Lorena Magallanes

There’s about a billion things to do when you buy a new place and the level of importance for each to-do is completely subjective. The items on this list are not only important but also easy to overlook in the whole jumble of packing, unpacking, decorating, etc so to me, they are the most important! Take a look and hopefully they stay on top of mind when your day comes.

Get to know the landlord
As a tenant, your job is to pay your rent on time and live in the rented apartment within the confines of the lease you signed before moving in. As a landlord, your job is to ensure the property you own is in proper living conditions and that this stays as such during your tenant’s stay. In reality, sometimes landlords (and tenants) don’t hold up their end of the bargain. That’s why it’s crucial to understand what kind of landlord you’ll be dealing with once you sign that lease and move in. A good way to find out if they’ll fix that hole in the ceiling on time or will be making surprise visits is to knock on a few doors and ask would-be neighbors for some info. Asking about the way your potential landlord will handle their responsibilities can save you a lot of headaches in the future.

Plan the day
So many people are so concerned with getting everything into boxes and ensuring all papers are in order for the move in day that they forget to actually plan the smooth execution of the day itself! Move in day takes a lot more than making sure your boxes are packed and labelled. There’s also the truck or van rental, the moving day insurance (if you have a lot of breakables), reserving an elevator where needed, donating your unused items and last but not least, recruiting some good friends to help you with the move! All it takes is a pizza and some beer to show your gratitude at the end of the day.

Clean, clean and clean some more
This is one of the most important things to do before moving into a new space. Sure, your landlord may have cleaned it, hired a company to clean it or the last owners may have cleaned the apartment but it’s important to do the job yourself because who knows what they may have missed? It’s also so much easier to thoroughly clean a space when it’s empty since you can get into the corners and small spaces that you wouldn’t be able to reach with furniture around the place. I personally love cleaning since nothing feels better than taking out your life frustrations on a tile floor or carpet. Knowing that the “germs” from the last residents have been wiped out and the apartment has essentially been reset for you is comforting. Whatever your reason may be, don’t forget to clean the life out of that place. Who wants to live in someone else’s dust, anyway?

Call everyone!
I don’t mean your friends, I mean the companies that are in charge of internet, cable, hydro, etc. You should probably do that first just so you can set up the appropriate appointments and make the proper transfers because who wants to be in a new place and not have heating the first night? I know I wouldn’t… Especially on a winter night. It’s very easy to overlook this crucial aspect of moving as it’s one of those “out of sight, out of mind” things but you’ll thank yourself when you plug in your TV and you already have access to your favorite shows!

Moving is both exciting and terrifying. On one hand, you’re in this entirely new space with the chance to have a fresh start in a different neighborhood with neighbors you have the opportunity to get to know and everything is just new. On the other hand, it’s unfamiliar, usually doesn’t go very smoothly and the unpacking never seems to end. Personally, I love what results as a byproduct of a move. You get rid of things you haven’t used in years, you have the opportunity to redecorate a space, there’s so much to discover and it’s essentially a blank slate for you to start all over again. No matter how you feel about it, moving is an inevitable part of life and I hope this list helped you with the process on some sort of level.

Questions about potential properties or neighborhoods you’re interested in? Get in touch at @LorenaRomano and I’ll be more than happy to help you in finding the perfect place to call home.

Picture from: tapeteos.com