Congratulations! You’re moving for the first time! We know that’s a lot of exclamation marks, but we’re excited to help you on your very first move. It’s an amazing, anxious, and awesome experience that can fill you with butterflies. There are a lot of things to do before you even set out for your new home.
It’s easy to pack up and head across the country compared to sussing out all the paperwork you have to finish when moving. We’ve heard a lot of stories from people who forgot to do this one thing when they moved. Because of that, it created some low grade chaos on their end. They couldn’t help it, though, because they didn’t know all the ins and outs of moving except for packing things in boxes.
That’s why Dependable Relo made the “common sense” list of things to do after you move. We call it “common sense” because after you find out, you’re probably going to slap your head since you didn’t think of it. The only reason we set that expectation is because the people that provided us these tips slapped their head because they didn’t think of it.
Our Moving Tips
Do you have running water and electricity?
This might be silly, but it’s happened before. You move to your new place and you don’t know what to do about the utilities. Whether you’re moving to an apartment or to a brand new home, it’s crucial to figure out how to get the power on. If you don’t, your house will be dark and your showers may be very cold.In order to get this fixed, contact your city’s utility department. Get detailed instructions from an operator and put your name with your new address. This will get bills flowing into your mailbox. Bills are never fun. What is fun is being able to turn on the lights when you want.
Do you have valid car insurance?
If you’ve recently moved with your car bought in another state, check your insurance. In some instances, your insurance may be completely invalid according to where you are. That’s why it’s important to check in with a new local agent in your new hometown.It’s easy to forget about insurance. When you’re not dealing with insurance instances every day, then you can put it out of your mind. However, when you get in an accident or get pulled over by police for something, you could be in significant trouble. That’s why it’s important to talk to an insurance agent and get your situation squared away as quickly as possible.
Did you get your car registered? Also, did you register to vote?
Most states have a limit of how long you can have your old license plate on your vehicle. If police pull you over and your tag is invalid, you could be asking for big trouble. Get your vehicle registered in your new home state as soon as possible. This can take away any potential headaches you have with law enforcement.Also, get registered to vote. It’s very easy to put this one off. If you’ve moved for a new job or something that takes up your time, this could get pushed to the wayside fast. If you want to have an active voice in your new community, you have to step up. Be a part of your new home and vote.
Do you have furniture?
Again, while this might seem silly, this is our “Common Sense” residential guide. We wouldn’t put this in if we didn’t know someone that this happened to. Instead of moving with their old furniture, they left it behind. While they were busy packing up the rest of it, they had completely forgotten to arrange any furniture to be at their apartment.It’s extremely easy to find used furniture in a new city. Hopping onto Craiglist.org and going to the free section is a fantastic way to find tables, chairs, beds, and more. Similarly, if you live in a town with a university, go out driving. Structure your move to be at just the right time, you can find a wide selection of fantastic furniture that’s available curbside.
Did you tell your workplace where you’re moving to?
You’ve got a new job in a new city, which means you’re leaving your old job. Tell your former employer where you are moving to. When tax season rolls around, you need to be able to fill out all of your tax information. If you can’t do that and can’t track down your W-4s come tax time, the amounts you pay may well exceed anything you could have imagined.Provide your former employer with all the details of your new home. This includes a new address, new phone number, and any new changes that might be happening. This can help send final pay stubs, final tax information, and anything else they need to send you.
Did you tell your bank where you’re moving to?
If you’re moving to a completely new city or state, inform your bank. When your bank information suddenly has new transactions popping up in a brand new area, it could look alarming. Also, if you’re getting regular statements from your bank every month, you won’t be able to keep tabs any longer.This particular stipulation is doubly important if you need direct withdrawal or direct deposit. If you’re working all the time, you have to set up withdrawals and deposits just to keep track of your bills. If you don’t get your financials squared away and stop using your old bank, you could suddenly go into debt due to automatic payments. Make sure you have a new bank if you need one and make sure your old bank is dealt with by either closing out your account or finding a new branch.
Dependable Relo wants your move goes as smooth as possible. If you can think of any other common sense tips to add, feel free to contact us and let us know. Let’s make this guide as comprehensive as possible for new movers. Have a good move!