The lorry is at the door, the crew carries up the first box and, right then, you discover there’s no power, the entrance key won’t open or the floor is still covered in building dust. Checking your home before the move is an afternoon’s task that avoids plenty of trouble on the busiest day of the relocation.
The idea is simple: when your belongings arrive, the house should be ready to receive them.
What it means to check your home before the move
Checking your home before the move means confirming, a few days before the relocation, that the new place has active utilities, clear access, keys that work and clean, measured spaces to position the furniture. It isn’t a technical inspection, but a practical run-through with the move in mind.
Ideally, do it with some lead time. If something’s wrong, you’ll need room to sort it out before the lorry arrives.
Utilities: the first thing to confirm
Electricity and water are the priority. Without power, some buildings’ lifts won’t run, nor will the fridge or the sockets you need to assemble lamps or charge your phone. Check that the utility connection is set up in your name or that the previous contract stays active until the account is transferred.
Timeframes vary depending on the provider and the state of the installation. Transferring an account with the meter in service is usually sorted in a few days, but if the supply has been disconnected or a new electrical certificate is required, it can take considerably longer. That’s why it’s best to arrange it as soon as you have the keys.
What about the internet connection? It’s not essential for the move, but if you work from home, book the installation well ahead. Technician appointments don’t always line up with your calendar.
Access and keys
Test every key: entrance, flat, letterbox, storage room and garage. It sounds obvious, but a lock that jams or an unprogrammed garage remote can bring the unloading to a halt.
Check what access is like from the street too. Is there room for the lorry to park nearby? Does the lift take large furniture, or is it better to reserve it? If the building has rules about moving hours or lift protection, it’s better to know them beforehand. This information is also useful for the removals company, so share it when you confirm the date.
Cleaning and measurements before the furniture comes in
Cleaning beforehand is far easier with the house empty. Wardrobes, drawers, floors and the kitchen get cleaned in half the time without boxes in the way. If the home is coming out of a refurbishment, let a few days pass for the dust to settle and clean just before the move.
Use the visit to measure the key openings: where the sofa goes, whether the bed fits in the main bedroom or whether the fridge slots into its spot. With a simple floor plan of each room, every piece of furniture will go straight to its place on moving day.
Our advice at Mudanzas Trallero: leave a bag in the new house with toilet paper, soap, light bulbs and a couple of basic tools. They’re small things nobody remembers and that you’ll need within the first hour.
Arrive fully prepared for your move
Checking your home before the move doesn’t take much time, but it completely changes the experience of moving day. Active utilities, tested keys, clear access and measured spaces make the unloading faster and your first night far more peaceful.
At Mudanzas Trallero we plan every move taking both the origin and the destination into account, and the more information you give us about your new home, the better we can organise the arrival.
