Fundamentals of Moving to New Zealand

The Most Appropriate Time To Move

The Right Things To Move

The Right Way To Move

Preparing For The Move

Preparing Before You Move

• Dispose the items you do not need. You can arrange a Garage Sale and sale off the items you don’t need.
• If you do not want a Garage Sale, then you should donate them.
• Clean your belongings before you move.
• Keep the organizing tools in easily accessible distance. You can use them to assemble bed and other furniture.
• List all your Friends, Relatives, Business Firms, Doctors and others who need to visit you daily.
• Donate all the books that are not required.
• If you are not moving with your plants donate them in Hospitals, Parks or Gardens.
• Try to use Canned Foods and Frozen Food and other household goods before you move.
• Do not shop and buy a lot of things. This can prove to be a problem during your move.
• If you are not ready for a Garage Sale, donate your old clothes and blankets and obtain a Tax Deductible Certificate, if possible.
• Prepare your family for the move.
• If you are moving with your pet, make sure that the place you are moving to allows them.
• Go to a veterinarian and get all the certificates for its vaccinations.

Arranging For Finance

• Make arrangements for Direct Debit and Billing Links to your Bank Account to handle any emergency changes.
• Budget wisely about the items that you will need in your new home.
• Before closing your old accounts, try to open a new account and then transfer your funds.
• Keep a detailed record of the moving expenses. Some may help you in tax deductions.

Change of Address

• Do not forget to notify the post office about your move. Also provide the post office with your new postal address. You can also do this online.
• It is also important to send companies with a forwarding address where they can send your documents. Otherwise, don’t be surprised with late fees and credit circumstances.
• It is also important to teach your children the changed address and phone number.

The Small Things

• Check with the dry cleaner if you need to collect anything.
• Keep aside the keys that you need to handover to the new owner of the home.
• Return all library books, videos and other things that you have borrowed from your friends and neighbors.
• Make sure that you all get all the items that were taken from you.

Utilities

• A very important part of your move is the disconnection and reconnection of the utilities. Consider the following while doing it:
• Learn all about the disconnection rules by calling somebody from a utility company or simply by visiting their website.
• If you decide to call a company for your disconnection and reconnection, contact them at least two weeks before.
• If there are any unsettle bills settle them before you move.
• Recover all funds and deposits, if you have any.
• In case you are moving across the town you will be able to transfer your services to your new home.
• But when you are moving long distance, you must hire a moving that may or may not charge the set up fee.
• Water and sewage can be arranged directly through contacting your town or city department. The garbage pick ups and recycling can also be done in the same way.
• Get your phone disconnected on the day before you move. You must disconnect it before the movers arrive.
• Do not forget to check that all the utilities are working even the day after you move.

Preparation For Your Journey

• If you decide to drive to your new home, do not forget to check your car; just to ensure that it doesn’t breakdown in the middle of your way.
• Pack a First Aid Box for you and also for your family that must contain things like: Bug Spray, Bandages, Sunburn Spray, Tissue and other medications for you and your family.
• If you need to fly to your new destination, check the Flight schedule and be sure to determine the time required to retrieve luggage and travel from the airport.

The Moving Day

• Finally, on the moving day, be prepared for a hectic day, where you will need to do a lot of work and also need to remember a lot of things. This is the most crucial time in your whole move. But when you are moving, there are certain things that should be followed:
• You should be present during the move. This is something really important.
• You should be present throughout the process, when the Removal Companies arrive, when the Truck leaves the home. If you can not remain present throughout, you must arrange for somebody who will do it for you.
• Supervise the mover’s work and accompany the crew when they are filling the inventory form.
• Consider your neighbors. You are moving and not your neighbors. So do not move too early or too late. This can disturb your neighbors.
• Make sure that while moving you do not block the sidewalks or drive walks of your neighbor. Do not walk through the lawn or flowerbeds of your neighbors.
• Remember to clean all the debris before you move.

Spinning Papers

Finalize The Pick Up

• Read the inventory sheet and ask the foreman to explain you anything that you won’t understand.
• Take a second walk round your compound to see that everything listed has been loaded in the truck.
• If you are moving for long distance, then your truck may be sharing with that of other households. So in case, the movers say that you need to store your belongings, check whether their warehouse has enough security, cleanliness and is organized.
• Do not forget to give your telephone number and e-mail address to the foreman, so that you can keep in contact in case of long distance move.

Take care of the Movers

Leaving Home

After The Move

• Once you arrive in your new home, you just cannot expect to settle down instantly.
• You obviously need some time. So don’t rush and take your own time to settle in the new home.
• Do not start unpacking as soon as you arrive.
• The first thing is to check that everything has been unloaded.
• On the first day, you cannot expect to enjoy your new home. Don’t be disheartened if you cannot adjust with your home for the first few days. Remember, that all homes are suited to the taste and lifestyle of its dwellers over the time.
• Take a walk round your new neighborhood. Introduce yourself to the new neighbors.
• Plan to order take-out food and eat out as you may be very tired with the moving and may be most of your things wouldn’t be unpacked still. Check the nearby restaurants and take-out sports.

Unpacking

• After you have moved, it’s good if you leave all electrical appliances to return to room temperature before you plug in.
• Flatten all your moving boxes for recycling. Many removal companies pick them up after the move.