Congratulations on purchasing your dream home!

There is nothing like the excitement of becoming a new homeowner. Whether you have purchased your new BTO apartment or finally upgraded to that new condo, “home is where the heart is,” and many of us hold the saying near and dear to our hearts.

Therefore, planning and preparing for your move is essential to ensure that you and your family can comfortably settle down in the new home.

Over at O’Here, we have compiled a comprehensive three-part guide to make the transition as seamless as possible so you can quickly secure your happily ever after.

This is part 1 of our 3-part mini-series – “Your Guide to Moving Houses In Singapore”, where we guide you through the little things to look out for and prepare in anticipation of the move.

The process of moving houses can be a stressful experience. Whether it is your first BTO or an upgrade from your current housing. Fret not! We got you.

Read on for a checklist of the essentials.

Things To Do Before Moving Into Your New Home

Moving into a new home can be one of the most exciting times of your life.

But hold that thought! Before the move, there are still several things to keep in mind, such as how and what to pack and whom to bring along to help out during the move.

Keep in mind that preparation is the key to success!

 

Making The Change Official

Here in Sunny Singapore, any change of residential address should be reported to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) within 28 days of moving into your new residence.

Getting this out of the way as soon as possible will help to reduce unnecessary stress during the move.

Organise Your Thoughts

Mentally prepare yourself for the move and make a list to avoid being overwhelmed by the series of things to come during the move.

• Determine how you will make the move

Will you be hiring a professional moving service or persuading your friends and family to help with the move? If it is the latter, consider if you require rental vehicles to facilitate the move.

• Declutter the clutter

Make a list of items you will be bringing over to your new home and dispose of those that did not make the list. This saves you the trouble of bringing over the stuff you would dispose of after the move.

• Prepare packing materials for the move

Place an order for the necessary packing materials, such as cardboard boxes for general packing, bubble wraps to cushion fragile items and plastic containers to protect electronics. It is always better to have some extra packing materials lying around than to run out of them during the peak of your packing spree.

• Take Safety Precautions

Secure your valuables. To prevent losing these valuables during the move, arrange to store them safely with family or trusted friends.

Plan ahead for the little ones and your furry family members. Moving day might be difficult for children and pets. Make separate arrangements for them to stay with family or trusted friends during the move and pick them up after the day is over.

• Snap Lots Of Photos

Photos are an excellent way to preserve your precious memory. It also works as a superb way to remind you of which room each piece of furnishing belongs in so you will have an easier time unpacking.

 

Time To Pack Them Up

After much planning and consideration, you are now ready for the next part of the journey.

It is time for action!

• Label & Organise Your Boxes

Before you pack your stuff in the boxes, create a simple colour code for each room in your new home. Label the top of each box with the respective colour-coded sticker for easy organisation in your new home.

Put a fragile sticker on boxes containing items that require extra care and inform the movers know to pay extra attention to these during the move. Include a summary of the content in the box for easy unloading.

Remember to include your name and contact number. If the box gets misplaced during the move, there is still hope of recovering it.

• Safeguarding Important Documents

Gather important documents such as birth certificates, qualification certificates, and passports in one folder. Pass them to a family member or trusted friend along with the other valuables for safekeeping during the move.

This adds a layer of security, as replacing essential documents can be time-consuming and troublesome.

• Pack Essentials Separately

The unpacking process in your new home can take up to weeks. To ensure you have access to everything that you need, we recommend packing essentials separately into three separate categories:

• The Essential Luggage – To survive the unpacking process

Some things to include: Fresh change of clothes for the family, toiletries, any medication, a fresh set of bed sheets and pillow covers, your little one’s treasured stuffed animal, a pack of your pet’s favourite kibbles and their water bowl

• The Essential Day Pack – For personal items

Some things to include: Identity card (IC), wallet and credit/debit cards, phone, portable charger, tissue paper, wet wipes, sanitiser, spare set of keys for both the new and old house, first aid kit, your trusty water bottle.

• The Essential Tool Bag – Tools for the unpacking process

Some things to include: pen knife, masking tape, marker, pen, broom, dustpan, mop, measuring tape .

Remember to keep these on you during the move or bring them to your new home a day before the move to guarantee you can find them when you need them.

• Clear Out Your Fridge and Kitchen Pantry

Start by listing what you own in your fridge and kitchen pantry. After which, create a plan to finish up all the perishables (or you could throw a farewell party in your old house) before the move.

Mark out what you will be bringing over to your new home. For those items which did not make the list, remember the “3Ds” of moving. Either distribute, donate or discard them before moving day.

Preparation In Your New Home

Before the actual moving day, make a trip down to your new home to prepare the necessities.

• Check for Restrictions Which May Affect The Move

Check with the local authorities or your condo’s Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) if any applications are required to facilitate the move. It is crucial to have this checked out before moving day in case of delays due to non-applications.

For example, in condos, you might be required to apply for a special access card for the movers’ vehicles so that they can park in the residents’ lot during the move. Most resident lots are closer to the lift lobby, which makes it more convenient for the movers to bring your items up safely.

• Set Up Your Utilities Account For Your New Home

Nobody wants to end up in a situation where there is no water for flushing or be stuck on a 35 °C afternoon with no access to air conditioning or even a fan.

Remember to sort out the utility arrangement early on to ensure that water and electricity are available on moving day.

• Conduct A Thorough Cleaning Of Your New Home

You might not get another chance to see your new home empty after moving day. Take this opportunity to conduct a thorough cleaning session to eliminate all dust, dirt and grime from the renovations done.

Fun Fact: O’Here offers free 1-on-1 sessions for all new homeowners to help them better understand which cleaning products are suitable for your home’s flooring and fixtures - https://calendly.com/ohere/complimentaryconsultation

O’Here carries a wide range of professional cleaning products imported from the USA and Europe to meet the needs of every household.

• Lay Down Protection

During the move, minimise the chances of damage to your new home. Set up protection wherever necessary:

• Cover the floors with cardboard to prevent scratched flooring
• Wrap door frames with foam padding to prevent accidental damage
• Use corner guard on sharp corners to avoid injuries
• Lay non-slip materials on steps to prevent falls

Awesome! You have come to the end of “Things To Do Before Moving Into Your New Home.”

You are now equipped with the necessary knowledge. Once you have prepared for all these steps before moving into your new home, you are now ready to plan for the actual moving day.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our 3-part mini-series – “Your Guide to Moving Houses In Singapore”, where we guide you through the little things to look out for and prepare for the actual moving day.

Meanwhile, visit O’Here! for your moving essentials!

Exclusive for our readers, use promo code “NEWHOMEOWNERS” to enjoy 8% off your purchase on regular-priced items*.

 

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