If you’re moving into a new place, you’ll want to make sure that it’s move-in-ready as soon as possible. There are plenty of chores and things you have to do to make the process easier. It can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you don’t move often and aren’t used to the chaos that comes with it. Here are a few tips that can help you get a good head start with moving into a new place.
Dust properly
When moving into a new place, you can expect to run into a lot of dust and sawdust. It’s especially prevalent after you start moving your things around, as dust tends to get kicked up during the hustle and bustle of moving furniture. One of the first things you’ll want to do is get rid of this dust to make the rest of the cleaning process easier.
The way you dust makes quite the difference, so you should keep that in mind. The best way to do it would be to go from top to bottom. Take care of any cabinets, shelves, and other fixtures before you start dusting tables and sweeping floors. As you clean the elevated areas, bits and pieces of dust will fall down, so there’s no use cleaning floors before you deal with shelves, for example.
Update your address
One of the many mistakes people make when moving is not letting everyone know right away. It can be awkward if a friend is headed to your place for a party or gathering and finds out that you’ve moved without mentioning it. However, your friends and family are probably the first ones to know about your relocation. But they’re not the only ones you should inform.
If you have any type of subscription or you order things online often, you might want to update your address details. While the internet age is alive and flourishing, plenty of important documents still arrive by mail, and you don’t want them to end up at the wrong address. Make a list of important institutions that you need to contact before you completely move out of your old place.
Consider labelling things
When packing your stuff, you might think that you won’t have trouble remembering where you put which item. Furniture is easy enough to recognise, and you probably wouldn’t have trouble identifying boxes full of smaller things. The process is actually a lot harder when you actually start unpacking, as things tend to get hectic when you’re just moving in. The boxes might not end up in the exact room that you need them in, and you might have to walk back and forth to check where you put what. Couple this with the stress from having to clean and take care of other responsibilities, and you won’t enjoy rummaging through boxes as much as you thought.
While it may seem unnecessary, labelling your boxes can be a tremendous help when moving. It’s a simple and straightforward way to organise things, and it saves you a lot of time. Put a few bits of white tape on boxes before you pack them and just use a sharpie to label them. You’ll find moving to be a lot easier with the help of labels.
Change the locks
Once you move into your new place, you’ll want to change all the locks that lead inside. There’s no way to know whether previous owners gave someone copies of their keys. At the same time, multiple real estate agents might have received keys to the place as they were advertising it.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure that you contact a locksmith as you start moving. It’s going to save you any paranoia or headaches, and it’s not that big of a deal. The process won’t take long, and you can even improve the quality of the locks if you want to.
Clean your old place
When moving, your primary focus is how you’ll tend to your new home and deal with all the changes that come with it. However, you shouldn’t forget that your old place is still your responsibility before you move out. Leaving it a dirty mess would be in bad taste, and you probably won’t get your deposit if you rented it originally.
You should take the time to leave your old place clean and tidy for the new owners or tenants. Since you’re likely busy with paperwork and cleaning for your new place, it’s recommended that you get some outside help. Look into professional end of lease cleaning for your old place. You can have it taken care of in a short time span, and you don’t have to worry about being overwhelmed with responsibilities all over the place.
Learn quickly
People often take home maintenance for granted and assume that everyday chores are the same for every house. However, this depends on the house in question. For example, you can’t use the same cleaning agents to deal with a vinyl and hardwood floor. Some materials are more prone to stains and damage, so you should take the utmost care when moving in. Just because you could drop furniture in your old home doesn’t mean that you can do the same thing on more delicate flooring.
Depending on your new place, you might have your hands full with learning about it and adapting to a different environment. This is why it’s so important to learn as much as you can as quickly as possible. Ask the former owners if there’s anything you need to pay attention to when doing everyday chores. Make a list of all notable tips and try to get all the info you need at once. Otherwise, you may have to go through with trial-and-error.
Conclusion
There are lots of things you have to pay attention to when moving homes. Remembering everything can be a chore in and of itself. It helps to have a list of basic tasks and chores to complete, as you won’t be able to remember everything. Consider some of the examples above, and see where you can start during your move.