Exciting times, you’ve just signed the papers on your new rental property! Now it’s time to get organised so that nothing gets missed in the excitement of it all. There are lots to think about, so follow my tips, and you’ll be stress-free and settled in no time.
Pack Smartly
Packing can be overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of stuff. Start early and focus on one room at a time. Sort through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate or sell. Use sturdy boxes and label them appropriately to make unpacking easier. Don’t forget to pack fragile items carefully with bubble wrap or newspaper and place them in the box with extra padding. If you need help, consider hiring professional packing and unpacking movers to assist you. Not only will they save you time and energy, but they also have the expertise to pack your belongings safely and securely.
Change Address
This might sound slightly obvious, but you must notify all your contacts that you are moving. Think about car insurance, bank, GP surgery, DVLA and don’t forget those all-important magazine subscriptions. You can also do a mail redirect service through the Royal Mail to capture all those you forget (and then let them know as and when you receive items.
Plan for Home and Content Insurance
It is beneficial to inform your insurance company of your new home to remain covered for the move on the insurance policy. For people with no home insurance or wanting to change their insurance company for a better one, you can be sure www.homelet.co.uk/tenants will get you all that you need from an insurance company.
Plan for Energy and Electricity
Electricity and energy are very important for your new home, and you must have a good plan. When you move into your rental, ensure the previous tenant’s meter readings have been recorded and disconnected so that the accounts can start afresh if your name is changed. You will need to call your energy provider and give details of your account for proper reconnection. This will prevent you from getting the bill for something you haven’t used.
Plan for Children and Pets
Children and pets aren’t always great to have around on a moving day, so enlist the support of friends and family to take care of the children and consider putting pets into kennels or boarding for the day while you get settled.
Home Cleaning
Each time I have moved house, I first go through the house, cleaning from top to bottom. The previous tenants might have given it spruce through if you’re lucky, but not everyone’s idea of cleaning will be the same as your own. You’ll be thankful you did it before moving all your furniture in. If you don’t feel up to it, consider hiring a cleaning company to give it the once over before moving day.
Keys and Lock Replacement
So many people move into a new house and don’t think about changing the locks. This isn’t generally an issue in a new property, but if someone has lived in your new home previously, how do you know how many sets of keys they had and whether they were all handed back? You would hate to get settled only to find someone has let themselves in with an old key and helped themselves to your belongings.
Pre-plan for Internet
Where would we be without our phone lines and the internet? I once made the mistake of not organising this before moving house and then had to wait six weeks for reconnection. It was like being sent to Internet Coventry!! Take heed of my rookie error and plan well in advance.
Cups, Kettles and Refreshments to Hand
Ensure that your kettle, cups, tea/coffee and snacks are easily accessible when moving (I always keep mine in a box on my passenger seat) so that I can get hold of them quickly when I’m beginning to flag.
Before you know it, you’ll be feeling accomplished with your feet up in your new home. It can be stressful, but it will be worth it in the long run.
#MyFirstRental
