Preparing for Moving Day
Updated June 4, 2019 . AmFam Team
Moving to a new place is exciting! Whether it’s into an apartment, duplex or house, you still have to juggle packing, renting a truck and wrapping furniture. Leading up to the night before the big move, you’ve probably packed a good portion of your belongings, have the movers scheduled and are ready to hand over the keys to your old place.
But there might still be a few things left to do. Be ready for your move tomorrow by preparing tonight with these moving tips.
11 Tips to Prepare for Moving Day
Check the schedule with the movers. You want to be sure your movers are arriving on time and at the right location, so call them the day before to confirm. If you haven’t already, notify them of any special handling requirements, like if you have antique furniture or collectible glassware.
Reserve parking for the moving truck. If you live in an area with limited parking, make sure there is space for the moving truck to legally park. You may have to call your city or town clerk’s office to get permission or even a permit for a large truck to park for an extended period of time outside your building.
Check your hotel reservations. Moving long-distance or moving out of your current home before your new home is ready sometimes requires alternative lodgings. Make sure everything is in order with the hotel, motel or other temporary housing before arriving.
Schedule utilities to be shut off. Let your electric, water, internet and trash pickup services know that you’ll no longer be living at your old home. If you’ll be living in the same area, give them your change of address so they can transfer service to your new place. If you’re not living in the same area, call ahead to the companies that will be providing utilities to your new home so the services are set up when you arrive.
Unplug and clean out the fridge. Let the fridge and freezer defrost, food-free, then wipe down the insides and empty the defrost tray. Even if you’re only transporting a small or large refrigerator over a short distance, be sure to remove all the food and allow it to defrost before loading it onto the truck.
Pack an essentials box. Set aside necessities like toilet paper, towels, shower supplies, the coffee maker — whatever you need for tomorrow morning. It’s a convenient way to ensure you aren’t frantically digging through boxes and suitcases for your face wash before the truck arrives.
Label all the boxes. Even things as vague as “kitchen stuff” or “fragile” are good naming conventions. It keeps things organized and ensures either you, your helpers or the movers you hired don’t mishandle your breakables. When you get to your new place, you can easily put the boxes in their corresponding locations based on what’s inside.
Disassemble all the furniture. Having all your furniture in small pieces instead of full-sized will save you time and keep you out of the chiropractor’s office. It’ll also fit a lot better in the moving truck or back of the minivan.
Make sure all your laundry is dry. It doesn’t even have to be clean, just dry. Wet laundry piled together in a box, suitcase or laundry bag is a great way to breed mold in your clothes. It’s also a lot heavier than dry laundry, so save yourself the trouble and run everything through the dryer one last time.
Disconnect all electronics and gas appliances. To prevent potential fire hazards, unplug all the electronics and appliances. Ask a professional to help you disconnect any gas appliances.
Pack important documents in a safe box. Secure documents like your tax files, mortgage contract, copies of your passport and birth certificate in a lockbox or small safe. It should travel with you in your own car and not in the moving truck. If you’re staying in a hotel room before moving in to your new home, bring the safe with you into your room.
Have the keys ready. Whether you’re moving out of an apartment or a house, you’ll want to leave your old keys behind, either with the rental company or the realtor in charge of your home’s sale.
Another thing you can do to prepare for living in your new home is making sure your home or renters insurance is there for you when you need it. You may need to swap from renters to home or vice versa, so get that change in motion as soon as possible. Get in touch with your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) to discuss your big move and how your coverage applies to your new place.Related Articles
- 9 Steps to Create a Home Inventory for Insurance Claims
Your home is more than a roof over your head. It’s where your dreams grow, your family thrives and memories are made. But the possessions you keep inside are important, too.
Whether you’re renting an apartment or own your home, you’ve most likely got an insurance policy designed to protect your dwelling and the things inside. Should the unthinkable happen and you have to use that insurance policy, it’s important to have a plan in place. And a home inventory list is a great way to get started!
We’ll walk you through how to create a home inventory so — in the event of the unexpected — you’ll be more prepared and have a streamlined recovery.
What Is a Home Inventory?
Quite simply, a home inventory is a complete list of all the items, especially valuables, in and around your home. The best home inventories include photos, descriptions and dollar values of each of your belongings. The more detail, the better! It’ll help you provide a comprehensive list to your agent of items lost in the event your home is damaged or destroyed, allowing you to get the most out of your coverage.
When your describing the items in your list, remember that the more information, the better. Here’s a quick reference list of the type of information you should include in your home inventory list:
- An in-depth description of the items. For example, rather than writing down “diamond ring,” be more descriptive, such as: “an emerald cut diamond ring, with white gold shank, accent stones and initials inscribed below the bridge.”
- Make, model, and/or serial number of the items.
- Date of purchase, receipts and photos.
- Estimated replacement cost if you bought it today. Do note that the value of the items might be different today than it was when you first bought them. This is especially true with jewelry, and other valuables.
- Appraisals at time of purchase. Especially if your items were appraised for insurance purposes.
Why Do I Need a Home Inventory?
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, everyone can benefit from a home inventory!
If you ever have to make a claim, a home inventory is a great asset to have, especially after stressful events like theft, storm damage or a fire (take a look at how one renter used their home inventory after facing an apartment fire).
When you make a claim, you typically submit information on everything that was lost — which can be difficult to do off the top of your head for all your possessions. Remembering to replace your TV or computer are no-brainers, but when it comes to remembering each piece of jewelry in your jewelry box, things tend to get overlooked. Having a personal property inventory will help, along with knowing how to properly insure your jewelry.
When you have your home inventory checklist, you know exactly what needs to be replaced, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your entire household is protected.
- Reasons Why a Roof Leaks
You’re admiring the rain from the comfort of your home when you notice a sound — the unmistakable drip of water dropping onto your floor. The first and hardest step is figuring out why your roof is leaking. And with these tips, you’ll find the culprit in no time!
Here’s Why Your Roof Is Leaking
The list of reasons why your roof is leaking may seem long, but don’t worry — when it comes to finding the leak and fixing it, the finding is the hardest part. And the good thing about these problems? They can all be fixed. Check out the list and see what’s troubling your roof:
Your roof is old
Roofs don’t last forever. Protecting your home and everything inside it from the elements comes with a cost. And with all that rain, snow, ice, wind and even sunlight wearing down your roof, it becomes more susceptible to leaks. Every roof will eventually need to be replaced, so learn more about how long your roof should last based on what it’s made of.
- How to Check Your Roof for Storm Damage
There’s no good time to find out your roof needs repair — but you may be able to mitigate that pain by routinely checking your roof for damage after severe weather. Waiting for a leak or damage to present itself gives the problem time to grow and worsen.
And sometimes, you’ll be faced with expensive roof and interior damage repairs if you’re not diligent. By being proactive and checking your roof for damage after severe weather hits can help your roof — and your savings — stay healthy.
