Millions of people move every year — in fact, about 11% of the U.S. population relocated in 2017 alone. So if you’re planning on moving this year, you’re not alone. But just because moving is common, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. To help you prepare for your move as best as possible, here are a few important things you shouldn’t forget to do before you move.
Take Pictures of Electronics
Most people have a lot of electronics set up in their homes — from televisions to gaming systems to computers, your house is probably full of electronic systems. And these systems aren’t always easy to set up. This is why it can be extremely helpful to take pictures of where all of the cords go. This way, when you get to your new house, you can reference your pictures and make setting up the systems again a whole lot easier.
Buy Lawn Care Equipment
If you lived in an apartment or townhouse where your lawn was mowed and taken care of you for, you probably don’t have any lawn care equipment. Most people mow their lawns pretty frequently, with about 80% of Alabamians mowing their lawns weekly or biweekly. So unless you plan on paying someone to cut your grass for you, you should invest in a lawnmower, weedwhacker, and any other equipment you may need before you move.
Cancel Memberships
Not all moves are local and if you’re moving out of town, or out of state, you need to cancel any local memberships you may have. This could include gym memberships, local clubs, and even your library card. This way, you won’t be paying for something you can no longer use and you minimize the risk of being charged for not canceling or having someone else use your membership.
Clean Your Old House
Once everything is packed up and out of your current house or apartment, you should do some cleaning. After all, the next people moving in don’t want to move into a dirty house. So run the vacuum, mop the floors, and do some light dusting. And with less than 22% of household trash being recycled, make sure to recycle any cardboard or boxes leftover from your packing or moving supplies. Overall, make sure the house is move-in ready for the next owners.
Collect Keys
Most people give spare keys to family members, neighbors, or even hide a spare in the yard. It’s essential that you gather these keys before you leave. While these keys are easy to forget about, it’s important you don’t keep any keys to your current house. To find the spare hidden under the welcome mat and ask your friends and neighbors for their copies back so you can give all of the keys to the new owners.
Gather Personal Records
If you’re moving out of your current city, you need to make sure you collect your personal records before you leave. This could include health records from your doctor and dentist, prescription lists, and even veterinarian records for your pets. If you have already found a new doctor in your new city, make sure to have your files transferred from your current doctor before you leave.
There are a lot of things to think about and focus on when you’re moving. But remembering to do these few simple things will help make your move go much easier.
These are great tips. I hate moving and these are things easily forgotten