The Ultimate Spring Moving Checklist

Are you about to close on your new home? It’s time to call the movers! And in the meantime, there’s a plethora of other items you can attend to before your big day. Things like utilities, address changes, locks, and air filters all factor in. We hope our handy dandy list is helpful as you prep for your big day. Moving is stressful, and you deserve to know these tips & tricks to make the process go as efficiently and painlessly as possible. And don’t forget, especially for those with finicky backs: lift with your legs!

Utilities & Bills

Let’s get a few headaches out of the way first. Namely, the utilities that keep you from freezing or melting into an icicle, that keep your lights on, and your stoves burning.

• Gas & electricity: For the date of your big move, make arrangements to switch over your electric, gas, & water ahead of time
• Internet & cable service: Want to host a celebratory movie night of “The ‘Burbs” after you unload and unpack everything? You’ll want your home to be wired for streaming beforehand and remember, cancel your old internet too!
  • 💡Pro tip: Check if your new area is eligible for fiber internet, considered the fastest, most reliable connection you can obtain
• Cell phone: Make sure to update your mailing address with your cell phone bill so that it’s not going to your old place!

Your Mailing Address

Speaking of address updates, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve adjusted your billing & mailing address with the below places at least a week before moving:

• Your local post office – This will ensure that any physical mail you get is forwarded to your new place for at least a year
• Health insurance, doctors, & dentists
• Tax filing – Notify the IRS of your new address
• Your company/direct deposit – Ensure your pay stubs, W2s, and 1099 tax forms are updated!
• Student loans
• Driver’s license, vehicle registration, & auto insurance – You’re required to update automotive info at least a month after moving
• Voter registration
• Suitcase tags
• Delivery services like Amazon, meal plans, book club boxes, etc.

Your Old Home

To make your move easier, you can utilize these last-minute tips before packing the trucks:

• Give away old and unused items to friends & family
• Either donate to Goodwill or sell to online sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace
• Invest in a label maker so you can organize all your boxes ahead of time
• For electronics, label all cables so that they’re not lost in a miasma of wiring
• Collect all your financial and legal records together in one folder and store in your backpack or personal bag before the movers arrive
• Once empty, clean sweep your old place and take photos to document that you’re leaving the home in good condition

During the Moving Process

Here are some items to consider once you’ve gotten the keys to the castle and after you’ve set up utilities and wrangled all the nitty-gritty details of changed addresses and tax info.

• Complete a deep clean – Whether you want to hire a cleaning service or do it yourself, a deep clean is the easiest before you’ve moved all your boxes and furniture inside
• Protect your floors from scratches during your move – Cover frequently used areas with cardboard for a cheap solution
• If you want to spend the first night at your new home, your bed should be the first thing you unload and put together
  • Pull out your bathroom necessities early on too!
• Tip your movers!
• Change the locks & make copies of your keys
• (Optional) Childproof & petproof the home
• Tackle quick repairs and paint jobs

Post-Move Checklist

Once you’re loaded inside and have all the necessities unpacked, here’s some post-closing wisdom to ponder.

• Make a goal to be completely unpacked within two weeks (or a month at the latest)
• Buy fire extinguishers
• Order an energy audit to discover if you need to insulate the attic, weatherstrip windows, or seal any air leaks in crawl spaces
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Set up a home security system
• (Optional but fun) Throw a housewarming party and invite your real estate agent and mortgage lender!

Now, here’s our last bit of advice after all is said and done: go meet your neighbors! The poet John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island.” Take these words to heart and don’t isolate yourself after your move. It’s an exciting new period of your life, with a new location, amenities, parks, and yes, new people. Don’t be a stranger, and introduce yourself, even invite them to your housewarming party. Kids and dogs can also make it easier to get to know the people next door. You’ll acquire peace of mind once you acquaint yourself with the neighborhood and potentially make some new friends along the way. At the very least, it doesn’t hurt to have a reliable neighbor who can pick up your mail or feed your fish while you’re out of town!

Happy moving, spring home buyers, and even for those still on the fence, we hope this checklist is useful for buyers in any season. Good luck!

Source: Realtor.com, Homes & Gardens