Moving day is just around the corner! You’ve scheduled a moving company, sorted through your belongings, and packed and labeled your boxes.

You’re ready to move — right? Not quite.

Though you may be loath to add anything to an already-crowded pre-move to-do list, a few tasks are easier to take care of before you (and your things) arrive at your new house.

Here are five things you should do before you move into your new home.

1. Set up Your Utilities

You’ll need to identify the utility services you need at your new home, determine the service providers, and arrange set up for those services. 

You may need to set up natural gas, electricity, water, internet, cable television, and trash collection services. Start the process early — at least a few weeks before your move because it can take time for a utility provider to set up your services. Arrange to have the services turned on a day or two before your move day to ensure you will have those services available on move-in day.

2. Paint Interior Walls

A fresh coat of paint is a great way to start the next chapter of your life in your new home. It’s much easier to paint before you move in your furniture and belongings. Painting before you move means no need to move heavy items like furniture or appliances away from walls, no artwork to take down (and none to rehang), and less chance of making a mess on your furniture.

Are you planning on redoing the flooring? That’s just an extra incentive to get the painting done first. You won’t even worry if a drop or two splashes onto the old carpet!

3. Install Fencing

If you have outdoor pets or kids that love to play in the yard, a sturdy, secure fence is a must-have. Install that fence before you move in, and that’s one less thing to worry about.

That way, your dog can run directly out of the pet door into the yard, and you won’t have to hover, making sure they don’t run away in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

4. Change the Locks

It’s always a good idea to change the locks when you move into a new home. While it may feel like you’re overly cautious, it’s only a smart move.

You don’t know how many extra keys to your home might be floating around out there. Don’t take a risk.

Invest in your peace of mind: Change the locks on all exterior doors. Take the time to schedule a visit from a locksmith for re-keying (or change the locks yourself, if you’re feeling handy) before you move in.

5. Replace or Restore Flooring

If the floor in your new home needs to be refreshed, refinished, or replaced, do it before moving in. Getting all the furniture out of the way is never fun (and is just one of many reasons you want to hire a moving company in the first place). Plus, if you’ve just finished moving in, the last thing you want to do is move more heavy objects!

Labor intensive and potentially messy tasks such as refinishing hardwoods, replacing the carpet, and laying tile are much simpler when you remove the worry about damaging furniture or other items.

Moving Help

The weeks and days leading up to a move are hectic. You may feel like the last thing you want is to add more projects to your to-do list. But specific tasks just make more sense to complete in an empty house.

If you’re planning a move, we can help. Contact us for a quote. We can simplify the moving process for you.