Moving for many is an exciting yet simultaneously tedious process. But, how far in advance you plan your move determines how smooth the process will be. Even with movers booked to help ship your stuff from your old place to the new house, one constantly worries about things that could go wrong.

Whether you’re moving down the street or miles away, from a tiny apartment to an enormous bungalow, moving doesn’t have to be a dreadful endeavor but rather an adventurous one full of exciting discoveries.

Is your moving date growing closer? Below is a detailed guide to moving in 5 months.

Have a Well Drilled

Drilling a well isn’t the first thing you’d consider overseeing when moving to a new place, but it might be one of the wisest decisions for a new homeowner. If you’re moving to an area outside the public water system network, drilling a well means you’ll have an unlimited supply of clean water for consumption and daily use.

Whether you’re building a new home or moving to an existing home, drilling a well might seem costly. However, it adds immense value to your property and eliminates the inconvenience of living without a constant/reliable water supply.

Work with a licensed water well contractor to determine the best location to drill the well and get details on estimated costs. A few considerations you may have to go through before the drilling process include the following:

• Do you need commercial drilling with the intent to supply water to the nearby residences?
• How many people will live in your household, and will the well water be adequate?
• Will this be the same water source for lawn irrigation, car washing, swimming pool, etc.?
• What is the best location to drill the well on the property?

Hiring a well-drilling expert helps set things into perspective and enables you to make the best decisions when establishing this semi-permanent water source. If you’re moving in 5 months, consider installing a home water softener, especially when you intend to use the well water for consumption and domestic use. Water softeners help eliminate minerals like magnesium and calcium from drinking water.

Inspect Your Septic Tank

A septic tank inspection is an essential task that many overlook when buying or moving to a new home. As a prospective property owner, hire a septic tank inspector to help procure a thorough investigation regarding the state of the septic system in your soon-to-be home.

There are two types of septic inspections including:

A Visual Septic Tank Inspection

The septic tank inspector starts by flushing the toilets and running taps to determine whether or not the draining system is in good condition and the water pressure is adequate. A visual inspection reveals details such as how often the previous owners pumped the septic system, how old the home is, and when the last assessment was procured.

A Full Septic Tank Inspection

A full inspection is a rather lengthy process that aims to add to a visual inspection. Experts recommend doing a full septic tank inspection at least once every three to five years. The septic inspector removes the septic tank cap to monitor water levels to determine the viability of the drainage system. Part of the inspection involves doing a dye test which entails adding dye to tap and toilet water and then flushing the water to determine how much goes through drainage and into the septic tank.

During a full inspection, the inspector will pump the tank checking for irregularities like backflow. The amount of backflow informs the inspector whether or not the septic system is working correctly and reveals the presence or absence of blockages.

If you’re moving in five months or sooner, a septic tank inspection is imperative as it can impact your health and that of other loved ones who share your space. Before moving, consider installing new septic installations on stand-alone properties with defective or old septic systems.

Find a Dentist

Oral health takes a back burner when you’re busy packing and orchestrating your upcoming move. But of importance is ensuring you find a dentist to ensure a seamless transition from your usual dentist to the family dentistry center at your new place.

Finding a dentist is no easy feat. But to narrow it down to the best dentist, get recommendations from coworkers, family, and friends. Feel free to ask for more suggestions from your current dentist, family doctor, or pharmacist.

Aim to visit at least three dentist offices to uncover essential details like:

• How far the dentist center is from your work or new home
• Opening and closing office hours
• Their policies on missed appointments
• Whether or not the dentist has the proper credentials
• How flexible they are, especially during emergencies that occur outside of office hours

Find a Doctor and Vet

If you’re a pet owner, ensure that if you’re moving in 5 months, you find a reliable doctor and vet near your new place. There’s nothing as crippling as not knowing where to go or who to call when an accident happens, or you and your pet have a medical emergency. Find a doctor or a vet clinic that’s easily accessible. A quick online search will reveal the best vet and doctor if you don’t know anyone in your new neighborhood.

A few factors to consider in your quest to find a good doctor and vet include:

• How clean and well organized the hospital or vet clinic is
• The variety of services they offer
• Opening and closing hours
• Whether or not they have the necessary certifications to offer medical or veterinary services

Finding a doctor and a vet before moving leaves your mind at ease and facilitates a seamless switch from your old healthcare provider to your new one.

Hire an Estate Attorney

An estate attorney is a licensed professional who executes a property owner’s will or last wishes. They have a deep understanding of state and federal laws regarding the taxation, valuation, transfer, and dispersion of the estate after the passing of the owner. Most may shy away from hiring an estate attorney as they want to focus on the exciting part of moving in 5 months. However, if you’re building or buying a new house, an estate lawyer comes in handy as they can offer valuable advice regarding issues like:

• The drafting of a will
• Ways to avoid probate court
• The designation of beneficiaries
• How to set up trusts to protect assets while you’re alive and after death
• How to avoid or reduce estate tax
• Guides you on viable ways to establish the power of attorney

Working with a licensed estate attorney means you have someone on your side who’s knowledgeable about state laws regarding estate planning and can help create a legally enforceable will. These professionals can stand in during disputes to act on your behalf and ensure your will is carried out to the letter.

Find a Daycare

When moving to a new place with small kids, finding a daycare center is vital when you need a reliable place to leave your kids. Remember, this is a new location where you probably know no one. Even when you know a few people, they’re probably busy or unfit to watch your kids. Therefore, finding a daycare center is ideal for parents who need professionals who can watch their kids as they try to fit into a new routine at the new home.

Early years are vital in a child’s brain development. You want to find a daycare center that doubles as an early learning center where your kids can learn social skills and figure out how to monitor their emotions. Aim to find a high-quality daycare center with the credentials and vast experience in child nurturing and development.

Here are some ideas for finding a high-quality daycare that meets your highest expectations.

• Ask for recommendations from other parents, family, or neighbors in the area with young kids.
• Do thorough research regarding daycare regulations, especially when moving to a new state.
• Find out average daycare fees and determine whether fits your budget.
• Avoid considering convenience at the expense of value and quality daycare services, especially if the daycare center is close to work or home.
• Prioritize your child’s health, comfort, and safety when looking for the right daycare center.

Check Your Roofing

The state of the roofing in your new home speaks volumes about how much you may have to chuck in maintenance and repair costs. If you’re moving to a freshly built house, the roofing requires little attention or inspection. However, a roof inspection is ideal if you’re moving to a home that has been there for some years.

Your new home’s roof determines the property’s current value and informs you of its performance. Roofs are subject to degradation due to various weather and external factors. However, with regular maintenance, a roof can last decades and remain sturdy, needing minor repairs here and there. Hire an inspector to isolate issues on your roof if you’re moving in 5 months. Common warning signs of a compromised roof that the inspector may find include:

• Many missing shingles
• There are many loose, dry, blistering, or curling shingles
• The roof appears to be sagging
• The flashing is damaged or missing in isolated areas
• The presence of dirty or discolored spots on the roof
• Proof of water damage inside the attic space or ceiling inside the home
• There are several exposed nail heads in various areas on your roof

Avoid doing a DIY roof inspection to save money or assuming you can identify irregularities without professional help. A roof inspector can see anomalies in metal roofing without much effort and can recommend viable repair or renovation advice to maintain your roof’s integrity.

Clean Your Pool

Everyone is happy to move into a home with a pool, but few want to think about the responsibility of maintaining it. There’s no sugar-coating it. Pool ownership can be super tedious, especially when it comes to cleaning. Failure to clean your pool regularly sets you up for disaster as muck fills the pool water, ridding you of the fun of swimming on those sweltering summer afternoons.

Before moving in 5 months, hire a pool service professional or handle pool inspection and cleaning responsibilities yourself. Below are specific step-by-step instructions to cover during pool cleaning.

• Observe the pool area:

The goal here is to look for visible irregularities in/around the pool and listen for unusual noises from the pool equipment.

• Start by cleaning the pump basket and filter

: This multi-step process aims to clean out accumulated debris from the filters to facilitate better service in the future.

• Get to scrubbing

: Scrub the waterline tiles to remove dirt, algae, and grout using a tile brush and pool detergent. Brush the tiles above and underwater from the shallow to the deep end.

• Remove floating debris

: Use your nets to skim and remove leaves, twigs, dead insects, and other debris floating on the pool water’s surface.

• Vacuum

: Much like vacuuming a carpet, vacuuming a pool aims to clean out dirt and debris from the pool floor.

• Adjust pool circulation

: Follow your user manual to adjust backwashing, otherwise known as pool circulation, correctly.

• Add Chemicals:

Add chlorine tablets to adjust pH levels and keep your pool clean.

Contact a pool service expert if you need professional help cleaning and maintaining your pool.

Clean Your Garage

The garage is often cluttered, making it near impossible to find anything, let alone maximize the space. The same way you plan to organize and declutter your wardrobe is how you must schedule time to clean and organize your garage. Before or after moving, cleaning your garage makes it easy to find stuff stored therein. Plus, it’s nice when everything looks neat.

Here are crucial steps to follow when cleaning your garage:

• Empty the garage: Putting everything out in your driveway allows for sorting and discarding unwanted stuff before moving it back into the garage. This step also facilitates thorough cleaning and repairs.

• Make the necessary repairs: When the garage is empty, consider repainting, switching the bulbs, chalking the window seals, tuning the garage door, and repairing drywall damage, among other needed repairs. Hire experienced garage floor coating contractors to give your otherwise dilapidated garage a new lease of life.

• Scrub and clean: Garage cleaning entails washing all the surfaces, including walls, shelves, ceiling, and floors starting from the top and ending with the bottom. Use equal vinegar and water to rinse the surfaces, leaving the space smelling fresh and looking clean.

• Discard excess items: As you wait for the garage to dry up, sort your stuff into separate labeled boxes, including toy boxes, sports boxes, lawn toolboxes, and winter gearboxes. Set aside another box for items you’d like to give away, donate, or discard.

A Guide to Moving in 5 Months: Bottom Line

Are you moving in 5 months? It may seem like you have plenty of time, but with the stressors and challenges that come with switching places, it’s barely enough time. For a smooth, stress-free move, above is a comprehensive guide to moving in 5 months.