Moving isn’t only about packing up, loading the truck, and driving to the new house. It’s about cleaning both houses, saying goodbye to the old house and hello to the new one. While you’re picking up your last batch of mail from the Nashville post office, we’d like to remind you of a few other things to add to your to-do list.
- Change of Address
When you are moving into a new house, one of the first things you need to do is a change of address request. You can file your change-of-address forms with your local Nashville post office. After you request a change of address, you will also want to notify different institutions about your new address. Some places you need to update your address include:
- Nashville DMV
- Voter registration
- Any governmental agencies like the IRS and Social Security
- Any financial institutions including loans and investments
- Credit card companies and banks
- Auto insurance provider
- Utilities, phone, cable, and TV
- Medical providers
- Employers
- Become Familiar with The New House
Before you move into your new house in Nashville, you want to do a complete walkthrough when it is empty (before you move anything into the home). You want to make sure all requested, and the previous owner has made agreed-upon repairs. Check to make sure everything that was to be included in the sale is present in the house. Also, you want to double-check that everything is in working order, including outlets, switches, and fixtures.
Next, you want to locate the electrical circuit breakers, water cutoff valves and other key aspects of your home are located and how to operate them. Make sure your utilities are set up. Verify that your electric, gas, water, heating and cooling, phone, and internet is set up. Then call the local waste management facility to ensure your new home is set up for garbage and recycling pick up
You will want to find a white PVC pipe with a cap on it, which is where your sewer cleanout is located. If there’s a problem, this is where a plumbing professional will fix it. You’ll want to change the air filters and clean off the HVAC fins to make sure you are breathing in dust-free air. Also, cleaning the coils on the fridge will help to prevent food spoilage. Finally, check on the insulation in the attic before summer, so you’ll know what kind of power bill to anticipate.
- Learn the Neighborhood
The best time to learn about your new neighborhood is at night when the traffic is light. Go ahead, get lost; you’ll get more familiar with the city. No move would be complete without knowing where the police and fire stations are located (remember to ask for fridge magnets with phone numbers.) Nashville has several neighborhoods but we would recommend you to avoid the following ones:
- Buena Vista Heights
- Cumberland Gardens
- College Heights-Clifton
- Hadley Park
- Osage-North Fisk
- Elizabeth Park
- Capitol View
- McKissack Park
- Jones-Buena Vista
- Brick Church Bellshire
You’ll want to find out where the local school is located, where your new doctor offices are, the hospital, grocery store, clothing and shoe stores, hardware store, the library, as well as entertainment.
Take the kids and the dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Meet the neighbors, set up playdates, ask a neighbor over for coffee, and generally make friends. Remember, the neighbors need to know you’re cool just as much as you need to know they are.
- Security, Locks, and Keys
You will want to replace all the locks on your new home. You never know how many keys are out there from previous owners. Previous owners could have given a key to neighbors, people working on the house, relatives, or cleaning services.
If you hide a key in case you lose yours, don’t use the tired old standbys like a flower pot or the Welcome mat. Intruders know all these places, so think of something outside the box like hiding a key beneath fake dog poop, inside a fake outlet cover, or attached to magnets behind the door knocker.
Depending on where your new home is located, you might want to set up a home security system. Home security systems aren’t expensive anymore, and most homeowners have them installed prior to moving into their new home. But you might not need all the sensors, cameras, or keypad.
- Repairs and Updates
Take a few days before you move into your home to make sure you have enough GFCI or grounded electrical outlets. Make sure you have enough electrical outlets. If the lighting is inadequate, add focus lighting like pendant lights and ambient light such as chandeliers or sconces. You might also consider adding lights to your closets and motion-sensor lights in the basement.
Before moving anything into your new home, you will want to do any painting you need done. Whether you are adding a fresh coat, a brand new color, or just touching up, it is easier to paint with an empty room. Remember, you will need to wait several days to allow the paint to dry before you move furniture into the home.
Once you have finished painting, take a look at the flooring in your new home. If the house your purchased has old carpet over hardwood floors, take the time to rip it out and refinish hardwood floors for a fresh up to date look.
Final Note
There’s a lot more to moving than just packing and unpacking. We hope these five points help with your next move.
