Moving sucks. There’s really no way around that. Moving is one of the most significant pain points for new tenants and property managers within the multifamily housing industry. Empower your tenants by providing them with SnapInspect’s ultimate multifamily moving guide. Providing your tenants with a positive move-in experience has been proven to increase tenant retention by up to 80%.

SnapInspect has created a 2018 multifamily moving guide to help our readers guide their tenants smoothly through the move-in or out phase.

Before Moving Day

Book a moving company the second you know the moving date. The sooner you book, the cheaper it will be with no added late booking fees, etc. If you don’t have the budget to hire a moving company, you can always look at hiring a rental truck and trailer.

Call your insurance company and cover your belongings while in transit for the planned move.

Compile a list of all your belongings and plan which ones you can box before move day.

Make 3 piles:

1.) Sell

2.) Donate

3.) Toss

It’s self-explanatory; moving gives you the perfect time to downsize and cut out all the unnecessary things you may be holding on to.

Be strategic in which items you box up together, especially if you are covering the move yourself. Certain items mixed could cause damage to each other

Label each box’s contents and which area of the house it will be in. E.g., Kitchen cutlery, garage carwash tools. This will save you hours during the unpack phase.

👉 **Protip: If you are using a moving company, make sure you label all fragile boxes extensively.

Update Your Details Before Moving

• Tell your bank, solicitor, school, workplace, and doctor.

• Update every service with your new address, including gym and dentist.

• Book a cleaner for move-out, or clean once everything is boxed.

• Record final gas, power, and water readings.

• Notify phone and internet providers to set up at your new home.

• Cancel or transfer cable, magazines, and other subscriptions.

On Moving day

Compile an inventory of all your belongings. If you are using a moving company, chances are they will have one too. Make sure your lists match on the move-out and move-in day.

Pets? Make sure you have organized someone to look after them while you are moving. This will help lower your furry friend’s stress level involved with the move.

At your old property, turn off the lights, hot water supply, gas, electricity switchboard, and lock all doors and windows.

Clean your new place thoroughly. Take the time to sweep every inch of your new home before you start storing your personal items away.

Unpack the essentials first. Naturally, everyone has those few items that they can’t live without. Unpack those items first to help you ease into your new place.

Check your smoke alarms. Make sure there are enough alarms in your home to adhere to your insurance policy.

Property Managers will typically use platforms like SnapInspect’s multifamily inspection software to make to record photos, track issues, and share unit findings with tenants or property owners.

Things to ask your property manager on the move-in day

Where is the fuse box?
Where are the gas and electricity meters?
What are the rubbish and recycling collection days?
Best contact number for maintenance repairs?
Is there a building or homeowner association we are now a part of?

Make an effort to get to know your property manager and build a relationship. Having a good relationship with your property manager will only make your time in your new place easier. As you can see from our guide, the more preparation you do, the smoother your move-in day will be.

The key is finding out your move-in and out dates as soon as possible; from there, you can coordinate the move with different friends, family, and vendors.