You have the keys to your new home. It’s exciting. That big move ahead of you, not so much. Moving is a lot of work and you’re going to be very busy. But life will be a whole lot easier if you plan ahead. Here are a few of the things you’ll need to do AFTER you’ve made your move.
Take inventory of your furniture. Before the movers go their own way inspect your furniture and appliances to determine whether or not anything was damaged in the move. Don’t sign off on anything that was.
Make sure all systems are go. Check to see if the gas and electric are on and if your telephone line is live. Also, make sure you know the schedule for other services such as cable installation and garbage pickup.
Locate the main circuit breaker. The time to get ready for future issues is now. Find the breaker box and label each breaker so you’ll be prepared in the event of an outage.
Know where the water is turned off. There may come a day when you need to turn off the main water line fast so find out where to shut it down before you desperately need to.
Be prepared for an emergency. Have at least one fire extinguisher upstairs and one downstairs handy to the kitchen. Establish emergency exits for your family. Take stock of the smoke alarms and install carbon monoxide alarms. Also, let the family know exactly where they can find a first aid kit.
Identify nearby health professionals. Find the professionals you – and your pets – will turn to when health care is needed. These can include a physician, dentist, optometrist and veterinarian.
Get street legal. It’s easy to put off updating your driver’s license. Contact the local DMV to find out what you need to do to change your address or to get a new state’s license if need be. Also, you may need new plates.
Take care of other pesky little details. A move triggers changes that need to be made. Will you need to set up new bank accounts and order new checks? Also, notify your different insurance companies about your move.
