You’ve found the home of your dreams with the help of your realtor. You’ve signed closing documents and sold your current house. Now, you have a short window of time to pack up your things and get ready to continue your life’s adventure in your new place. This is where the real fun (and work) begins.
To make your transition as smooth as possible, there are a few responsibilities you should take care of sooner rather than later. If you don’t, you could experience unnecessary headaches and stress. Here are six important things to take care of before you officially move in.
1. Protect Your Investment
A home is the largest purchase many people will make in their entire lifetime. Therefore, it’s essential to protect your investment once it’s officially yours. Though you hope nothing bad ever happens to your new place, it’s always better to be prepared. That’s where a quality homeowners insurance policy comes into the picture. There’s no substitute for the peace of mind you feel when your house is covered by a good insurance policy.
Homeowners insurance offers a financial buffer against things like natural disasters, injuries on your property, and damage to your belongings. Not all policies offer the same rates or types of coverage, so it’s important to shop around. Make sure you get more than one home insurance quote so you can select the policy that best meets your budget and needs.
2. Send Moving Announcements
Now that your pending move is official, it’s time to let your friends and family know where life is taking you. If you forget this step, your dear Aunt Gertrude will continue sending Christmas cards to your old address. You might also have a long-lost friend show up at your old address for a surprise visit the next time they come into town.
When creating your contact list for moving announcements, it’s better to be generous than conservative. Try to think of every person you know who might want to contact you for any reason. You might find it easier and more affordable to send virtual moving announcements rather than physical ones. That way, you can instantly send them to all of your social media contacts without needing to hand-address each one.
3. Change Locks
Few things are as exciting as being handed the keys to your new home. That’s when things start to feel real and final. As nostalgic as that first set of keys might seem, you don’t want to continue using them. Instead, you should change your locks as soon as possible. This might seem unnecessary, especially if the previous homeowners seemed nice and non-threatening.
You just can’t know how many people they may have given copies of their house keys to. There could also be a key hidden somewhere on the property for emergencies, which isn’t the safest practice, as it poses a security risk. Now that the house is yours, you’re responsible for the safety of its inhabitants. Call a local locksmith or change the locks yourself before moving in.
4. Update Your Mailing Address
The post office will forward your mail to a new address for up to 12 months free of charge. For a fee, you can purchase extended mail forwarding services for up to 18 months after the initial 12 months. But why pay for mail forwarding services when you can officially update your mailing address and be done with it?
You can update your mailing address in person or online by filling out a form. If you go to the post office, you’ll need to bring photo identification with you (such as a driver’s license or passport). You’ll also need a secondary identification form, such as a vehicle registration card or mortgage statement. Alternatively, you can fill out the change of address form online. You’ll verify your address by entering a secure password that’s sent to your cell phone.
5. Transfer Your Utilities
Before moving, you need to transfer your utilities to your new location. It could be disastrous to move to your new place and discover you have no power or water. Instead of waiting until the last minute to make the transfer, try to do it a few weeks before you move. Otherwise, you may be put on a waitlist before utilities can be turned on in your new location.
Make a list of your utility companies and let them know you need to transfer your monthly services to a new location. Let them know your official moving date so they know when to turn everything off at the old place and on at the new. If you have any questions about the utility transferring process, talk to your real estate agent. They can help you make a smooth adjustment to your new house.
6. Register Your Vehicles
If you’re moving to another town within the same state, you don’t need to worry about registering your vehicles. However, if you’re moving out of state, you’ll need to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your new location.
Register your vehicles in your new state as soon as possible to avoid legal trouble. Failure to do so could result in a citation, fines, or even vehicle impoundment. Look up vehicle registration laws by state to make sure you’re compliant with requirements in your new area.
Moving to a new home is a big deal. It’s one of the most thrilling changes you can make in your life. But be careful not to get so caught up in the excitement of it all that you forget to take care of the basics. Make your move as seamless as possible by doing these important things before settling into your new home.
