Moving is an exciting, thrilling, stressful, experience, and we here at Next Level Homes want to help you take as much stress as possible out of your new adventure. We know that it takes an incredible amount of planning and preparation to be ready for the big move, and often, it’s hard to know where to even start. So, to make it easy for you, here is your new home checklist to help you feel fully prepared for starting this new part of your life.

Before The Move:

Two Months Before

1. It’s time to sort, purge, donate and label

It’s two months prior to your move and now is the time to go through your drawers, cabinets, toy boxes, and other areas that need attention. Getting rid of the clutter of things you don’t use or need can be immensely helpful in getting ready to get to your new house, so do this before you start packing to make the work lighter.

For the smaller things, take the time to go through your clothes, your kitchen utensils, your toiletries, and any toys (for kids or for the grown up kids) and decide what you want to keep and what you’re willing to give or throw away.

For bigger items like furniture or appliances, a really quick way to sort through what you want to keep and what you don’t is to take two different colored pads of sticky notes, choose which color is “keep” and which is “donate,” and put a sticky note prominently on each piece. This can give you perspective of what you can live without, what you want to stick around, and what you may need to replace when you get to your new home.

2. Decide on your mode of moving, get your packing materials, and start packing

This is the perfect time to decide what will work for you as the best method of transporting your belongings. A couple factors to consider are your moving budget and how much you want to take on yourself.

One option is to hire a do-it-for-you moving company. This will likely be the most expensive option, but also the one that is most hands off for you. A full-service company will come in, pack your items for you, and then move them to your new house. It makes less work for you, but may not be the most practical or cost-effective choice for everyone.

A second option is to pack your belongings yourself, rent a moving truck, like a Uhaul, and hire hourly moving companies to load and unload the truck for you. This is less expensive and leaves more control and work with you without leaving all of the heavy lifting only to you. You’ll need to purchase your own moving supplies as well, such as moving boxes, tape, padding for fragile items, and whatever else you might need.

Lastly, you can do the DIY moving method. You can bring in family and friends or do it all yourself as you pack, load, unload, and unpack your stuff. This option also requires you to provide your moving materials, but is the most cost-effective way to move. The benefit of DIY is knowing where everything is and how it’s being handled throughout the entire process. The downside is that there will be more manual labor for you.

An important tip here: do your research! If you decide to hire a company, or even just the truck, to move your belongings, please make sure you spend the time to find out who will work best for you, that they are reputable, and that you’re getting the best rate possible.

3. Make a list of new items, repairs, and other expenses for your new home

Moving can get very expensive very fast, especially if you’re not prepared for all of the new costs of your new home. Identifying what you may need as you plan for the move can help you stay on budget and prioritize what needs to happen in the way that works best for you.

After you declutter your old home, you may find that there are things you’ll need in your new space. Maybe you’re even starting from scratch! Check our list below for the essentials you’ll want in your new house, and add your own if they’re not on there. 

It’s important to identify any repairs or changes that will need to happen at your new home before you move in. This will allow you to prioritize what needs to be done and what can wait, how much it will cost, and find the best help from the local tradesmen of the area.

4. Get your kids and pets set up for success

When you’ve got children or pets, you want what’s best for them and it’s no different when you’re moving. Think about how you can make the transition easier for both them and you by finding the best of what they need from your new community.

For your kids, you’ll want to research and enroll your children in new child care and new schooling, find a good pediatrician and look for local classes for any activities they may be participating in. And for your pets, choose a new veterinarian, find the best groomer, and locate places you can take them to exercise like a local park or playgroup.

One Week Before

When you’re about a week out, you’ll want to make sure you and your new home are set up and move ready. To do this, there are a few things you need to arrange. 

1. Final packing steps and your move survival pack

As you’re getting down to the wire, it’s now time to finish up with packing and closing shop at your old house. It’s incredibly helpful to label all of your boxes clearly so your moving team, whoever they may be, are able to identify where your things will go once you get to your new home. 

You’ll also need to decide on what you will need in your move survival pack. These will be the essentials you keep out of the moving truck that you need to make the move. Clothes, toiletries, pajamas, and entertainment are a few things you’ll want to have with you to make the transition easier.

2. Set up the utilities for your new home 

You need gas, electricity, water, sewer, trash, and any other utilities set up before you move in to make a seamless adjustment from your old house to your new one.

3. Forward your mail and change your mailing address

You can easily forward your mail to your new address through usps.com, but there are also other places where you’ll need to manually change your address. Don’t forget about your bank and financial accounts, your employer, your doctor’s office, subscriptions, streaming services, and any other accounts that require your current address.

The Day Of Your Move

Take a deep breath. Now take another. You are ready and capable! Today is the big day, so it’s all about getting to your new home safe and sane. Here are a few tips to make your trip as painless as possible.

1. Take your time! 

Your new house isn’t going anywhere so take the time you need to make sure your items and your family get there in one piece.

2. Enroll your family and friends to help unload

Especially if you’re doing DIY, help from your family and friends can make the work easier and keep you from getting overwhelmed or overly exhausted. Make it a party! Bring snacks and drinks for everyone who is helping and you’ll find the time and the work flying by.

After the Move

You’ve made it to your new home, congratulations! Now that you’re here and you’re settling in, what do you do next? 

1. Change your locks and install your security system

Especially if you’re purchasing a home that’s previously been lived in, take the time to get new locks and install whatever security system you want to use. Keeping your home and family safe is important and deserves your time and attention. 

2. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 

Along with protecting your home from intruders, you’ll want to protect it from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Test your detectors and make sure they’re working properly.

3. Address your repairs and maintenance list

Remember the list you made before your move regarding the repairs and maintenance your new home needs? Now is the time to handle that. Locate and test your home’s shut-off valves. Find the breaker box and ensure it’s working. Check your HVAC system. Identify any external or landscaping work that needs to be done and set a priority and timeline that it will be finished. These small steps to maintaining your home will help you avoid big problems in the future.

4. Make a lock-out plan

Anything can happen, and once in a while you’ll get accidentally locked out of your house. Deciding now how you will address this situation can save you time and stress when it eventually happens. You can hide a key, give a spare to a trusted neighbor or friend, install automatic locks with a security code option, whatever works best for you. If you have kids, make sure they know the lock-out plan just in case.

5. Unpack

Unpacking after a move isn’t something that happens in one day unless you’re a super human. Start with your primary essentials then, once you’re finished with those, choose one room at a time to unpack and set up. Get your friends and family to help as you settle in. These tips will help you keep stress levels down while making quick work of getting your new home ready.

Essentials To Buy For Your New Home

As we round out our list, we want to give you a final list of the essentials that you’ll want to have in your new home. Whether you already have them, used to have them but need something new, or haven’t even considered them before, this is a great tool to keep in mind as you get ready to move.

Kitchen

• First Aid Kit
• Cleaning supplies: bleach, dish soap, surface cleaner, wood polish
• Broom and mop
• Trash can and trash bag
• Appliances: fridge, stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher
• Table 
• Dining and counter chairs

Bedroom

• Night stand
• Dresser
• Bed frame
• Mattress
• Pillows
• Sheets and blankets both light and heavy
• Clothes hangers
• Hamper

Bathroom

• Toilet paper
• Toilet brush and plunger
• Cleaning supplies: rags, scrubbers, cleaning solutions
• Towels
• Shower curtain
• Bath mat
• Toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Living Room

• Furniture: couches, side tables, coffee table
• Decore: rugs, pillows, throws, curtains
• Lamps
• Entertainment: TV, sound system, gaming systems