When moving out of your old home, make sure you've done everything you need to do before you say goodbye. In all the moving mayhem, it's easy to forget some essential tasks.
- Check each room. Do another walk through all the rooms, checking the closets, the drawers, the cupboards, the garage and the attic to make sure you haven't left anything (or anyone!) behind. In our rush to pack and move, it's easy to forget to pack the bathroom drawer or that storage space above the stove. Take your time and check every inch no matter how much time it takes.
- Make sure the house is secure. That means checking that all windows and doors are closed and locked, including the basement and garage. This can be done in combination with checking each room. Even better, is for one person to check the spaces for things forgotten while another person checks the windows and doors.
- Check the thermostat. Depending on the time of year, make sure the temperature of the house is set so that it won't freeze in winter or be roasting in the summer. Similarly, you also don't want the new owners to receive an extremely high heating bill in the middle of July because you accidentally left the heat on.
- Remove and dispose of all garbage. I once had a landlord forget to clean out the refrigerator and by the time I moved in, the place smelled of rotten food. Be sure to remove garbage and/or any items that you didn't want to pack.
- Leave all keys behind. Make sure you've collected all the keys from every household member then leave them on the kitchen counter for the new home owners. Remember to also leave the garage door opener, too.
- Leave a note. I always appreciate when a former home owner leaves me a welcoming note with any last minute instructions that they think I might need, such as how to jiggle the back door lock so it opens, or when the next garbage day is.
