Email
Print
After spending the past couple of years living in apartments where utilities, cable, and internet were already setup before I moved in, I seem to have forgotten how much of hassle it can be if you don’t plan ahead for setting these things up. To help you avoid making the same mistakes I’ve made in the past, here are 5 things you should do before moving into a new apartment.
1. Contact the utility company at least a week in advance.
You should do this for two reasons. If the utilities are in your name at your current place, you need to give them a date to stop the utilities at your current residence unless you really like paying for utilities that you’re not using. If the same company handles the utilities at your new place, then you can set that up at the same time. If not, it will be a little more of a hassle as you’ll have to contact multiple companies.
2. Call to get your cable/internet/phone/etc. set up at least a week in advance.
I made the mistake of not doing this for my new place, and I just spent over a week without an internet connection. I didn’t realize that the cable company here required an appointment, and of course, the next available appointment time wasn’t until a week later. Make sure you’re not disconnected by calling at least a week in advance to schedule these appointments.
3. Change your address and get your mail forwarded.
There are two options for getting your mail forwarded. If you’re old school, you can take a trip to your local post office and fill out a Change of Address Form in person. If you enjoy the convenience of technology and don’t mind paying a $1, then you can fill out a Change of Address Form online. Even though this will get most of your important mail forwarded, you still need to remember to change your address on your bank accounts, credit cards, subscriptions, etc.
4. Sell stuff that you don’t need anymore.
Moving is a great time to get rid of stuff. By stuff I mean things you don’t need anymore. If the stuff you have is still in good condition, you can try selling it on craigslist or eBay. If there are already new tenants lined up for your old apartment, you can see if they’re interested in buying some stuff from you. If so, then you don’t even have to pack/move/disassemble/reassemble your stuff, and you get some extra cash.
5. Start packing early.
If there’s any advice that I’m going to give out but never actually follow myself, this is it. I suck at packing early, and I’ve suffered the consequences — staying up all night to finish packing, forgetting where I put things because none of the boxes are labeled, and ending up with backbreaking boxes filled with textbooks. All of these issues could have been easily avoided if I had started packing sooner rather than later. The sooner you start, the more time you have to realize that you’re doing something stupid, like putting 100 pounds of textbooks into a single box that you’ll have to carry up and down stairs.
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
Comments
Editor's Note: Inappropriate comments that are offensive to the author or not in context to the author's post will be removed. For editorial feedback, please contact our Community Manager through his user profile. Click here.
February 12, 2009 9:49 am
Be sure to also notify DMVs and your county treasurer, especially if you're moving States. As simple as it would sound, there isn't apparently a big list of where everyone is located. Additionally, DMVs don't notify each other if you register somewhere new. You could probably be a resident of three states at the same time and that phone call you never made wouldn't come back to haunt you until tax season.
Also, fill out a Social Security change of address form...super easy.
February 12, 2009 11:20 am
Also, line up friends to help you move, and provide suitable bribes, like pizza and drinks for compensation.
Remember, friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies. :)
February 12, 2009 11:54 am
But don't keep asking the same friends for help with every move. That's imposing on them, and it isn't friendly!
February 12, 2009 12:57 pm
@Emily Jasper
The DMV is a good one to add to the list. If you move states, you have to register your car in the new state within a certain timeframe, depending on the state. I had to pay some extra fees because I waited too long.
February 12, 2009 1:07 pm
re: packing books.
the boxes xerox paper comes in are perfect for book. They hold about 35lbs of books, which is perfectly managed and survive cross-country shipping if you go the media mail route
February 12, 2009 1:28 pm
Katenonymous,
That also depends on the frequency of moving and the quality of bribes. :)
I've helped some friends move several times within a year, and they've been gracious enough to provide steak and home brewed root beer in payment for helping each time.
February 12, 2009 1:37 pm
@jrandom42, there are always exceptions!
February 12, 2009 2:41 pm
this is awesome!
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Grad School Zone
GMAT Prep Courses Start This Week!
0 Comments
If you're applying to business school this year, hopefully by now you have a great GMAT score under your belt. If not, there's still time to properly prepare for the exam, get a competitive score, and complete your business school applications this year. But, you'd better start your test preparation now to give yourself enough time. You're in luck. This week we have GMAT prep classes starting all over the world. Whether you're looking for an in-person class, an accelerated or weekend course, online GMAT prep, we've got you covered.
READ MORE0 Comments
