Below are some handy tips and tricks when it comes to organising things ready for your move to ensure that nothing gets missed.
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Newspaper delivery
Milk delivery
Telephone
Internet
Cable
Gas
Electricity
Water
Get organised
Obtain a supply of boxes from places like the supermarket
Obtain packaging tape and heavy marker pens
Arrange for a furniture removal van
Arrange transit insurance
Arrange for care of your children and/or pets on moving day
Arrange contents and fire insurance for your new home. Talk to your Harcourts consultant regarding this.
Organise shifting times with the purchaser of your old property and the
previous owner of your new one. Your Harcourts consultant and your Conveyancer will
help co-ordinate this.
Notify your change of address to
Bank
Credit card companies, i.e. visa, diners, fuel cards
Post office for redirection of mail
Electoral Roll (at Post Office)
Registrar of motor vehicles & drivers license
Tax department
Insurance companies (house, contents, car, health etc)
Hire purchase or finance company
Investment companies
Local council
Shops where you may have charge cards
Clubs and organisations
Police (if you own and store firearms)
Friends
Relatives
Publications you subscribe to
Doctor
Dentist
Church
Accountant
Who else sends me mail?
Remember to
Clean the stove
Defrost the fridge/freezer
Tidy the yard
Ensure that any items that have been sold with the property haven't been accidentally packed
Disconnect all appliances
Disconnect the TV aerial
Return any borrowed items
Throw out items that you don’t intend taking with you (organise garage sales)
List valuable items for special care when moving
Advise removal company of dangerous goods being moved i.e. ammunition, petrol, spirits, chemicals
Securely pack all jewellery, money, special documents and papers (i.e. legal, tax, insurance etc)
Set aside items you will need on the day of the move so you can take them with you, e.g. food, drinks, cleaning products
Pack each room leaving the boxes stacked and labelled with the room
they are to be moved to i.e. kitchen. It is a good idea to write on
each box a list of its general content
Boxes containing breakables label ‘FRAGILE’ and identify these items to your removal people
Pot and pack away plants and cuttings you are taking with you
Explain your packing procedure to the removal people and be at your new home when they arrive
Don’t
Put breakables or liquid filled containers in drawers
Overload drawers and make furniture too heavy to shift (too much weight can damage furniture)
Move netting, barbed wire, timber, wood, coal etc, without special arrangements being made
Store perishable goods where they might be overlooked
Make arrangements
See your Conveyancers or Solicitor to sign transfer documents/mortgage discharge documents
Advise your children’s school that your children are leaving and the name of their new school so that files can be forwarded
Enrol children in new school
Things to organise for new home
Newspaper delivery
Telephone
Internet and cable connection
Gas
Electricity
Water
The week before moving
Remind and confirm dates/times/locations for furniture removal company
Confirm moving in/moving out details and key exchange with your Harcourts consultant
Let children say goodbye to friends and neighbours
Say goodbye yourself
Have one last check
Nothing left behind?
No clothes at dry cleaners?
No gear stored away from your property?
Electricity and gas turned off?
Telephone disconnected?
Water turned off and no taps left running?
Light switches off?
Windows and doors latched?
Keys with Solicitor or Conveyancer? (if appropriate)
After the move
Have spare keys cut
Familiarise children with how to get to and from school
Enjoy your new home
Keep in touch with your Harcourts consultant. We’d love to hear how you are going!