Congratulations! You took that leap and decided to make a major life change. We are proud of you. Now follow these simple steps to get settled in right and you’ll be off making new friends in your town in no time.
It can be a little overwhelming at first to not only research your new location, lock down housing and schooling, but also pack up and move your entire life across state lines. We have lined out a few of the key things that you should make sure you do to streamline the process for you. Good luck!
What are the steps I need to take when moving locations?
1. Change Your Address
While this seems obvious, you will need to have this done in order to register for all local services like schools and mail. It is made very simple and can be done online or simply in person in your local post office. You will need to show proof of your apartment or home lease or deed in order to legally make the change so come prepared.
2. Close Out Bills and Open New Accounts
As you close out each bill on your old home, ensure to set it up for your new residence. Ie: Shut off the electric bill in the old home, and on the same day give your credit card details to the electric company for your new home. This way you don’t leave any old subscriptions running.
Don’t forget about the water, gas company, internet and TV subscriptions you have and any other random services you pay for monthly. This is a good time to anyways streamline your finances and your life.
While it might seem obvious, don’t forget to inform your employer, schools, banks, and government agencies of your change of address and move. Arrange to transfer school records, medical records, and prescriptions to avoid later issues down the road.
3. Research and book your moving company
This is where Moving APT stands out and shines! Instead of spending countless hours reading all the reviews on google maps, and attempting to pretend like you understand the insurance contracts and claims from the movers you are considering, simply trust Moving APT’s team to do this legwork for you.
On the website, you can input your information, and bang, in 30 seconds you will be able to see side by side comparative quotes that are actually binding. This way you can properly plan your finances for the move and understand all services included.
4. Pack up and prepare everything for the move.
This means setting aside your essentials box and really having the entire home prepped for the mover’s arrival. Don’t worry about leaving anything in the kitchen, start eating out about 2 days before the move to simplify things.
5. Reconfirm the moving date, time agreed upon, full costs, and other details with your moving company
Ensure they have the correct addresses and contact information as well as that you are on the same page for pricing. Ask about additional costs for disassembly and assembly of the number of pieces and if there will be any other fees associated with the entrance to your home.
If you live in an apartment building, make sure to confirm with the building manager where the truck is allowed to stand and get any gates opened ahead of time to save frustration later on.
Moving Day Pro Tips
- All important documents like passports and driver’s licenses should be in your possession and not thrown in a random box. You may need this documentation asap at your new location.
- Keep out enough food and coffee to get you through the morning of your move. If you prefer, have bagels and coffee delivered and keep things as simple as possible.
- Make sure your phone and charger are handy. Keep a charger in your car and anything you tend to lose as things get tricky with so many people in your home.
- Keep a first set of bedding available for every room so you can pass out after the move in bed.
What should I do when I arrive to the new home
- Inspect your delivered items. Check all the furniture pieces and boxes for damage as they are unloaded. If there are damages or missing items, report these issues to the moving company immediately. This will save you headaches later on if you catch this in the moment as you can prove fault.
- Start by beginning to unpack the essentials. Begin by setting up all your bedrooms and the kitchen. This allows you to sleep and eat as you continue to unpack and settle in.
- Explore your new community! Once settled a little but, start exploring your new neighborhood. Introduce yourself to neighbors, find local stores and cafes you love, and begin adjusting to your new surroundings.
- I would recommend finding your local gym and cafe as the first things to do to feel at home in your town. If you have certain hobbies, try to find classes and clubs that offer these options so you can meet more locals.
To summarize
When moving home, especially across states, it is important to prepare ahead of time and change your address, all bills and other items associated with your name. You will want to prep ahead of the movers arrival to have everything aligned and in order to save time and efforts. Don’t forget to sign up for your favorite activities when you arrive at the new location to make the move feel exciting! Best of luck from all of us at the Moving APT moving team!
Frequently Asked Questions
When would I need to use a packing service?
Professional packers will work at lightspeed to get all your items packed up safely in record speed. While you might get stuck sorting through old junk, they will have your entire home packed up and bubble wrapped in no time.
If you can afford this service and don’t mind giving the control over to someone else, go with the packing service option. As well, if you are in a time crunch or have lots of little kids at home this is an ideal option.
How can I know if a mover I chose is a scammer or cheater?
If any company you are considering asked you to pay the entire amount up front or pay a huge down payment, this is a really bad sign of a scammer. You shouldn’t pay more than 10% to a mover that has yet to do the job.
While down payments are common, a huge amount of funds should not be spent on this. As well you should check your mover has a DOT registration number and no recent bad accident records or claims. Moving APT helps you avoid this as we do all the pre-checks!
What is moving labor and why is it cheaper than movers?
Moving labor is a helpful and dandy service you can book with Moving APT if you’re planning on DIY-ing most of your move on your own. Rather than a full-service moving team that does it all, moving labor can show up whenever you order them, help with packing, and help with the heavy lifting. Think of moving labor as that helpful set of uncles you just don’t have.
Everything else will be up to you for the unpacking part, unless you book a moving labor team to meet you at your destination as well. If you are doing this look into pricing as it might just make more sense to book a classic moving team.
How can I best know the number of cardboard boxes I will need to prepare for my move?
Start with your personalized inventory list to understand the items you have and their quality stage. From there you should be able to estimate how many drawers of smaller items and similar things will require their own boxes.
Your move is able to bring you a first load of movers and you can always request more later or buy them on your own at your local hardware store. As a rule of thumb, always take 15-20 more than you think so that you don’t end up over stuffing your boxes.
How can I successfully pack up my entire house before my move?
Plan ahead, ensure to have a proper checklist of your items and enough packing materials on hand. Proper planning saves the stress of packing up at the last minute and having items get lost. Don’t think it’s possible to pack up an entire home in one day unless you are a professional moving service.
