Settling into Your New Rental: Unpacking and Getting Acquainted
It can be overwhelming to think about the monstrous task of packing, moving, and unpacking all your belongings when you move to a new apartment or house. However, if you take the time to sit down and set up an organizational plan for your time and your items, you will be able to focus on the details instead of being overwhelmed by the workload.
Declutter while you Pack
It is a great idea to tackle two things at once while you are packing up your items. You never know how much you have until you start digging into it and try to pack it all up to move to your next house. Decluttering is important because you can sell unneeded items for extra funds to use toward your moving expenses. You can also donate your used items that you may not be able to sell. The less you must move, the less of a headache and hassle you will have to deal with later.
Label and Organize
While you are in the process of packing away your items, you always want to pack away your non-essential items first and then save the essential items to pack up last. This will be reversed when you go to unpack, however. It is a great idea to create a list, or some sort of number/label system so that you do not have 30 mystery boxes to unbox when you are trying to find a pair of scissors! Labeling and packing up according to room or need is a terrific way to keep things organized and easy to find in a pinch.
Pack a Move-In Essential’s Box
Creating a box that holds all the necessities that you may need when you first move in is imperative to not stressing yourself or your family out during the first few days of your move. The items you will want to include in this box are items such as toilet paper, your toiletries, any necessary chargers, important documents, and any additional items that you know you will need and do not want to look in 5 separate places for them.
After Move-In Checklist
It may be helpful to create an after-move-in checklist for when you have all your items there and are starting the process of unpacking and organizing. Having your movers (or you if you are) placing the boxes in the corresponding rooms will help greatly because you will not have one room with all your boxes for the entire house. This allows you to take your time and unpack as you have time.
Familiarize Yourself with the Property
Get comfortable with your new property and check around for important places like water shut-off valves and breaker boxes. These are important to be able to locate quickly in the event of an emergency. Most often in a house, these will be located in the basement.
Make Sure You Set Up Renter’s Insurance
This is vital because an accident can happen at any point in time that you are living in a home. Regardless of how long you intend to live at a certain location, you need to be sure that you are protected against an unexpected accident. Premiums are typically inexpensive, and it goes a long way to be sure you are covered.
Become Familiar with the Area
If you are new to the area, you should be sure to acquaint yourself with the local scene and community. A lot of times your landlord may even be able to give you great suggestions on what you are looking for if you just ask. Checking in with the local Chamber of Commerce will help a ton as well. It is hard to transition to a new location, make it easier on yourself and ask for help!
The list of things you need to do before you move, during, and after the move can seem endless. If you make it easier on yourself and make yourself a list, so that you know you are not forgetting anything, you will take a huge weight off your shoulders. If you are looking for a new rental and need suggestions about the area, give Goodman Properties a call at 740-695-3131 for help!