If you are contemplating moving in the not-so-distant future or are just pondering your options, there are a number of factors you must consider beforehand. By doing so, you can ensure you are making the right decision for you and your loved ones and begin the search for your forever home. Continue reading to find out what you should consider ahead of the moving process.

1. Make an inventory

If you have decided which items are likely to join you on your travels and which will be left behind, you are ready to make a moving inventory. In the simplest of terms, an inventory is a detailed list of each item you own. Its purpose is to prevent you from losing or misplacing any valuable possessions during the moving process or at any point during your tenancy. It can be further categorised into separate rooms for ease of use. To streamline the entire process, you may also benefit from assigning each item with a number, any special or distinctive features, its estimated value, any warranties, any appraisal statements, its current condition, and the location of its final destination. By establishing an inventory ahead of time, it can assist with the estimated cost of your move.

2. Get rid of unwanted items

Before you move, you must get rid of any items you are unlikely to want or need in your new home. This includes belongings that are damaged, worn out, outgrown, duplicates, broken, or that you simply no longer enjoy. If you are planning to decorate your new home in a different style to your current home, it may also benefit you to donate your fixtures, fittings, and furniture to friends and family, neighbours, or those in need through a charity. By doing so, you can save a considerable amount of time, money, and effort in the process and are much more likely to experience a stress-free move from start to finish.

3. Establish a budget

As with most major milestones, you must establish a budget ahead of time. This can prevent you from overspending or being hit with a large bill or invoice down the line. To find out how much money you are likely to need and whether or not your savings will cover the cost of a number of moving-related expenses, you should assess your financial situation at the earliest convenience. If you don’t know where to begin, an online forum, such as AskGuru, is home to thousands of like-minded homeowners with the answer to any question or query you may have. There are a number of costs you should familiarise yourself with ahead of time including movers’ rates, service charges, moving truck rental and gas prices, parking fees, insurance costs, travel expenses, as well as a whole host of post-relocation fees. It is also worth noting that regardless of your current financial situation, an emergency fund is must.  

4. Update your address

Whether you are moving across the street or overseas, you must inform your friends and family of your new address. This can allow you to maintain regular communication with your loved ones and prevent any correspondence from getting lost or diverted to the wrong recipient. With so many documents required before, during, and after the moving process, this can streamline the entire process from start to finish. As well as your friends and family, you must also update your current employer, your children’s school, your service providers, your bank, your doctor, your insurance company, your country’s driving and transport agency, and your landlord if necessary.

5. Ensure your pets are taken cared of

Whilst your furry friends may be joining you on the move, they are unlikely to be aware of what is happening and may find the entire situation a little stressful. If you are moving within the same town, city, or neighbourhood, you are unlikely to require an external moving company or any paperwork to transport them. They are also much more likely to settle into their new home within a matter of days. If you are relocating across the country or overseas, on the other hand, this can present a number of challenges. Beforehand, you must familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations of the geographical area you intend to move to, request up-to-date medical records, source appropriate shipping containers, and decide how your pets will be shipped to your brand-new home.

Before you pack up your belongings and move into a new home, there are a number of factors you must familiarise yourself with ahead of time. By doing so, you are less likely to encounter common moving-related problems. For example, you should make an inventory, get rid of any unwanted items, establish a budget, update your address, and ensure your pets are taken care of at every step of the way.

Published: 2021-10-02 14:01:20