Moving into a new home? Congrats!

Moving can be hectic, but it can be an exciting process for you and your family. Take the stress out of your time of transition and get your ducks (and boxes) in a row with these tips!

Update your utilities.

On top of notifying the post office, you’ll need to update your electricity provider, water, Wi-Fi, cable, and any other utility services you’ll require in your new home.

Change billing & subscription addresses.

Whether you’re moving across the neighborhood or across the country, you’ll need to update your address for the following:

• - DMV: license and vehicle registration
• - Auto insurance agents
• - Subscription services: magazine, prescriptions, grocery delivery, etc.
• - Banks and credit unions
• - Credit card companies

Set up mail forwarding.

No matter how prepared you are, there will always be at least one person or company you forget to notify of your new address. Go ahead and set up mail forwarding with the U.S. Postal Service to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.

Save and splurge on a moving company.

If you can, plan ahead and set some money aside to hire a moving company. It can spare you and your family a lot of energy, potential injuries, and broken items. Hiring a professional team can make your move faster, smoother, and less stressful in general.

Pro tip: Make sure the moving van has your new address if you’re sending items ahead of time or in case you get separated on the road.

Measure everything.

New homes often mean new furniture. Make sure you measure each room so you know exactly what will fit in each of your new spaces. You don’t want to purchase your dream couch only to realize it won’t fit in your new dream home!

Purge as you pack.

As you’re packing, toss anything you haven’t used, worn, or thought about in the past six months.  You’ll thank yourself when you’re unpacking in your new home and don’t have to sort through clutter, old clothes, and a pile of souvenirs from all of your in-law’s past vacations.

Pack by priority (& room).

Make sure items you’ll need right away are packed together and organized by room. Think: bathroom essentials, kitchen utensils, and bedding.

Label your boxes.

On top of labeling fragile items, label boxes according to the room they need to be placed in on moving day. This takes the guesswork out of your unpacking process and keeps you from having to lug things from room to room.

Pack a weekend bag.

Moving can take a couple of days, so pack a weekend bag for each member of your family. This will ensure everyone has easy access to their essentials during the move even if you’re shipping your items ahead of time.

Send out an announcement.

Once your move is officially complete, send out an announcement to provide your friends and family with your new address.

Pro tip: this is a great opportunity to declutter your address book!

Things you DON’T have to worry about when moving into a custom home.

• - Changing locks.
• - Cleaning up after previous tenants.
• - Refinishing floors or having carpets cleaned.
• - Checking for plumbing, electrical, and other maintenance issues.
• - Remodeling or renovating.
• - Updating appliances.

Ready to go? Don’t forget to add the finishing touches once you get settled in!