Moving house? Stay ahead of the game by following our handy checklist
Have a clear out
The thoughts of packing up your entire life into a few cardboard boxes can be daunting. Sometimes we realise we have a lot more belongings than we thought and are torn between keeping the sentimental trinkets or getting rid and starting fresh. Regardless of which kind of person you are, you will have to get organised. Within the six weeks before D-DAY, you should be starting to pack up a few things each day, gradually minimising the workload for the last week. Instead of using the traditional cardboard box, why not invest in some plastic storage containers? These will not only keep your valuables safe and dry but will act as considerable storage space in the future. You may not have the time to unpack everything straight away but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your belongings are safe within these sturdy cartons.
Review your Home Insurance policy
Home Insurance is one of the most important things to think about when moving house. Whether you’re a first-time buyer moving into your first home, a first-time renter finally getting out on your own two feet, or anything else in between – you need to think about your Home Insurance. If you already have an insurance policy in place, make sure to let your company know of any changes that are relevant to the policy and if you’re new to Home Insurance, make sure to call 123.ie and get cover you can count on.
Start using your frozen foods
Most of us are guilty of freezing foods and meats we swear we’ll take out for lunch the following week. Therefore, there is more than likely going to be a few dinner’s worth of food in your freezer. To make sure this doesn’t go to waste, start to take these out of your freezer at night within three weeks before you move. By doing so, you won’t have an overload of food to eat the week before you leave and you’ll also save a bit of cash not having to pick up something for the dinner every evening. You never know, there could even be some ice-cream hiding in the back that you had forgotten about!
Re-direct your post
Don’t forget to let everyone else know you’re moving! In the three weeks coming up to moving day you should begin to notify organisations of your new address. Anyone who sends you post whether it’s utility bills or insurance renewal forms, you must advise them of your updated address. In the case that any of your post does slip through the process and reaches your old address, you should also make sure you have re-directed your post. In order to do this you will have to either apply for your redirection online, or alternatively you can pick up an application form at your local post office and fill it out there and then (you must bring proof of I.D. with you) and it’s is also worth noting that there is usually a fee to do this.
Packing made easy
It may be the oldest trick in the book, but it has good reason! There is a lot to say for properly labelling your storage boxes and by doing so, you can unpack one box at a time and get one room done after the other. Not only does it make your unpacking process more structured and organised but it also means that you can prioritise your unpacking without having to rummage through and unseal every piece of storage. Within the final fortnight leading up to moving day, make an effort to label each storage container clearly and accurately and you will be thanking yourself while unpacking. Another tip is to make up a box specifically dedicated to your new home essentials – things you’ll need on the day/night you move into your new home which you will not want to go searching for after an exhausting day. These would be things like toiletries, phone chargers, duvets and pillows and maybe even your favourite photo to make you really feel at home.
On the day!
The big day has finally arrived; you’ve been waiting impatiently for it and have been marking it off day by day on your calendar, so don’t let it get too much. You will probably scramble through your checklist a hundred times, so once you’ve finalised the time for the moving van, collected your new keys and taken the final readings of your meter, don’t forget to enjoy it! Moving into a new place can be just as exciting as it is intimidating and it will all be over in a flash. Before you start to unpack and begin to fill your new home with pieces of you, sit back and take it in; light a candle or put on some music and bask in the calm before the storm. Don’t forget, at 123.ie we offer you Home Insurance you can count on - so let us worry about that stuff and you can concentrate on the rest!
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