Moving can be totally overwhelming, and expensive. But don't worry, I gotcha covered! I've moved internationally several times, and domestically with a toddler, and am now in the thick of selling our home and moving to a rental... with 3 kids... during a pandemic! PHEW! But anyway, this isn't a competition, I'm here to help you with a handy dandy checklist for moving to a new rental home - everything from how to search for a home to who to notify of change of address, booking a moving company, and much much more! Read on and leave a comment with any of your own tips, or questions!
**Disclaimer: there are some affiliate links below - You won't pay more but I'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking (it's one of the ways I fund the blog, of course)!
PURGE!!!
This is the time to go full on Konmarie - purge the heck out of your stuff!! Whatever doesn't bring you joy anymore or you haven't used it in a year, go ahead and sell, donate, or toss!! For inspiration, you can read or listen on Kindle to Marie Kondo's books "The LIfechanging Magic of Tidying Up" & "Spark Joy" (affiliate link) or you can watch her Netflix show "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo".
FIND A NEW RENTAL HOME:
NOTIFY YOUR LANDLORD:
Check your lease and make sure you are giving your landlord property notification. Most require one month's notice. If breaking your lease and leaving early, you may still be responsible to fulfil the full term's rental fees, even if you're not there!! This happened to us when leaving our last rental, but management clarified that if I found a new tenant we'd be good. Thankfully I posted the rental in a local Facebook parenting group and within 2 days found a new tenant for them. PHEW!!
BOOK A MOVING COMPANY:
There are TONS to choose from. Some are for local / same day service only, others specialize in long distance moves. Last time we moved within Brooklyn we were very happy with Shlepper's, and this time around they gave me the best quote again! Shleppers and Flatrate are both very popular and will give you a detailed quote (either coming to see what you have ahead of time or currently doing it all over the phone - you tell them exactly what's going, and be specific as you can). They don't charge hourly and won't hijack your stuff until you pay additional fees (yes, I've heard of other companies doing this, if you can believe it!!!). There are some companies going green, too, using biodiesel fuel and reusable boxes. You'll pay more but the Earth will thank you. And of course, if neither of your buildings have a stipulation about needing a licensed and insured moving company (mine does unfortunately), you can totally save $$$ by DIY moving - rent a Uhaul truck and pay some friends in beer and pizza!
BUY MOVING BOXES (and pack)
Book your moving company first since some will provide boxes. Movers Not Shakers, for example, is a "green" moving company and will drop off reusable plastic boxes and collect after the move. You should also check craigslist and FB marketplace to see if you can get free or cheap boxes from someone local who just moved - this will save money and the Earth! Otherwise, you'll have to buy them. You can find tons of options on Amazon (affiliate link), with other popular sites being Uboxes / Box Engine (who has really convenient kits based on home size, including bubbles, packing paper, tape etc), Uhaul, Home Depot, etc.
CHANGE HOME/RENTERS INSURANCE
If going from one rental to another, you'll probably be keeping the same insurance and just updating with new address. If going from ownership to rental or vice versa, it'll be more complex. For renters insurance, you're just covering your own property and liability. If you'll have a pool or trampoline or anything especially risky, make sure you're covered plenty (some companies cover these, some only if they're fenced in, and others not at all). During my own search, I found Allstate to have the best price (though that could be because we already have car insurance with them), followed by USAA (I'm a member thanks to my dad's military service), Lemonade, and Geico.
CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS / FORWARD MAIL:
There are a tonnnnnnnnn you need to notify of your address change. As more and more things go paperless, this becomes less of a headache, but it's still a headache. Most important notification is probably USPS since they'll forward items from your old to new address for 1 year. But... some things don't end up forwarded. So, do your best to notify all of the following directly:
FIX UP THE HOME YOU'RE LEAVING:
To avoid getting slammed with loss of your security deposit, be sure to check with your landlord what condition you're expected to leave your home in. You probably have to remove all nails, patch up holes, and paint back to neutral colors. If you find that any unwelcome guests have moved into the holes, you'll also need to get someone like Pest Control Experts out to remove them before you leave.
UPDATE UTILITIES:
You'll need to schedule the date to stop previous utilities and start new ones. Gas, electricity, water, sewer, trash, phone, cable, internet, etc. Note that most internet providers will not let you out of a contract simply because you're moving, but rather only if they don't have service at your new home.
FIND A NEW DOCTOR/DENTIST:
This can be tricky depending on your insurance, but hopefully rather painless. You should be able to log onto your insurance's website to change your doctor and address.
UNENROLL / ENROLL IN SCHOOLS:
You'll need to official unenroll from your old school and have them transfer records to your new school, where you'll need to register. Note that if you have younger children in Pre-K - 2nd grade, their birthday could mean they get held back or skip a year. For example, in NYC the age cutoff is December 31 and for most of New Jersey it's October 1. In some places children will be assessed and it'll be a discussion between parents and administration, but NYC public school system is very strict about not allowing a child to be held back when entering Pre-K, K and 1st grade - they MUST be turning the correct age Jan 1 - Dec 31 (turning 4 for Pre-K, 5 for K, 6 for 1st grade), no matter what grade they last completed.
36 Comments
5/13/2020 02:51:06 pm
This is the perfect moving check list, is so essential and basic and sometimes we forget about Those Little Things
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5/13/2020 05:02:42 pm
I love this! Moving is not my favorite thing, so checklists help out a ton.
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5/14/2020 03:58:26 am
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5/14/2020 12:37:57 pm
These are amazing ideas and just love this checklist....I am totally agree with these coz i have moved twice in my life...Thanks for reminding again...
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Joanna
5/14/2020 01:49:32 pm
This post is very useful to me as I am actually moving into a new home on Monday. I am however changing countries. I have one more day of cleaning, pack the last remaining items and then drive to my new home.
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Sophia
5/14/2020 03:23:52 pm
I am actually moving next week and I totally agree about purging. It makes moving 10x easier.
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5/15/2020 12:23:36 am
I hate to move but these are good tips for getting organized and making it as easy as possible.
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Agnes
5/15/2020 06:29:02 am
You gotta love rental homes as it doesn't require much needed time to work on. Enjoy your stay there, and try to keep it less. :)
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Great advice - I wish I had this list of addresses to change when we moved last. It was a good year before we got everything caught up!
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5/15/2020 11:46:32 pm
wow! these are some great tips! i will definitely check those products out! thanks for sharing!
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5/16/2020 01:14:53 pm
Great ideas! We just moved out and I must say that there insights are very helpful to those who are planning to move out soon!
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5/20/2020 11:53:00 pm
Very informative post! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started with a successful social networking campaign
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5/22/2020 02:22:22 am
I read through your article and some of your readers' comments. I am impressed with your writing skills, attention to detail, and fresh views.
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blair villanueva
6/4/2020 01:43:34 am
Finding a good landlord is tough (coz you want both of you are compatible and on the same page). Then moving feels like hellish! When I did mine last year, it took me three months to finally settled-in. I did most of you've mentioned above and still it is tough game :)
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6/26/2020 12:32:22 am
This kind of job really needs appreciation and yes thanks for sharing this with us. Your blogs are always great and I love reading them. I am about to move to my new place and this checklist will be very helpful for me... thanks! You must also check out robertsonsremovals.com it has some great insights too.
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8/4/2020 09:31:47 am
We all are getting here great thoughts on moving and perfect furniture delivery and developing the more island move. Preparing for great home relocation and getting essential thoughts.
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9/3/2020 07:11:29 am
Thank you very much for sharing about checklist for moving to a new rental home here… I really hope I can work on your tips and it works for me too, I am happy to come across your article. Great post I must admit, keep sharing more…
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Mary West
9/12/2020 09:51:25 am
It definitely takes a lot of work to move, doesn't it!
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10/10/2020 11:05:48 am
While moving to a new house, always change all old locks of doors and garages. Otherwise, it may cause a scam with you. So, hire trained locksmiths and change all old locks as soon as possible.
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11/16/2020 06:33:59 am
Great checklist, informative one. I like to share this article with my friends. According to me, one should make a clear checklist, properly plan and execute them well. Thanks for sharing :)
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12/24/2020 02:56:17 am
I loved your blog and thanks for publishing this about checklist for moving to a new rental home!! I am really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!! Keep doing this inspirational work and share with us.
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4/14/2022 09:35:57 am
Not only a list for preparing for moving, you also put where can we buy the needed for moving. Big thanks to you!
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5/26/2022 08:48:14 am
Removalistadelaide.com help individuals, families and businesses move, taking care of all your possessions whether they are in transit or storage anywhere in Australia. We take pride in providing a truly tailored, hassle free, great value service giving you peace of mind at what is often a stressful and disruptive time.
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11/28/2023 02:15:03 am
Moving to a new rental home can be overwhelming, but having a checklist makes it so much easier! This blog provides a simple and helpful guide to ensure you don't forget anything important during the process. From packing to paperwork, it covers all the essentials for a smooth transition. Great resource for anyone planning a move! 👍🏡 #MovingTips #RentalHome #Checklist
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12/5/2024 01:12:30 am
Great checklist for anyone moving to a new rental home! It’s so helpful to have all these tips in one place, from packing to setting up utilities. Definitely going to refer to this during my next move!
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12/17/2024 11:17:44 am
Great checklist for moving to a new rental home! It covers all the essential steps, from packing to settling in. The tips are practical and easy to follow, making the moving process much smoother. Thanks for sharing such valuable advice!
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About ME:I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, helping busy parents find the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! Categories
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