Moving House: The Ultimate Checklist

People move homesteads for various reasons throughout their lives. In 2021, about 27.1 million people moved to new homes in the United States.

Unfortunately, moving can be a massive hassle as people struggle to get everything done before settling down.

Having a moving checklist will help you stay on track during the entire moving process.

Keep reading for helpful tips if you’re planning on moving house soon!

Set a Budget

Moving can be complicated for various financial reasons. You’ll be spending money on different aspects during the moving process. Therefore, you must set a realistic budget before beginning your moving journey.

You may have to spend money on your current home to ensure it sells quickly. Money may be needed for repairs, upgrades, maintenance, etc.

Preparing your home to be sold can cost thousands of dollars, depending on what’s needed. You’ll need to set aside money for things like:

• Realtor fees
• Staging
• Movers
• Closing costs
• Deposits

Most importantly, you’ll need to have a large enough budget for your new home. Some people wait to sell their current home to have enough money. Assess your financial situation to see how big of a budget you’ll need with or without selling your existing home.

Decide Where You Want to Move

The next big step in your moving adventure is deciding where you want to move. Some people move locally for spatial needs, school districts, or upgrades. Others move to new towns for financial reasons or a new journey.

Once you decide on the general area of the move, you can start researching specific locations. Those staying in the same town can visit potential neighborhoods to see how you like them. Look at the neighboring homes to see their quality, noise level, traffic, etc.

Those moving to a new city should take a trip and spend a few days in the area. Look for local citizens and ask for their options and advice on living in this town. This trip will give you insight into the lifestyle and feel of the city, allowing you to decide if it’s a good match.

Look for Employment

If you’re relocating to a new city, you may need to research employment opportunities before moving. Doing so will give you financial confidence when moving since you’ll have income soon.

Decide what field you’re interested in and look for job openings. This process may take a while, but remember that it is essential to have a job set up before moving.

Those moving to a new location in their current home may not need to look for a new job. Depending on the commuting time, their current jobs may still be a good match. Some may consider new jobs if the commuting time is too much to bear.

Hire a Realtor

Many people choose to tackle the selling and buying jobs on their own. However, hiring a realtor can make the process much easier and remove unnecessary stress.

A real estate agent will list your home on the market and take care of any offers. They will use negotiation tactics to get you the best price for your current home.

They will also help you find a new home that matches your needs. Once you find a home you’d like to buy, they will put in an offer. If accepted, the realtor will provide all the required paperwork.

Upgrade Your Home

When you start preparing to move, you should go through your home and see what is outdated, worn down, or broken. Making upgrades to your home will get more buyers interested. Things to consider upgrading include:

• Appliances
• Lighting
• Windows
• Flooring
• Paint
• Landscaping

These upgrades will make the home look and feel fresher. Potential buyers will appreciate the work done and may spend more money on the property.

Make Repairs

Before you sell your current home, you must ensure it is in the best possible condition. Doing so will ensure it sells quickly and doesn’t sit on the market for too long. Buyers will be more interested in homes without significant problems.

Any significant repairs should be handled first. Never take shortcuts and make repairs correctly. You can hire professionals to make these repairs if needed.

Failure to fix any issues can result in a lower selling price or uninterested buyers. Remember, no buyers will want to make repairs after purchasing a new home.

Declutter and Clean

As you continue preparing your home to be sold, you will need to declutter and clean each room. Decluttering will help with the moving process by getting rid of unnecessary things.

Throw away any broken, worn, or useless objects that have accumulated throughout the house. You can also donate clothes you no longer wear to help those in need.

After you’ve decluttered the home, you can start cleaning. Deep cleaning of the whole house will freshen things up.

Stage

Many seem to forget that staging is a significant part of the moving process. You can stage the home on your own or hire a professional to make it look appealing to buyers.

If you decide to do it yourself, you’ll need to make some crucial changes. Remove any personal pictures, trinkets, or belongings. You’ll also need to make decorations and color schemes neutral.

These two changes will give buyers an easier time imagining themselves in the home. As they tour the area, they’ll be able to envision how they would like to style it.

Find a New Home to Purchase

After listing your current home, it’s time to start searching for a new home. As previously mentioned, your realtor should help you find a home that matches your needs. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t help with the search.

Start by finding a neighborhood or part of town you’d love to live in. Notify your realtor so they can find the listings within the area. It’s always a good idea to have a few different regions picked out to find the option that best suits your budget.

Hire a Moving Company

Now that you’ve picked out a new home, you can start researching moving companies in your area using the phrase movers Kirkland. Movers will help load, transport, and move your belongings into your new house. They take care of all the heavy lifting so that you can focus on more important matters.

Start by looking up reviews of local companies. Pick out a few with primarily positive reviews and contact them. Ask them if they can meet your needs and what their rates are.

Many cities have family owned movers that often offer better rates. You may get a more catered experience with companies like these, and you’re helping out your local economy.

Start Packing

After you hire a moving company, you can begin packing your belongings. Many movers provide boxes, packing peanuts, and tape to ensure everything is sealed correctly.

Go through each room and organize your belongings into boxes. Put similar things in the same containers to avoid confusion when unpacking. It will help if you label every box with its contents and which room it belongs to.

Finalize Purchase

One of the last significant steps to moving is finalizing the purchase of your new home. Meet with your realtor to go over paperwork and double-check that there were no mistakes.

You’ll also need to confirm your closing date to know when you will be able to move into your new home fully. This date needs to be given to the movers to be ready to transport your belongings.

Tie Up Loose Ends

The last couple of days in your current home should be spent tying up loose ends. You’ll need to cancel any services to avoid being continually charged for them. Things to cancel or change include:

• Mailing address
• Water
• Internet
• Electricity
• Cable

Take this opportunity to say goodbye to any friends or neighbors you’ve made in the area. If you plan to stay in touch, make sure you have their contact information.

Make the Move

The last step on your moving checklist is to make the move. Commute to your new location to meet the movers and designate an unloading spot. They will bring all of your belongings into your new home.

Finally, you can begin unpacking and settling in. There’s no rush to this last step, as you can take your time and go as you please.

The Ultimate Checklist for Moving House

This checklist for moving houses will help make the process easier and quicker overall. Hopefully, you’ll be settled in your new home sooner than later!

Read more of our lifestyle and home articles if you want more information on moving homes!