Month: February 2021

Whether you’re moving to a new rental or purchasing a new home, you have many details to attend to at the end of your current rental agreement. To make the moving process to your new place easier, be sure to tick the following on your to-do list.

Give Adequate Notice

Carefully re-read your lease once you know you’re moving, so you know what the terms are for notifying your landlord or property manager. On average, this ranges anywhere from 30-90 days. If you don’t abide by lease terms, you could lose your security deposit or be held accountable for additional months of rent, which can be costly. If you need to break your lease, check to see your options to avoid the steepest penalties or legal repercussions.

Call Utility Providers

At least two weeks before your move, contact your utility providers to schedule your shut off/turn on dates. Keep in mind, depending on where you’re relocating to, you may be dealing with different companies. If so, connect with your new providers so you can work out any details associated with deposits or other requirements for new customers.

Plan to have service terminated at your old place the day after your move-out date. And have the service turned on at your new home the day before your move-in date. This ensures that you have power, water, and other necessary utilities during the moving process.

Move Your Renter’s Insurance

Let your insurance company know you’re moving ASAP so you can make sure your insurance policy seamlessly follows you. Many policies also cover possessions during a move, so be sure to ask about that. Additionally, when contacting your carrier, make any necessary changes needed for your new place. Keep in mind; your premiums may change.

Put in Change of Address Notices

Before your move, start putting in a change of address notices with anyone you associate with, including your employer, family, friends, banks, magazine or newspaper subscriptions, monthly deliveries (e.g., Amazon recurring orders), and anyone else you do business with. For everything else, have your mail forwarded by the USPS. USPS will forward your mail to your new place for one year.

Give the Home a Good Cleaning

You’ll want your security deposit back, so be sure to restore the rental as best you can to have it look as it did the day you moved in. Paint the walls, fix blemishes, scrub kitchens and bathrooms, shampoo carpets, and fill in any nail holes on the walls. Check on your rental agreement to see what is required. Many rental companies charge high fees for deep cleaning if they determine the property is not left up to par. You might want to consider hiring a professional cleaner to save you time and ensure the job is done correctly.

Check Nooks and Crannies

A home typically has more space than an apartment. Be sure to check the attic, basement, crawl spaces, and any other nooks and crannies you might have stashed belongings in. You don’t want to inadvertently leave anything behind that’s been out of sight.

Schedule Walk Through

Schedule a walk-through with your landlord or property manager to take place right before you vacate. Ideally, you should be present for this appointment.

Bonus Tip: Be sure to take photos on the date you leave, in case you need to prove the home’s condition when you departed.

Moving with Ease

After you return your keys, you’re on your way to your new place. If you need help with any part of the moving process, having professional help can make your move more manageable and less stressful. To receive a free price quote, contact us today.

The kitchen is by all rights the heart of your home—meals and memories happen here. To make those meals and memories, you need plenty of items, food-related and otherwise. The kitchen is filled with a variety of gadgets, appliances, and glassware. There are many things to pack. From items inside the drawers and cupboards to stuff nestled on the countertops, they are all uniquely sized and shaped.

When it comes to relocating to a new home, tackling kitchen disassembly can be one of the project’s most challenging components. 

Here’s a guide for preparing the heart of your home for your big move.

1. Collect your packing supplies.

You will need good sturdy moving boxes in several sizes, packing tape, packing paper, markers for labeling, and maybe even a few box dividers or specialty boxes for dishes and glassware to keep things organized. The general rule is to get more than you think you will need.

2. Cull the collection carefully.

Culling through your kitchen stuff can come as a challenge. You can have a nagging voice inside saying you need to keep everything because it could be useful. The cocktail maker, cheese tray, double broiler, fondue set—if you’ve not used items like this for several years, they probably won’t be worth packing. Likewise, take the time to pull out duplicates and multiples, such as utensils, dishes, or pans you never use, and donate them. Your new kitchen will be less cluttered without these items you aren’t using. 

3. Create a few boxes labeled as “essential.”

Ideally, you will be packing your kitchen closer to your scheduled moving day, so you still have a functional place for meal prep. Once you do start packing, label a few medium-sized boxes as “essential.” These boxes will contain what you need to make it through in your kitchen until the day you leave and what you may need most once you get to the new place.

These might be the final boxes you tape shut. Set them aside and let the movers know to load those last or, if you have room, bring them with you in your car, so they are readily available at your new house.

Bonus tip: Plan your first meal at the new place ahead and drop everything in a “first meal essentials” box. For example, you could include a jar of pasta sauce, a package of noodles, a pan for cooking, and enough dishes and flatware for your family.

4. Sort items according to their use.

Depending on how you like to organize, you might sort your items into groups according to how something is used. If you are going to reconfigure your new kitchen, you might find this an effective packing strategy. Try something like the following usage groupings:

• Entertaining dishes
• Everyday dishes
• Everyday cooking utensils
• Canning or food processing equipment
• Electric kitchen gadgets
• Kitchen linens and cloth items
• Flatware
• Barware

Or, you might prefer to sort and pack items according to their placement. For example, you could label a box “cabinet #1” and place items you know will go in that particular cabinet.

5. Pack your food last.

Naturally, packing food from your pantry, cabinets, and elsewhere last is logical. As you pack, sort through, and check expiration dates, getting rid of what you shouldn’t bring. Some people opt to donate most of their dry groceries to make packing easier; groceries are easy enough to restock once you get settled in. Check with your mover to see what items they might not take.

Dispose of open containers, liquids, and half-used foods before moving day.

6. Prepare your appliances.

Your professional movers can handle the heavy lifting, but you as the homeowner need to ensure that your major appliances are prepared for safe transport before the movers arrive.

Some of your appliances, like your stove or dryer, might be connected to a gas line. These need to be disconnected and the gas line capped off by you or an appliance specialist. 

Each of your large appliances has different requirements. Discuss these considerations with your professional mover so that you can make the necessary arrangements and be prepared on moving day.

Simplify Your Big Move With Big Help

From appliances to gadgets to utensils — your kitchen holds a lot. It makes for a great deal of packing. To simplify the work, reach out to professional movers for help.

Contact us for a quote today. We can help with a successful move.