Moving usually isn’t the most enjoyable thing to do, especially if you’re making a move in the heat of summer. You have to consider all sorts of things like travel logistics, getting your stuff (which always seems to multiply) into a moving truck (which always seems to be smaller than you thought), and setting up everything at your new place.
Sure, actually moving your stuff might take a weekend but there are a few things you should do ahead of time to make your move go as planned. Since moving into a new place usually doesn’t happen often, most people are just not sure what to do when moving.
Don’t let your big move sneak up on you. Get organized and plan ahead with these moving tips. You’ll be glad you did.
5 Things to Remember When Moving
1. Start Looking Early
Assuming you don’t already have a place, you’ll need to lock this part in right away. When we were planning on moving to a new city for my wife to attend medical school, we started looking at rentals 6 months in advance. College towns can fill up fast, so make sure you’re ahead of the curve by at least 3-6 months if you can. A Wall Street Journal article cited that rents can rise up to 20% in the summer months, so save your budget by starting your hunt early.
2. Read Your Contract Carefully
Remember that lease you signed a while back? Dust it off and review it before you move. Chances are that you’ll need to meet certain requirements before you get your deposit back. If there are repairs that need done to your apartment or rental, request the repairs a few months before your lease expires. This will give your landlord the time to make the fixes and could save you headaches when it’s time for the final run through in your old place.
As for your new place, look over your lease carefully. Ask about the likelihood of getting your full deposit back. Ask about maintenance items that each party is responsible for managing. Also, be sure you completely understand the terms for breaking the lease early.
3. Contact Utilities and Service Providers
If you’re moving in the summer, the last thing you want is to unpack your stuff into a house that is 85 degrees inside. While most places maintain basic services between tenants, it’s not guaranteed that your electricity will be turned on for your move in day. Do yourself a favor and call the utility companies (water, electric, sewer, gas, etc) a week or two before so that your billing information is set up and your services are in place. Don’t forget other services like trash, internet, and cable too!
4. Notify Your Insurance Provider
Whether you’re moving into a new home that you’ve purchased or an apartment or rental house, you need to remember your insurance. If you are purchasing a new place without a 20% down payment, your private mortgage insurance should already be set up as your work out your loan details. But don’t forget about homeowners and renters insurance to protect the stuff inside your home. A simple policy may cost you $150 a year and can replace thousands of dollars worth of your items if something happened to your new home. As you’re reviewing your insurance, this is a good time to contact your car insurance provider as well to see if your policy will change with the move.
5. Change Your Address
The U.S. Postal Service makes changing your address really easy through their online address change process. In a matter of minutes, you can set up a forwarding address that can take effect in just a day or so. Don’t wait until the last minute to request the change – schedule your move and notify the post office at least 2 weeks out from your move.
Forwarding your mail at the post office won’t fix everything. You’ll need to change your address at your bank, credit cards, online accounts, magazines, cell phone, etc. Reference our change of address checklist as a helpful guide.
