When you and your family move house, the moving day itself is one of the most exciting days for everyone. The day also brings up a mixture of anticipation and fear.
You will often find yourself consulting your to-do list to make sure you remember everything without feeling overwhelmed. I love to-do lists. They make my life very easy. That is why I have added a list here to help make life easier on your moving day.
Moving day checklist
- If you have people hovering around on your moving day, make sure they are helping and not getting in the way. Some people make themselves at home and jump straight in. But others need you to host them. This is not helpful on your moving day. Keep visitors for another time.
- Make sure you have a plan for your trip to the new destination. If you are travelling long distances, you may need accommodation on the way, petrol for the ride, make sure your car is serviced. If you are moving overseas, consider visas, passports, flight tickets. And it is a good idea to have a few copies distributed between the adults. Make sure you have enough cash for the move.
- Take readings of electricity, gas meter and make sure the phone, internet and other services are disconnected.
- Make sure there is a place for the moving truck to load your stuff. It is a nice courtesy to notify neighbors in advance so they won’t be upset about any inconvenience.
- Go over the house once it is empty. Open all the cupboards and double check they are empty. To be triple sure, we often get a second person to do this as well.
- Once a room is empty, clean it.
- Make sure to turn off the power and lock the house before you leave. Be sure to leave any garage remote controls and keys with the new owners, tenants or the real estate agent.
- It is nice to leave a welcome note for the new tenants. It is a good idea to leave your new address and a phone number in case they need to reach you.
- When you get to your new place, take a video of the condition the house is in before you start moving in. This is especially important if it is a rented property. It helps make sure there are no arguments on what damages where already there. Check the hot water and that all utilities are functional. Particularly the hot water. You will be waiting for that hot shower after such the big moving day.
- As the removalists unpack, stand at the entrance and direct the boxes to the right rooms.
- Make sure you have food for the day and if needed, have something for the removailst to drink and eat. In some places, it is appropriate to tip them once they are finished. Consider and prepare for this case-wise. It is best to initiate it rather than have them standing there in anger expecting you to tip them.
Join me next time for the last tip on what to do after the move.
Happy moving day,
Ronit
This post is part of the series Moving House Made Easy:
- Moving House Made Easy: Spring Cleaning
- Moving House Made Easy: Packing
- Moving House Made Easy: Telling the Kids
- Moving House Made Easy: The New Place
- Moving House Made Easy: Movers
- Moving House Made Easy: Pack a Holiday Suitcase
- Moving House Made Easy: Food
- Moving House Made Easy: Bills and Services
- Moving House Made Easy: Changing Address
- Moving House Made Easy: Just in Case
- Moving House Made Easy: Moving Day
- Moving House Made Easy: Unpacking
- Moving House Made Easy: Making the New Place Home