Moving house can be a strenuous and emotionally exhausting process. In order to get it right and to minimize the stress you suffer along the way, it's vital that you perform a few specific steps. Let's take a look at them.
Connect your utilities and services
If you arrive at your new residence to discover that you don't have any electricity, gas, or water, then you won't be able to live comfortably in your new home. You might incur additional expenses, especially if you're disconnected for a long time. If you're relying on an internet connection to earn a living, then this might be an even greater concern.
Keeping track of all the communications, paperwork, and essential documents is often a simple matter of creating a folder in your online storage service of choice. All of your essential service contracts, receipts and account information can go in here.
Update your address and notify key organizations
If you change your address, then you'll need to let a number of essential organizations know about it. These include your bank, your insurer, and the DMV in your state. The earlier you do this, the less likely you'll be to miss essential communications or to run into liabilities further along the line.
In the short term, you can set up mail redirects in order to ensure that you don't miss anything. In some cases, you might find yourself on the hook for fines and other expenses if you don't get this right. Make sure that you do!
Secure your new home and get familiar with the surroundings
You'll want to ensure that your new home is fit for purpose. This means checking that all of the locks are functional, and that you have the appropriate smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors set up.
It's also worth familiarizing yourself with local services and amenities, like the doctor, dentist, and schools. Once you know where everything is, you can start to feel a little more at home.
Review your finances, insurance and future-proof your home
You'll want to ensure that your future is financially secure. Review your budget, and ensure that your spending aligns with your goals. After you've moved, you might have an entirely different set of responsibilities. You might have to pay a different amount each month on the mortgage, and you might be liable for different taxes.
There are also more subtle lifestyle-related costs. If you're now driving to work, rather than walking, then you'll need to factor in the dollars you'll be spending on gas.
Now is a good time to review your home and to check whether you can reduce your long-term costs with an investment in the here and now. You might swap the boiler, for example, to avoid the cost of ongoing maintenance.
