8 Things You Should Do Before Moving Into a New Home

Moving home is one of those things that usually fills me with dread, however if the time calls for it and I fancy a change of scenery I usually make sure I follow the following tips to ensure that my move goes as smoothly as possible and that I don’t forget some of the most important necessities.

 

1. Let your bank know you’re moving

This usually only takes a few minutes to do over the phone if not faced with a queue. In the past I’ve given them a few weeks’ notice to ensure that when I move in I can buy things online without there being any confusion between the billing and delivery address.

2. Redirect your mail

For anyone who gets a lot of mail then setting up a redirect can be a lifesaver. It comes with a small fee which has to be paid to the Royal Mail but it’s worth it to not lose any correspondence and to not annoy the occupiers of your old home with unwanted mail.

3. Invest in some insurance

This is usually the last thing on my mind when moving in to a new home, but again it’s one of those things that can be planned in advance. As I usually rent a house, my belongings aren’t covered in the case of a natural disaster, so getting home contents insurance before moving in is protection if the worst comes to the worst.

4. Transfer your energy supply

Usually energy companies have a special home moving department that will transfer the supply to the new home on the day of moving, and require just a final meter reading on the last day.

When I first moved into a home of my own I found it surprisingly difficult to get an energy supply if you’d never had one before, so bear this in mind if this is your situation. I spoke to the landlord who told me which energy company supplied the property previously and this game me enough information to set up a new tariff with a different company as the current supplier didn’t have the best value for money.

5. Update your driving licence

As outlined on the Government’s website changing the address on your driving licence is a simple procedure that’s free if the photo on the licence doesn’t need to be changed. As a regular driver, changing this is very important. I often hire cars too, and if you no longer live at the address on your licence it usually means that you cannot rent a car.

6. Contact anyone else who needs to know you’ve moved

I usually make a list of everyone that has my address, including my mobile phone operator, internet provider, TV licence, store memberships, the Student Loans Company, and most importantly my employer. I then go through this list on a quiet day and phone them up or try to do it over the internet. Usually the latter is the most convenient and widely available option.

7. Change the locks

I’m a serial renter, so this is something that the landlord usually does, but I like to double check and ask them on the day of the move. If buying a home this should be something that’s done within the first week of moving in. This is a good security precaution as you never know who had access to your property previously, so changing the locks will prevent any unwanted visitors to your home.

8. Become a box hoarder

In the run up to the move I always find it impossible to find containers to store everything in and usually resort to buying costly boxes that I end up throwing out after moving day is over. In the weeks leading up to the move I usually ask friends and family for spare boxes, visit supermarkets and ask for any free boxes, or invest in some reusable plastic boxes that I can still use when I get to my new home. It makes it so much easier, especially on the last day when I usually resort to throwing things in plastic bags and hoping for the best.

Got anything else to add?