Moving your belongings from your old residence to your new one can be daunting, but even after all of the boxes are moved, the work isn’t done. What’s the first thing you should do? Golden Eagle Moving Services, one of the best moving companies in Los Angeles with a long history of helping people relocate, suggests these five things.
Secure Your Property
Whether you hire professional moving services to move your stuff or tackle it on your own, check your inventory to make sure everything is there. If anything is missing or damaged, contact the moving company immediately. The longer you wait, the less likely you will recover it. If there is more than one person, one can review the inventory while the other changes out locks, sets new security system codes, and changes the garage door codes. While the former owner or tenant may have handed over their keys, they may not have accounted for copies given to friends, relatives, cleaning services, etc.
Inspect and Document the Property
This should have been covered during the home inspection process, but double check for any evidence of damage or pests. Even in the absence of pests, if you have access to the property before the movers arrive, consider setting off a bug fogger, or hiring a pest control service to spray. This will insure a new home is critter-free. Check for dripping faucets, functioning external lighting, and document any damage to the property with photos. If the damage is from movers (or previous occupants), this will help you reclaim your security deposit (if renting), or, if you now own the home and the damage was not present during the home inspection, in case you seek restitution from the previous owner.
Clean, Paint, and Hang Curtains
This is probably the last thing you want to do after moving, but it’s easiest to do before all of your boxes are unpacked. Hanging curtains insures that when night comes, your belongings and family won’t be on display for all the neighborhood to see.
Update and Activate Accounts
Arrange for utilities to start (ideally, before you arrive). This is also a good time to file a change of address form with the Post Office, and to update your address information on critical accounts with: banks, loan, credit card, and insurance companies; retirement and investment services and the Social Security Administration; attorneys, doctors, and dentists; cell phone providers; human resource departments; and magazine and newspaper subscriptions. This can a tedious process, but making sure mail is sent to your new address is an important step in protecting against identity theft.
Greet your neighbors
They have valuable information about the area, and getting to know them before you have an emergency will also make it easier to ask for help.
There’s lots to do after moving, but we can help you get everything there safely.
