Moving home: How to get organised before the big day

It is often heralded as one of life’s greatest milestones, an act of independence and a responsibility that truly kicks off our adulting. And while buying a home can bring much joy, it can also serve as a source of stress. From finding the right property at the right price and location to dealing with workmen and planning for the move, the process can be daunting. But worry not. We’ve uncovered some of the most important things you need to tick off your list to make the process as smooth as possible and welcome this new chapter in your life, stress-free.

So take a deep breath, take a look at the comprehensive checklist below and tick the boxes off as you move from week to week. Good luck!

8 weeks out – No time for procrastinating

• Begin a running inventory of all the items you’ll be taking along with you to the new home.
• Start stocking up on boxes, bubble wrap, tape, markers and similar accessories.
• If you’re already using utilities, contact the supplier to inform them of your move. You might also want to take a final metre reading of your current property to avoid any future problems. Even better, take a picture of the metre itself.
• Let your bank, your employer’s HR department and any other important contacts know of your new address so that your mail will get to the right letterbox.

6 weeks out – Get your act together

• If you’re an existing customer and you’re moving your GO services with you, now is a good time to let us know. If you’re completely new to GO, here is a rundown of the services you may need for your new home.
• We all do it whether we admit it or not – hoard stuff we don’t need. Now’s the perfect time to go through your things and decide what’s in, what’s out. This will save you time and backache from cutting down the number of boxes you’ll be moving into your new home.
• You may think that it’s a tad too early, but if you own loads of stuff, perhaps it’s time to start packing. This is particularly true if you have furniture, large items and all sorts of bibs and bobs to take with you. But there’s no need to do it all at one go. Before you begin to panic, remember that you only need to start off with lesser-used items and non-essentials. Place them in a box and label each one. Take this process a step further by noting what‘s inside and where the box should be taken in the new property.

4 weeks out – It’s crunch time

• Make a plan for packing the remainder of your items so you aren’t packing at the last minute.
• Shop around for moving companies. Review estimates and pick the one you think fits your budget and needs most. It goes without saying that you should have everything ranging from the moving date to the destination address and the cost confirmed officially in writing.
• If you have a private home insurance, check with your provider whether this can be transferred to the new property.
• With four weeks left till the big move, consider whether you’d like to make changes to your home pack internet plan like upgrading it with add-ons. Get a Smart Wi-Fi Starter Kit for an extended and uninterrupted Wi-Fi signal in every corner of your home, especially if your dwelling is large or a traditional character house.
• Remember to take some time to relax and recharge. Moving into your new home is an exciting period, but can also leave you drained with all the planning and reparations.

2 weeks out – The final stretch

• Take a breather and review everything you’ve done so far. Have you overlooked anything? Is all paperwork in order? Are your utilities ready to go? Does the moving company have all the right information?
• If your current home’s fridge and pantry are stocked to the brim, you may want to use up all your perishable items before the move. Any other staple, you can bring along with you on moving day.
• Needless to say, you should be practically done with all your packing by now save for items you absolutely cannot pack away yet. Double-check that all boxes are labelled and keep a few extra empty boxes handy for any last-minute items.

Moving day – The big day is finally here

• The day before moving, prepare a travel bag with the absolute essentials you might need during the first night following moving day. This will save you from having to rummage through piles and piles of boxes. Think of items like a change of clothes, toiletries, some food like prepackages snacks and drinks, charging wires and your Plug ‘n’ GO so you can instantly get connected.
• Before leaving your old property for good, do a final sweep of the house to make sure you haven’t left anything behind.
• Upon arrival at your new home and before the movers leave, check the number of boxes delivered and once all seems fine, sign off on the move.
• This is a hectic day, which can leave you feeling exhausted. Don’t forget to take frequent breaks, hydrate and nibble on some healthy snacks.

The day after – Time for unpacking and settling down

• Locate your most essentials and start the unpacking process. If you’ve followed our tip further up, this should be a fairly easy process if you have placed each box in the right room.
• While there are no hard and fast rules as to which rooms you should unpack first, consider starting off with rooms that won’t take up too much time, like bedrooms and bathrooms.
• Unpacking boxes can be just as daunting as packing them. Take it slow and easy and don’t let your urgency to settle everything take the better of you.

You’ve finally made it! Moving day has come and gone and you’ve managed to survive it. Time to raise a glass, make yourself comfy and start making the most of your GO service.