Move In Tips From Apartment Guide That You Can Use In Hilton Head

The following comes from the experts at Apartment Guide:

The best way to tackle a move is to think like a project manager: set a timeline, make a to-do list, and assign due dates for each task. While this kind of super-organized approach might be the most effective, it’s easier said than done — especially when you’re stressed out. And that’s why we’ve created this handy moving checklist to help you prepare for moving day.

This moving checklist breaks down all of your to-do items by subject. Use it to create your plan of attack, and you’ll be sure that nothing falls through the cracks — no matter how busy you get.

Whether you hire professional movers or rent a truck and do everything yourself, one of the first things to cross off of your moving checklist is the logistics of your move.

Notifications
Once you’ve got a confirmed moving date, it’s time to tell everyone that your address is changing. You can complete an official change of address  online with USPS.com , but there may be certain utility and service providers you need to contact in writing or on the phone:

As you make notifications, don’t forget to cancel any services or memberships you won’t need any more (gym memberships, lawn services, newspaper delivery, etc).

Switch utilities
If you need to switch utility providers, schedule a time to research and contact new providers about two to three weeks before you move. It’s best to have new utilities turned on a few days before you move into your new apartment so everything’s ready for your arrival.

Depending on how these services are handled at your new apartment community, you may need to set up service for utilities like these:

I.D. and tags
If you’re moving out of state, find out how long you’ll have to get a new driver’s license and vehicle tags, once you move to your new apartment.

Declutter
Every single item you pack represents a dollar sign, so you’ll need to schedule some time to  declutter your apartment before you start packing. You don’t need to waste time and money packing up items that you’ll never use again, so trash or donate anything that’s old, broken, or unnecessary to move along with you.

Packing
Nobody likes packing, but it’s a necessary evil. Set yourself up for success by getting all of the  packing supplies  you need — boxes, permanent markers, labels, bubble wrap, and tape — before you start the job.

Start packing lesser-used items and rooms first, and leave the major living areas for last. You may want to take inventory of the items you pack — especially if you hire professional movers.

Prepare pets
Moving with pets  means you need to make special arrangements — especially if you have to fly with Fido or Kitty. Do your research to determine what paperwork, medications, and vaccinations your pets will need in order to make a safe trip to their new home. Make sure pets have secure nametags and store their immunization records in a handy, accessible spot.

Cleaning
Make sure you  get as much of your security deposit back as possible  by scheduling time to clean up before your final apartment walkthrough. If the thought of doing the dirty work is really unappealing to you, you might hire a cleaning service to do a thorough move-out cleaning for you.

Stay on track
As you can see, there’s a lot to keep track of during a move. That’s why Apartment Guide recommends creating a calendar and a  moving file  to stay on top of all the items on your moving checklist.