Important things to do before moving into your new LA house

Moving house is something that most of us will do several times, if not dozens of times in our lives. That is why it is important to try to make these occasions as stress free as possible. There are a few things that most people tend to leave until the last minute that should really be done well in advance. We are only humans so we tend to forget essential things. Especially when we find ourselves in stressful situations like a household move. Fail to complete an important task prior to moving day and you may easily end up losing time or money, or often both. Very soon you will know what not to forget to do when moving. So, remember to do all those things before it’s too late. We’ve put together a handy checklist of things you need to do before you move into your new LA house.

Things to do before moving day

As moving day rapidly approaches, you may feel overwhelmed with projects to complete. There is also an insufficient amount of time to do everything you should. You’ll be occupied making arrangements with the moving company, scheduling your rental truck, packing your belongings or dealing with the closing of a home. That’s why all the last-minute preparations associated with your move can easily slip your mind. In the last few weeks leading up to moving day, make sure you complete the following important tasks.

1. Make a moving checklist

Time management is crucial to the success of a house move. If there’s no clear idea of what to do when moving to your new LA house, it’s easy for people to get confused in the multitude of move-related tasks. Then you lose precious time as a result of the unintentional mismanagement of time until moving day. One of the worst-case scenarios when moving house is to not have enough time to get ready to move out. God forbid a moving company has already been scheduled to arrive and you aren’t ready. So, what can you do to prevent such loss of time? Don’t forget to create a moving timeline with all the jobs you just must complete on time – systematically arranged, personalized and prioritized.

2. Clean everything and make any repairs

Before you leave your home, it’s polite to leave it in a spotless condition for the new owners. This is especially true if you are abandoning the home before you have sold it, because you will want to make it attractive for prospective buyers. This includes detailed cleaning all of the bathrooms, light fixtures, floors and appliances. If you have agreed to make any repairs to your home before the new owners move in, don’t forget to take care of it in the midst of all your moving chaos.

3. Decide where everything will go in your new LA house

Before the movers arrive, point out the rooms you will want your furniture placed in on moving day. This way, there will be no heavy lifting or rearranging for you later. Every piece will end up just where you want it. A simple way to do this is to choose a color for each room in your new house, and place a coordinating colored tag on the piece of furniture. Remember to never use anything with a heavy adhesive to mark your furniture because it will leave behind an ugly residue.

4. Collect important documents and records

In the crazy busy pre-move period, when moving to a new LA house, you shouldn’t forget to arrange the transfer of your school-aged child’s school records to the educational facility in Los Angeles. Also, request all medical records from your family physician. The same medical documents you will be asked to present in order to register with a new health care provider upon arrival. Don’t forget to gather all important documents: personal, employment, housing, legal, financial, motor vehicle, medical, school, and moving documents in one place. Take them with you while completing the household move. Don’t make the mistake of handing essential papers to your mover, no matter how reliable the company seems.

5. Change your address

It’s best to do this as early possible. That way you don’t have to rely on the new tenants of your old home to forward your mail. Notify the post office immediately of your new address in LA and then contact businesses and government bodies individually and promptly to make sure your mail is going to the correct place. Don’t forget to:

• update magazine or box-style subscriptions
• contact your car insurance and registration provider to change your address
• update your details on the electoral roll
• let your bank know you’ve moved
• update your details with all superannuation funds

6. Take only useful things

When moving, people often forget that it’s up to them to use smart techniques to bring down the moving costs. Why pay more when you can pay less, right? One of the best ways to save money when moving to your new LA house, is to take only the things that are really necessary and get rid of the rest. This can be an excellent chance to remove items nobody will ever need. Moving with fewer possessions automatically means a more affordable final bill thanks to the lower shipment weight and the reduced packing and moving times. Make a detailed inventory of your entire home and get rid of anything that stopped being useful a long time ago.

7. Prepare your appliances

If you’re planning on taking any of your appliances with you to your new home (such as your refrigerator, washer and dryer, stove or dishwasher) there are certain steps you must take to prepare them for transport:

• Refrigerators and freezers must be completely emptied and cleaned to prevent the growth of mold and odors. Remove all racks and shelves from the interior. Unplug the unit and let it defrost at least 24 hours prior to moving day
• Washers and dryers must be disconnected, all hoses removed and placed inside the units. Make sure any gas connections are turned off before disconnecting the line
• Disconnect and drain the water lines from washers and ice-makers on refrigerators
• Make sure any electrical cords are taped securely to the backside of any appliance
• Dishwashers should be emptied and any racks removed and packed separately
• Stoves should be cleaned thoroughly and all racks should be removed and packed separately

More useful tips:

• Label all packed boxes
• Pack an essential, first night box
• Have a plan for children and pets for moving day
• Update friends and family with your new contact information
• Have your new LA house professionally cleaned
• Have spare keys cut