Do Repairs and Painting at the New Place First
Before move-in day, go through the new place and jot down areas that need improvement. Is the wood flooring scuffed, or does the hallway need a coat of paint?
Come back and take care of it prior to lugging in your boxes and furniture. You'll be too busy unpacking to do once you move.
Get a Mobile Storage Unit
Get organized well in advance of selling your current home. As part of a decluttering campaign, invest in a mobile storage unit, such as BlueBox. They bring a pest-free, secure container to your home. This gives you plenty of space to store items for the move as you sift and sort through each room. The company can also pick up the full unit and deliver it to your new place. When you've unpacked, they come and get the empty BlueBox container.
Hire a Cleaner
Hiring a cleaner is an extra expense, but moving into a clean home will be a welcome relief from the stress of moving. Do you really want to scrub out a fireplace or clean up in the bathroom after the former inhabitants?
Change the Locks
Get a locksmith to change your locks, including the back door and side entrances. No matter how trustworthy a seller seems, other people may have copies she's completely forgotten about. Security is a top area you can't scrimp on.
Put the Utilities in Your Name
Sometime before the move, call the utility companies to put the bills in your name. You really don't want a power outage for nonpayment to mar this new beginning. Besides water, power and cable or internet, there may be unique services that you wouldn't have thought of. For instance, if you have an electric car, the new place needs to be set up with a charging station.
Check in with the HOA
Is there a homeowners association? Contact them to make sure the previous owner is caught up on dues and fees. There's usually quite a bit of paperwork to transfer ownership. Make sure you read the rules and regulations carefully to start out on the right foot.
These rules are great information to get organized for the move.
