Whether you are moving into your own place or into a rented house, the initial excitement soon wears off, and stress takes over. You will suddenly have a hundred things to do; not knowing where to begin. This is where a little planning can come in handy.

Do You Need Insurance? - Make a list of white goods and other valuables that you own - an intricately carved console table or an ornate mirror and other fragile and expensive goods could need special moving insurance. Contact an insurance agent and arrange for it.

Order Boxes And Supplies – You are definitely going to need lots of cartons and bubble wrap. Make sure to order supplies a month or two in advance, so you get ample time for organized packing. Organized packing will make unpacking and settling down in your new home so much easier. Check for special supplies meant for packing specific goods such as stretch wrap that can be used for packing bulky furniture. Hire crates for safe transportation of bigger items.

Get Recommendations For A Reliable Moving Company – Ask around for recommendations for a good moving company. You will be entrusting your prized possessions to the movers; so you better make certain they are a competent and professional team. Get a written quotation from them that clearly state the cost and terms and conditions.

Notify Critical Parties That You Are Moving – Get in touch with customer care services of companies/services/businesses that have you on their mailing list, letting them know that you are moving house. Ask them for the procedure for changing your address in their records. Some organizations will make the necessary changes over the phone; others might ask for an application or form to be filled, you might also be given the option of logging into your account online and filling in the new address. Whatever means you select safeguard your interest by asking for a confirmation. The organizations that will need information of your address change include –

• Banks

• Credit card company

• Financial institutions and investment companies

• Your office

• Insurance company

• Utility Company

• Any institution or club that you are a member of

• Magazines or journals that you subscribe to

• Phone company

• Cable company

• Health care

Inform your local post office of your move and leave the forwarding address with them. Notify family and friends of change in your mailing address.

Pay Bills And Disconnect Services – You will need to settle bills and suspend services before you move. Make a list of whom you need to pay and services that will need to be discontinued. Examples of services that you will need to stop include -

• Newspaper – pay bill and stop delivery

• Home Maintenance – clear pending maintenance dues

• Cable – pay bill and discontinue service

• Phone – pay bill and have the line disconnected

   

When stopping delivery or service always collect a receipt of the payment made and keep the same carefully. The receipts should clearly indicate the amount and period for which you are billed. Also confirm that you are paying the final bill. If you have a toolkit like Powershop (http://www.powershop.com.au/) you’ll know exactly how much electricity you’re using and how much you have to pay.

Begin Packing – Packing household goods is no mean feat. Keep bare essentials for day to day use and begin packing the rest of your possessions. Start by packing stuff that is not in use, such as winter clothes if you are moving in summer. Once that is done move to packing things that you can do without while you are still in your old home. These will comprise extra bedding, sheets, pillows, blankets, knick-knacks, crockery, cookware etc. Do not just dump the stuff into boxes; instead pack things of a kind, into one box.

Number the boxes and maintain a record of what goes into each box. This is important, as it helps you keep account of the number of boxes you load into the truck when moving. The list comes in useful when you begin unpacking as you can identify which box contains what.

Color Code Boxes – Pasting colored labels on boxes is a great way of organizing your packing. For example store linen in boxes with red labels, toys in boxes with green ones etc. Packing becomes much easier, and even kids can help in stashing things into appropriate boxes.

Pack Critical Items Carefully – Never pack important documents and valuables with general household goods. Your passport, insurance policies, wills etc should be packed separately and carried in person when you move.

Is Your New Home Large Enough? – Will all your belongings fit into your new home? Take  measurements to check if your bulky furniture will go through the doorway. If your new home is small you might have a problem at hand. You might need to dismantle furniture, so keep tools like Allen key, screwdrivers, spanners etc accessible.

Renting A Storage Unit – This is a practical idea, especially if your furniture won’t fit into your new home or you have a lot of stuff but less space in new home. Storage units are safe and the best way to stow moveable property. Be sure to pack your goods properly and label them before shifting. Rents depend on the size of the unit and the duration you want to lease it.

Final Checklist

• Donate or sell items that you don’t need instead of lugging them to your new home

• Ensure you empty, defrost and clean the freezer and refrigerator

• Start using perishables and other supplies days before the move  

• Check lofts, storage area under the staircase, the garage etc to ensure everything has been packed

On the day of the move muster everything. As the boxes, crates and packages are loaded onto the truck check them off your list so everything is accounted for. Before you lock the door to your old home for the final time, walk around the house and ensure all entrances have been secured.