Tag Archives: home
5 Things You Must Do Before You Move Out of Your Old Home
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of moving from an old home to a new home. Moving to a new place offers a whole wide world of opportunities. If you’re upgrading to a larger, newer, and/or a more luxurious home, the excitement can be palpable.
However, before you get carried away, you need to make sure you’ve tied off all your loose ends. Is there anything you’ve forgotten to do or take care of at your old home? Are you sure?
We’re here to give you some peace of mind. Keep reading for a quick list of some of the most commonly forgotten details when leaving an old house behind.
1. Schedule Movers in Advance
First, and perhaps most importantly, make sure you schedule your movers a few weeks in advance. Depending on where you live and the time of year, you may have trouble booking a moving service the day of.
For some of the best movers, check out Moving Ahead Services. They are local and long-distance movers that also provide temporary storage. Remember, hiring movers is not something you should leave until the last minute.
2. Turn Off the Utilities to Your Old Home
Next, before moving out of your old home, schedule to have your power, gas, and water turned off. We recommend scheduling the cancellation a day after moving day. Canceling these services before you get everything out could lead to problems, such as not having a working toilet while you’re trying to finish packing.
Additionally, don’t forget to cancel your waste removal service, unless you want to keep paying for it after you leave. Finally, if you’re currently paying HOA fees, make sure you notify the HOA that you’re moving.
3. Change Your Address
One of the most important moving tips is to remember to redirect your mail. You can temporarily redirect it through the post office until you get settled into your new location. Then, you can officially change your address.
Additionally, make sure you notify the appropriate companies and people of your new address. Otherwise, they’ll continue to send you mail to your old home.
4. Double-Check Each Room
Before embarking on your local or cross-country move, go through the house one more time to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. If there is any furniture or built-ins, go through each drawer or cubby.
Check each room and the attached closets or bathrooms. Lastly, look through your storage areas, garage, and basement.
5. Cancel Your Existing Home Services
Finally, make sure you take care of your other recurring services specific to your old home. By this point, your utilities should be taken care of. However, don’t forget about:
- Internet
- Cable
- Phone lines
- Mailing subscriptions
- Etc.
Additionally, remember to contact your insurance company to change your homeowner’s insurance policy. They’ll need to update your address and all the other important information. Failing to update this information will void your policy.
Are You Looking for More Lifestyle Advice?
Are you leaving your old home behind and looking forward to the future? If so, we couldn’t’ be more excited for you. We know how exciting it is to move to a new house.
Just remember to follow our quick checklist before you leave. And for more lifestyle tips, read through some of our other articles while you’re here. We have tons of valuable advice and information for homeowners like you.
Should You Worry About Your Neighborhood?
Whether you have resided in your neighborhood for years or are new to the area, do you have any concerns?
From your physical safety to the safety of your property and more, there may be reasons for you to be fearful.
So, any steps you can take to lower such concerns sooner than later?
Feel Safe Where You Call Home
In taking a serious look at the safety of your neighborhood, here are some areas to focus in on:
1. Know the area layout – Even if you have lived in your neighborhood for a while now, the layout can change over time. That said it is always good to stay up to speed on the area and its layout. If there are any notable changes, be sure you are aware of them. This is especially important should you ever need something in an emergency situation. Getting emergency help could well depend on how fast people can get to you in and around where you live.
2. Know where help is at – How far are you from things like the nearest fire and ambulance rescue? Are you close to a nearby police station? These are but a few of the things you want to know. Having such services nearby can be a blessing. That would be especially if you need any of them be it something minor or something major. It is also good to know the location of the nearest hospital or other such medical facilities.
3. Know the neighbors – It can be difficult at times to know all your neighbors. Depending on the size of your neighborhood, you may have many around you or only a handful. With that in mind, do your best to be vigilant about the neighbors closest to you. If there are any concerns you might have, do a little digging. In the event you know a neighbor’s full name and any other details, you could use the Internet for a little research. What if you found out someone near you has a warrant out for their arrest? Would such a thing leave you sleepless at night? In the event you live in Florida, you could go online and proceed with a Florida warrant search. That search could provide you with key details on the individual. The more you may know the better position you are in to decide if there is a threat there or not.
4. Know if there are pets around – How well do you know the most immediate of neighbors? Do any of them have dogs that are outside? If so, are those dogs typically on a leash or running around on their own? In the event you have a young child or children out playing often, you want them to be safe. Make sure you know about any dogs that could be out when your child or children are out. While many dogs are friendly, the last thing you want is your kid being scared or even bitten.
5. Know how to protect each other – Finally, do you have a neighborhood watch program where you live? If not, now may well be the time to organize with neighbors and local law enforcement to put one in place.
In worrying less about your neighborhood, you will live a more enjoyable life around home.
