It's exciting settling into a new home. But leaving the old one behind can be tolling, both emotionally and physically. With stresses high on moving day, it's good to have a checklist to run down before you shut the door that final time...
Checklist for Moving Out
- Check every room, closet and cabinet to be sure you have everything with you.
- Note the meter readings for electricity or other utilities as necessary.
- Consider leaving a note with your new address so the next residents can forward any mail that slips through to your old address.
- Make sure, if you've hired movers, that they have the correct information to get to your new residence.
- Only after all of this is done, lock up and leave the keys with with whomever is responsible for them for the next residents.
Image: Moving Day, 20"x30" oil painting by Nick Patten
Comments (6)
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As a considerate touch, leave a fresh roll of toilet paper and a new bar of soap for the next inhabitant. I've made it a tradition.
view Sandie's profile
Good idea, Sandie.
Also, maybe the local phone book (assuming you're moving outside the area and will no longer need it)? And, while you're at it, any local take-out menus for those stressful moving-in days before all the pots and pans are unpacked?
BTW, I just caught on that the picture is a painting ... I thought it was a photo at first! Nice use of light and shadow.
view mirandabee's profile
Also, hire cleaners or go back to your old home the day after moving and give it a thorough srub-down. Only then, can the unpacking begin at the new place
that's our tradition :-)
view modern on long island's profile
As with Sandie, I leave tp but also paper towels. Yeah, I know the green debate over them, but just moving in, its nice to have something to dry your hands with and wipe up after take-out meals etc. Also, little notes if there is anything really unusual about your apartment-- for example, if the heater needs to be set at 80 to actually be 70 degrees -- and notes with what days trash and recycling pickup are since even the next street can be different.
view Faithbck's profile
Those are some good ideas. I've always cleaned the apartment thoroughly to make sure to make it less stressful for everyone. I know some of these ideas are so going on my list for my next move.
view ChrisGal's profile
For the last check of drawers/room/etc, I have trick I use when packing: During the packing stage, every time you empty a drawer, cabinet, or closet, put a sticker on the door. Then, you know not to worry about that while you're packing. Then, on the final walk through, take the sticker off once you've verified that yes, that room is completely empty. (This works wonders when there are multiple people helping, or the move spans a few days).
view ignescent's profile