Moving is stressful, and it’s easy to forget important things when you’re in a rush. Make sure you have everything on this checklist so your move goes smoothly.

Turn on Utilities

• Turn on utilities.

This is a simple task, but one that can be easily overlooked. If you are moving into an existing home, it’s likely that the utilities are not yet turned on. To ensure you have power and water when you move in, turn them on as soon as possible after signing your lease or purchasing the property.

Set Up Internet

You’ll need to get internet set up in your new place before you can start moving, so it’s a good idea to check your options before you leave.

• Check the internet providers in your area. They may have promotional offers or discounts that can save you money on installation and service fees once you move in.
• If your current provider isn’t available in the area where you’re moving, consider switching to one of their competitors. Not all companies offer high-speed fiber optic connections (which are generally quite fast), but they might be able to provide faster speeds than DSL or cable connections with less hassle than satellite service.

Do a Deep Clean

This one is pretty self-explanatory. A deep clean of the house means that you should put on an apron and get your hands dirty, cleaning every nook and cranny of your home. This should include:

• The kitchen (clean all appliances, wipe down counters)
• Bathrooms (clean toilet bowls and sinks)
• Bedrooms (make beds, dust furniture)
• Closets/garages/basements

Change the Locks

Locks are the last thing you want to worry about when you’re moving.

• Change the locks as soon as you move into a new house. If there’s an existing lock, take it with you so that the landlord can’t use it on his or her own key.
• Make sure to get keys for all of your locks! It’s important to keep track of these, especially if there are multiple doors in your house or apartment and multiple people will be using them (like roommates).

Set Up Alarm System

Make it a priority to set up an alarm system in your new home. This will help ensure that your belongings are protected, and it will also allow someone to alert you if there is an intruder in your home. If you don’t have one already, look into getting a security system with both monitoring and cellular backup. That way, even if the power goes out or there’s no phone service, your alarm will still be able to send alerts directly to the authorities.

Make Repairs

• Make Repairs
• Replace worn out carpets and linoleum. If you’re moving into a house that has been lived in for some time, it’s likely that the carpets are worn out and need to be replaced. The same is true of the flooring if it’s linoleum or wood paneling; this material will probably not be as durable as new materials would be over time.
• Patch up walls and floors, especially those with cracks or holes from nails or old furniture damage. With newer construction techniques, contractors can seal up any cracks in your walls so that you don’t have to worry about them showing through when you paint them! They also provide an easy way to hide small scratches on your hardwood floors, especially if they’re easily accessed under furniture like chairs and tables–just spread some polyurethane on top while they’re still wet! You’ll never notice them again!

Buy Fire Extinguishers

When you’re moving, you’ll want to make sure that your belongings are properly protected. One way to guarantee safety is by buying fire extinguishers for each room of the house.

Forward your Mail

Forwarding your mail is an important part of the moving process. You can’t just leave behind all of your bills, even if they are addressed to another person—that’s rude!

Update Your Billing Address

• Change your address with the post office.
• Update your address with all of your utilities, including cable and internet providers as well as electric and gas companies.
• Update your address with the bank where you have an account (or at least one in case of joint accounts).
• Update your addresses for any other recurring bills that are automatically deducted from your account, such as insurance payments or monthly magazines.

Conclusion

Moving is a big deal, so we wanted to make sure you were prepared for anything. These checklists can help you get organized and stay on top of everything, so that your move goes off without a hitch!