Optimove – 10 Tips for Interstate Moving
Whether you are relocating for a new job in a new city, or you’re just ready for a change of lifestyle, moving interstate is an exciting time and the start of a new adventure.
First, you need to get there, with all of your belongings! Luckily Experienced housekeepers are here to help. Keep reading for ten tips for interstate moving from professional removalists, without losing your mind during the moving process!
1. Do Thorough Research
Before you make a move to your new location, be sure to do as much research as possible. Be sure to thoroughly check out everything from local businesses, recreational activities, restaurants, nightlife, and shopping suggestions. These days it’s easy to research all from the comfort of your home online. You may realize you need a march out cleaning which is when people in the military need a cleaning, and it needs to be in tip top shape before the cleaning inspection.
After you’ve done the initial research, it’s also a good idea to visit the area and explore it by yourself. Speak to locals for advice, check out maps, ask questions, and drive around the neighbourhood. This is the best way to get a good idea of the area and if it is right for you.
2. Eliminate Clutter
Moving long distance interstate can be quite expensive. The more you pack and take with you, the more you will have to pay for moving costs. Go through all your belongings as you pack them, and see if you still want to keep them. Consider selling items of value, or donating them to goodwill or friends and family.
3. Think About Selling Large Appliances
As crazy as it may sound, it may work out to be cheaper to sell or donate some items and re-buy them at your new location, than to pay for moving them interstate. This is especially true for cheap furniture from somewhere like Ikea.
If you have old appliances which you were considering upgrading soon, now may be the right time to get rid of them, and then buy a new model to go with your new home.
4. Hire a Trustworthy Removal Company
With so many different options to choose from, it can be hard to find a reliable and trustworthy removals company. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers for any recommendations they may have about good moving experiences in the past.
Next, look at reviews and ratings online, and double check the company’s reputation. Also, make sure to see if they provide insurance, one example of a great move out cleaning in Edmonton is Duty Cleaners, they come into your home after everything has been removed. Lastly, contact 3 or 4 companies, and request a quote from each. When making your decision, don’t just go with the lowest price, trust your gut feeling. Cheap moving companies often cut corners and slash services to be able to offer low rates.
If you are looking to save money, you can also consider backloading, which means you share the moving space in the van with other customers, and only pay for space which you use.
5. Pack In Advance
Through careful planning, you should try and finish packing at least a day or two in advance, leaving only the essential items to pack on moving day. Last minute packing can lead to stress and anxiety. Pack and label your boxes for house moving so that you’re not forgetting important things, or damaging your items by not correctly packing them.
6. Collect All Your Important Documents
Make sure that you locate all of your important documents before you move such as a birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate, tax records, social security information, school results, health records etc. Keep them separate in a folder which you have clearly labelled.
To keep these documents safe at all times, consider personally transporting them to your new home. Rather than packing them amongst your other belongings. This way you can keep them secure and safe at all times.
7. Update Your Address
There is nothing worse than arriving at your new home to find out that you don’t have any electricity or water. Be sure to notify your utility companies in advance of your move. It’s recommended to give them at least a weeks notice.
This will ensure that all your utilities will be up and running as soon as you arrive at your new home. Also be sure to have your electricity, gas, water, and cable companies to turn off your services at your old home the day after you move out.
If you are renting, make sure the services won’t be turned off until after the final home inspection. If you need to do any further cleaning to get your deposit back, you want to make sure you still have running water and electricity!
8. Protect Furniture & Fragile Items
Make sure that the movers use proper moving materials such as padding, moving blankets or bubble wrap for the corners of your furniture. This will prevent it from being damaged and scuffed during loading and unloading, as well as transport interstate.
For fragile and valuable items such as ornaments, heirlooms or glass tables, ask your removalist company about a transportation crate, which will provide the ultimate protection.
For smaller items, make sure they are securely covered in bubble wrap, moving blankets, and places into sturdy moving boxes. To ensure they don’t move in transit, use newspaper to keep the items steady and secure.
9. Set Up Mail Forwarding
It’s strongly recommended to set up mail forwarding with your post office. They can redirect your mail to your new address, and have plans from 1 to 12 months available. Which is crucial for any correspondence which may already be in transit in-between updating your address, as well as for any companies which you forgot to notify.
10. Check Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
It’s possible that your existing insurance policy already covers you for your move. However, if it doesn’t, be sure to check with your moving company and see what their insurance policy covers and what is excluded. You may need to find that you have to pay additional to receive full coverage with the moving company, or to upgrade your homeowner’s insurance policy to include moving.
While hiring professional Gold Coast Removalists helps things go smoothly, occasionally things do go wrong. For peace of mind, you should ensure that you are fully covered during loading, unloading and transportation of your belongings, especially on such a long-haul interstate move.
Moving interstate can be quite challenging, but by following these tips, it will help to make the process easier and let you focus on other things, like preparing for your new life in your new state.
