4 Hacks to Successfully Complete Your Home or Business Relocation

Whether you move to a new home or relocate your business, a few details need attention. Manage these four details to complete your move successfully.

1. Meet Your Landlord's Move-Out Expectations

If you renting an apartment, home, or office space, you may be entitled to a security deposit when you vacate the residence or commercial space. On the other hand, you could have extra fees after you move out if you left your rental unit in disrepair.

Most states' security-deposit laws don't allow landlords to retain your deposit for normal wear and tear on your rental unit. However, if you've broken any light fixtures, burned the carpet, or put large holes in the walls, your landlord may dock or keep your security deposit refund entirely to cover your damages.

Read over your rental agreement covering your current unit. Pay close attention to the fine print concerning the move-out condition expected in the rental unit. A business rental may include extra move-out requirements regarding built-in office equipment or communications gear. Go over the details carefully and make a list of move-out tasks you need to do for your move.

Set aside extra time in your relocation schedule to restore your rental unit to clean, repaired condition. You're much more likely to get all of your security deposit back if you leave your rental residence or business in the same condition as when you first rented the unit.

2. Notify Everyone Who Needs to Know Your New Address

Movers and real estate companies often have printed whom-to-notify checklists. Obtain a checklist or make your own list to help you keep track of the officials, businesses, and personal contacts whom you've notified about your new address.

Notify the following entities about your change-of-address:

• Utility providers including power, water, and gas
• Schools and universities attended by household members
• Trash collection services
• Home, auto, and health insurance providers
• Financial institutions including banks, creditors, and investment firms
• Social Security Administration
• Internal Revenue Service
• Phone and internet service providers
• Magazine and newspaper subscription services
• Alumni association and other groups and clubs

Your employer needs your new contact information to send important work-related documents and correspondence to your new home. Notify your human resources department directly about your address change as soon as possible so you have no delays in processing your paychecks.

If you move a business, update your articles of incorporation to show your new business, mailing, and contact addresses. Make your company's registered agent aware of your move as soon as possible so the registered agent can assist in changing addresses on all of your business-related legal documents.

3. Update Your Driver's License and Other Credentials

Most states allow you a short grace period to update your driver's license information after you move to a new address. After that short grace period, you can be issued a citation in some areas if you don't update your license.

As soon as possible after you settle in your new home, head over to the local Department Of Motor Vehicles and have them a new driver's license with your new address. Call ahead to make sure you have all of the documents you need to prove your identity and obtain your license.

If you wear glasses or contacts to drive, be sure to wear them when you go to your driver's license location. You may have to take a new vision test at the new location to receive your new license.

Update the address on the following credentials that apply to you:

• Nursing, medical, and other health care licenses
• Business license
• Beautician license
• CDL license
• Teaching certificate
• Specialty certificates and permits

Update your pet's credentials, too. Make sure your pet is up to date on all shots when you move. Put your new contact info on your pet's collar tag in case your dog or cat runs away in the confusion of the move.

4. Create an Updated Emergency Contact List

If you move far from your old home or business, you can't count on immediate emergency assistance from your old contacts. Update your emergency contact list to include new household members' phone numbers and the local emergency contacts you know in your new area.

For example, if you have family or friends in your new town, they can become your new emergency contacts for situations that arise. When your child is sent home from school early due to weather, your emergency contact can pick up your child for you so you don't miss work or leave your child waiting too long for a pickup. However, you must give your child's school approval to contact your emergency person.

As you meet more people and become involved in your new community, it becomes easier to find trusted people to help you and your family (or business) when trouble occurs. Reach out to your neighbors and your local community to engage with others and learn more about the helpful resources in your new town.

When you plant to relocate to a new home or business in the Pacific Northwest region, contact United Moving & Storage to schedule a full range of moving services you can trust.