Common Things People Forget To Do Before Moving Homes

By Author: Simon Scofield
Total Articles: 1
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Moving to a new house can be a chaotic experience. Usually, a combination of stress, minding impatient children and a busy time can cause real headaches for moving families and it's no wonder that things either get left behind or forgotten about. It is often very easy to forget some of the more important tasks that should be on your to-do list prior to moving.

Here are some of the more important things you should not forget when moving homes.

Common Items Left Behind

1. Chargers And Cables

We start the list with one of the obvious things most forgotten about when moving homes – device chargers.
In today’s modern age, smartphones are laptops are among the most heavily used items and yet charging cables hardly get a second thought. As a result, these accessories are also the most frequently left behind. This is because they are unobtrusive and found plugged in out of the way and hidden under a bed or near a table.
Don’t forget to check out the wall outlets before you leave the house for the last time!
2. Packing All Prescription Medications
Prescription medications are ...
... vital if you have a condition and should be on your list as one of the last things to pack, so they are not easily lost. When packing around the bathroom don’t forget to look in your medicine cabinet prior to your move.

3. Important Documentation
One of the more important considerations is to make sure that you do not leave key documents behind, these include the following:
• Passports
• Financial documents
• Insurance documents
• Property deeds
A great way to ensure these papers are not left behind is to have them all in the same folder and potentially in a coloured binder that stands out.
4. Pets

Although an obvious one, sometimes pets can get left behind by accident.

Pets such as cats and dogs tend to wonder out of the house and as a result, risk being left behind during moving day. If you have a pet fish be sure to arrange a safe move for them too. Above all else, be smart with animals and plan the week ahead to ensure that they are properly looked after by a helpful neighbour or a friend prior to your move.

Common Other Considerations Forgotten About

1. Notifying Your Workplace About Your Address Change
It is so easy to forget to tell people about your change of address. One of the biggest things you should remember is to tell your employer and general workplace about your new address.
Other important considerations are some of the following:

• Your bank
• Your doctor
• Your dentist
• Insurance providers
• Any subscription services (such as magazines)
• Your children’s school
• Vet
• Leisure clubs and gyms
• Utility providers (such as gas, water, electricity)
• Insurance companies

If you need a handy list for dealing with this, check out this change of address checklist: https://www.zoomremovals.com.au/change-of-address-checklist/.

2. Arranging Enough Moving Boxes And Last Minute Packing

One of the worst things you could do is last-minute packing only to discover you do not have enough moving boxes for your big day. This can cause a real last-minute scramble and unwanted stress.

Ensure you buy strong, sturdy boxes a few weeks before moving day to make packing a stress-free job - Websites such as gumtree.com can help with this.

2. Taking Meter Readings
Check your final water and electricity meter readings before your move to make sure you won't be overcharged.
Remember that once you reach your new destination, you will need to also set up utilities at your new address too.

3. Letting Friends and Family Know Your Moving New Address And Moving Date
An obvious one, but still forgotten about. Prior to your move remind your friends and family when and where you are moving to. Let them have your new address so that any Christmas cards, birthday presents, or other important mail is not continuously sent to your old address.

4. Accurately Label Your Boxes Correctly
One of the biggest headaches if not done properly is to ensure that you label all moving boxes properly. If not done appropriately, it can take hours to locate important items you may want when first arriving at your new destination.
Accurate labelling goes double for any boxes that may contain fragile items. The last thing you will want is broken belongings when you arrive at your new destination!

5. Defrosting the Freezer
You'd be surprised how often people forget to defrost freezers before they move out. If the freezer is coming with you, clear it out and don’t forget to defrost it a few days before you move.

To Summarise
So, there you have it, some helpful tips and consideration before you finally move. The key consideration and take away here is to plan well ahead for your move in order for any unwanted surprises!

Simon is a freelance web designer living in Australia.