List No. 14: Pre-Move To-Do List

 

Oh boy, I have a list as long as my arm of things I need to do prior to moving in to the new house.

Here goes:

* Cancel phone and internet connections
* Cancel cable services
* Sign up for internet, phone and cable
* Arrange for TV/cable outlet to be installed on 1st floor
* Cancel garbage pick up
* Arrange for weekly garbage pick up
* Get estimates from contractors for bathroom reno + flooring etc
* Go to IKEA to order kitchen and other pieces
* Order Smeg fridge and washer & dryer from tretti.se
* Book house cleaning at current house for day after move
* Book movers
* Arrange for tree pruning
* List some items on blocket.se
* Cancel electricity & heating
* Sign up for household electricity
* Notify authorities of our move
* Have mail forwarded to new address
* Measure and order new awning
* Buy crow bar
* Buy kitty door
* Buy jig saw and drill
* Choose bathroom tiles and fittings
* Attempt to draw bathroom in Google Sketchup
* Buy paint sprayer
* Buy enormous amounts of paint
* Choose flooring for upstairs & kitchen
* Pack everything.
* Buy feline ferromone diffuser refill

This is just the rough list. Most items on there have sub lists such as a zillion of fittings to choose for the bathroom and I dread the IKEA trip because that sub list seems endless... And just about every hour or so I remember more things I need to do. Yikes!
The most stressful part right now is evaluating the contractor's estimates. I connected with all four that came and will have a hard time choosing.

Ps. Sorry I'm late but the internet connection on the train has been super patchy.
Pps. Happy weekend

 

Comments

[Central-Portugal]

That looks like hard work... of the good kind. :))

Enjoy!

[Anne]

Been there so many times. So stressfull - and all those endless to-do-lists. My God! Any help I might offer - just holler! (I haved already marked the weekend of "da move" :))

[Robyn]

Thing is, as soon as you cross something off, something else will need to be added. But you'll get there. We all know how organised you are ;-) And before you know it, you'll be enjoying your new house.

[rashmi]

Moving can be fun and over whelming. Have fun with it!
I know of one thing for your list thats super fun. Google sketch up. I use it all the time. So i can give you some tips
just have this open http://dl.google.com/sketchup/gsu8/docs/en/SketchUp8RefcardMac.pdf
and click away.

start playing with the tools for about half an hour
what you should focus on

1. Drawing shapes using the polygon and lines.
2. using the "push pull" tool.
3. Making and exploding Components.
4. Scaling using the "Scale tool" for scaling and mirroring.
5. Mastering the "Move" , "Rotate" and "Pan" tools helps.
6. Learn to search for the furniture and fittings you will use in your new home in warehouse. Once you learn how to search for what you want , you will just make the floors and the walls. All other thongs like doors windows Awning furniture fixtures soft furnishings etc you will simply download , scale, adjust color and then place in your model.

My suggestion is to start with a plain old box room of 10' X 10' X 10' . create walls etc and practice on that for a few hours before actually starting on your bathroom.

I will try a post a basic how to on my blog. Do let me know if you need any sketch up help

All the best
Rashmi

[Fröken Prickig]

You will do just fine, since you're so organized! Have a nice weekend:)

[Zosia]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you Benita! It is a daunting list but I have faith in you. You are such a great organizer and project manager that I am sure things will get done. Just take your time and breathe in between :-). Remember to relax as well so that you don't burn out.

[Leena]

There is lot to do when moving, but I'm sure you'll remember to do everything. And if not, it's propably not a catastrophe.

[Imke]

Been there - done that! Many times! Twice transatlantic.
No fun! At least not all of it...
I wish you patience, a clear mind and a big chunk of luck!

[Kim]

As someone else said, it's 2 weeks of hell, and then it's over! So true-I've done it twice in 7 months now (we renovated our house). Every possible thing you can fit into a box, do it. Even if you might not keep it once you move-then it's already in a box to give away and you don't have to deal with it right now.

[Malena]

I have a feeling you're in your element - listing and doing and crossing off. I'm sure you'll have a little fun along the way!

[Michelle of Montreal]

This is what I love about reading your blog, seeing all the things on the list that are familiar and then noticing all the things that are unfamiliar.
You need to arrange (and pay for, I assume) your own garbage pickup? Around here, the city takes care of it and the cost comes from property taxes. And second, who are the authorities you have to notify about your move? I've heard about a similar requirements in France and Germany, but wonder if it's the city, "state" or national authorities that need the info.

[jja]

I never move without faliway, it helps a lot! :-).

Is it not posibble to just inform your phone, internet and electricity provider with your new address?

[homestilo]

(I love lists) I think the important thing will be to know that although everything seems like it needs to be done ASAP, it's ok if some things don't get done till later. (of course, kitties would probably want that kitty door at the top of the priority list!)

[Norma]

What do you mean when you say "* Notify authorities of our move"? I'm from USA and we don't have to tell anyone we're moving so I'm curious.

[Carlos]

Thank you! I've tried it before, a few years ago, but I've heard they've improved on it immensly since.

[Carlos]

My friend Anne also told me about boxing everything, even stuff that's boxed already so they're all the same size and then stack them three at a time so the movers can wheel them out like that.

[Carlos]

:)

[Carlos]

Big Brother watches us in Sweden :). We all have a personal number (year, month and date of birth + four random digits)and we can be traced anywhere. We notify national authorities about our move I guess. It means that all official paperm such as tax papers etc arrive to the right address. Also when we order any forms from the tax offices we just let them know our personal number and they'll send it to our address without us typing it in. Same with ordering for instance train tickets if you want to pay them after you receive them they will be sent to the address that's on file based on your personal number.

As for garbage pick-up, yes each home owner in Stockholm pays for that separately but i think there's a base fee that every house needs to pay and then you can decide if you want weekly pick or every second week etc. I think this may vary in other areas though, My mom has a completely different system where she lives, but she still pays for the service via a bill twice a year.

[matchbookhymnal]

Don't you submit a change of address form at the Post Office, and at the DMV? Especially when moving between states, there are definitely appropriate authorities to notify in the US! I found out about notifying the DMV the hard way... apparently I was supposed to get a new license six weeks after moving to a different state. I thought I could just wait until my old license expired. I found out when I got a traffic ticket. Oops!

[Carlos]

The new area has a cable whereas we currently have satellite and with the cable there's internet and in our current house our internet is with our phone company... The electricity system is also different for the row house as opposed to the single family house and I can't bring what I have with me.

[Carlos]

I've replied to a similar question a bit further up in the comments :).

[Lisa Flaherty]

I am curious: Do you make handwritten lists, or organize on the computer? Or is it dependent on the list itself (groceries vs. your pre-move-to-do)? There are so many details to attend to with the move, but I know you will be crossing things off in no time! Good luck!

[Rose]

The actual moving is my least favorite part of moving. But, then you get the fun stuff like decorating (best ever). Take care of yourself during this hectic process!

[Patia]

Like Lisa, I am similarly interested in where you make your lists. And I'm reading all your moving posts with interest in case I end up moving, too.

[Lornna Olson]

Thank you for this list! I am about to list my home -in 8 weeks-so this list will be very handy-once it sells and hopefully once we find something else!!

[kristin jo]

Hi Benita,
What is a feline ferromone diffuser and what does it do?

Hello to Mini and Bonus from Ella and Luna (my torties). Actually it would probably be more like "hissss!grrrrr!"

Good luck with the list!

[Anne]

"I haved"?! Again... My God.

[Maggie]

Yes, I am interested too in how the ferromone diffuser works, and where you make your lists. Good luck with it all.

[r8chel]

I LOVE to do lists, but I find that they can be deceiving. Everything is given equal real estate on the list, but in reality, some jobs are SO much bigger than others -- for example, buying a crow bar vs. packing everything. :) Good luck with it all!

[Movers Packers Kolkata]

Can you send me some info regarding about this topic.

[Noga]

I wish you good luck with the moving! It is a lot of work, but the good news are that it ends. I've noticed that you are going to buy paint sprayer. Could you recommend the one you choose (after you did choose..)?
Thank you, and wish you the best!

[Carlos]

I've heard good things about the Bosch PSF 65 so it's the one I'm thinking of getting.

[Carlos]

It's a liquid thing with a plug attachment which you plug into an electrical socket and it gives off feline ferromones (nice comforting scents)which calms cats down if they are feeling uneasy. We used it for Bonus after Mini had her accident and he thought she and her meds and bandages smelled funny. It made him (and her too) more mellow.

[Carlos]

Copy & Paste :) It's a liquid thing with a plug attachment which you plug into an electrical socket and it gives off feline ferromones (nice comforting scents)which calms cats down if they are feeling uneasy. We used it for Bonus after Mini had her accident and he thought she and her meds and bandages smelled funny. It made him (and her too) more mellow.

[Carlos]

I keep hadwritten lists for the move, they're all in a notebook with a page or two for each one such as one for things to choose for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, one for the balcony etc. I prefer to keep it in a notebook this time because that way I can always carry it with me in my bag and jot down things as I remember them, at home, at work, on the subway or in a store.

[Carlos]

Copy & paste :) I keep hadwritten lists for the move, they're all in a notebook with a page or two for each one such as one for things to choose for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, one for the balcony etc. I prefer to keep it in a notebook this time because that way I can always carry it with me in my bag and jot down things as I remember them, at home, at work, on the subway or in a store.

[Carlos]

Copy & paste :) I keep hadwritten lists for the move, they're all in a notebook with a page or two for each one such as one for things to choose for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, one for the balcony etc. I prefer to keep it in a notebook this time because that way I can always carry it with me in my bag and jot down things as I remember them, at home, at work, on the subway or in a store.

[Noga from Israel]

Thank you! By the way, you may like those great tips about this tool from Heather Bailey:
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/

[Carlos]

Thanks, I'll look into that!

[elsa]

Moving can be exhausting, there are so many things to do, think about and pack!
I've done it so many times ~ my recent move was from Southern California to Portland, OR ~ best move I've ever done!
Congratulations on selling your house and buying the new home, looking forward to seeing what you do with the new home!

[Judith]

More power to you! Hope the crossed-off stuff on the list soon outnumbers the rest. And...this list item makes you sound like one tough broad: "Buy crow bar" :) It conjures up an image of you standing Schwarzenegger-like in the doorway of the new place, holding the crow bar and ready to do some damage.

[metscan]

I hope you will accept all extra help offered, especially for the hard work, carrying, etc. Moving is one of the greatest stress moments in one´s life. A divorce is another. Please take care of yourself.

[norma]

Thank you. Missed that. n

[norma]

matchbookhymnal:
I guess I don't view submitting a change of address as "notifying the authorities". Its just something I do so my mail will get to me. Same with getting a new license when we moved to Oregon. Its just something I did because I was living in a new state.

The way Benita was saying it, made it seem like she had to report to the government and changing places wasn't allowed without notifying them. I was just curious. Thanks!!

[kristin jo]

Thanks Benita for the info on the ferromone thing! I'll check it out.

[Tracy]

Hi Benita, I'm actually curious about how many notebooks u carry with u? there's one for The Lists; how about for other stuff like appointments/ schedules and yr sub lists?? how do u keep all that organised if it's all on physical paper?

[Carlos]

I only have a calendar in my bag at all times. I keep a few lists on my iPhone, like stuff to buy but not urgently with some measurements etc. My grocery list I keep on the kitchen counter and tear it off the pad the day I'll go grocery shopping. At the moment I don't have a written to-do list because I have the next few projects in my head. I do have a list in a post from sometime in February I think and you just reminded me that I should go and tick some stuff off there :)