transferred to their own workplaces. Also, refill prescription drugs as close to going day as you possibly can. Real Simple suggests confirming repeatedly with all the moving company as moving day approaches and keeping a copy of the inventory list once things are loaded onto the truck.

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