Your Park City Moving Guide: Your Move Made Easy

The Park City Moving Guide: Ensuring a Seamless Transition

Congratulations on your accepted offer for a home in Park City! Buying a new home is undeniably exciting, but we understand that the move itself can be quite overwhelming. As experts in the field, we know that moving is a significant undertaking, often bigger than anticipated.

Once your offer has been accepted and the necessary paperwork is submitted to your lender, it's time to commence the packing and planning process for your move. Trust us to guide you through every step, making the transition smooth and hassle-free.

Whether you're relocating within Park City or moving to Park City for the first time, proper planning and organization are crucial to ensure a smooth transition.

In this guide, we’ll share a breakdown of the moving process so that your Park City move is as seamless and stress-free as possible. We’re sharing packing tips, information on how to hire movers, as well as info on how to get settled into your new home.

Here’s what to do:

Prepare and plan for the move
Pack up your stuff
Hire professional movers
Transfer utilities and other services
Manage change of address
Follow moving day tips
Unpack and settle in
Frequently asked questions about moving

Preparing and Planning for the Move

Establish a timeline: Start planning your move as early as possible. Determine your move-out and move-in dates, considering factors such as lease agreements, school schedules, and work commitments.
Schedule repairs: If you need to do any repairs or renovations before moving in, it’s important to contact professionals and get items scheduled.
Create a moving checklist: Make a comprehensive list of tasks to ensure nothing is overlooked. Include items such as notifying utilities, packing, hiring movers, and updating addresses.
Notify necessary parties: Inform your landlord, utility providers, schools, and any relevant institutions about your impending move. Provide them with your new address and schedule disconnection/reconnection dates for utilities.

Packing Up Your Stuff

Plan times to pack: Set times to pack (either a few hours each day or a few days a week). You need time to prep for your new house as well as rest and reflect.
Gather moving supplies: Take stock of what you have– many use duffle bags, suitcases, and bins they already own to minimize the need for buying additional supplies. Once you’ve assessed what you’ve got, stock up on boxes, tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, and markers.

A few moving supply tips:
1. Use Ziploc baggies to organize small items, especially in kitchen and office.
2. Go on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Nextdoor to see if anyone is giving away moving supplies for free (they often are!).
3. Additional moving supplies can be purchased from stores such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Uhaul. Labeling stickers can be found at Amazon. Target and Walmart sell plastic totes.
4. Professional movers often provide supplies, so ask them what they have available.

Declutter and organize: Sort through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Minimizing unnecessary items before the move will save time and effort. Don’t forget items you may have stashed in the attic or garage rafters.
Go one room at a time: Tackle one room at a time, leaving the rooms you use most often toward the end of the packing stage. Packing up a guest room or storage closet is a good place to start. The kitchen is usually saved for last.
Mark your cabinets and label every box: Mark cabinets or closets that have been completed with a note or blue painter's tape so you don’t keep looking in there to check. Clearly label each box with its contents, ensuring fragile items are marked as such. Additionally, color-coding or numbering boxes according to rooms can be helpful.

Hiring Professional Movers

If at all possible, we recommend hiring professional movers. There are so many details going on during the move that you will be much happier if you have movers handling the heavy lifting (literally!).

Research and get recommendations: Seek recommendations from friends, family, or trusted colleagues who have recently moved. Research local moving companies online and read customer reviews to gauge their reliability. Most moving companies have online reviews on Google and Yelp to help you assess.
Contact movers and get quotes: Contact at least three moving companies to compare prices and services. Request an in-person or virtual assessment of your belongings to get accurate estimates.

Ask the following questions to get a sense of whether they’re a good fit for you:
1. Are you licensed and insured?
2. What is your fee structure? Do you do a flat fee or charge by the hour?
3. How accurate are your estimates? Is it common for the actual price to be higher or lower than the quote?
4. Do you require a deposit? If so, how much?
5. Do you provide additional services such as packing or unpacking?
6. When will you arrive on moving day? How does the day typically unfold?
7. What is your cancellation or rescheduling policy?

Read and understand the contract: Carefully review the moving company's terms and conditions. Pay attention to pricing, insurance coverage, liability, and any additional fees or restrictions. At this time, you’ll also want to make sure the moving company is licensed, insured, and bonded.

Transferring Utilities and Other Services

Notify service providers: Contact your utility companies, such as electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable providers, to inform them about your move and schedule disconnection/reconnection dates.
Schedule disconnect and reconnect dates: Arrange for the disconnection of services at your current address and schedule reconnection at your new home to avoid any interruption in essential services.

Managing Change of Address

USPS Change of Address: File a change of address form with the United States Postal Service (USPS) at least two weeks before your move. This will ensure your mail is forwarded to your new address.
Notify banks, credit card companies, and insurance providers: Inform your financial institutions, credit card companies, and insurance providers about your new address. Update your contact information and billing address accordingly.
Update online accounts: Update your address for magazine subscriptions, online shopping accounts, and other services you frequently use. This will prevent any issues with deliveries and correspondence.

Tips for Moving Day

Keep supplies on hand: Keep essential tools like a box cutter, tape, scissors, markers, and cleaning supplies readily available. You may also need protective gloves, a first-aid kit, and basic tools for any last-minute disassembly or repairs.
Bring a personal essentials bag: When you get to the new house, it may be chaotic and difficult to find your essentials. Pack a bag with personal items you'll need on moving day and the first night in your new home. Include toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, medications, and any valuable items you prefer to keep close.
Do a final inspection: Before leaving your old property or receiving the keys to your new home, thoroughly inspect both locations. Note any damages or discrepancies and document them properly.

Ready to Unpack and Settle In

Unpack essential spaces: Begin unpacking by focusing on essential areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen. This will allow you to settle in quickly and maintain a functional living space.
Change the locks: Consider changing the locks or hiring a locksmith to ensure that only you have a key to your new home. The home warranty included when buying your home has a one-time visit fee and they will rekey all locks.
Organize and decorate: Take your time to arrange your belongings in an organized and aesthetically pleasing manner. Start with furniture placement, followed by unpacking and organizing smaller items.
Address repairs: If you notice any maintenance or repair issues in your new home that were not the responsibility of the seller and did not need to be completed before move in, now is the time to resolve them. You can, of course, tackle many yourself. You can also hire a handyman or other professional. Check with your real estate agent for recommendations.
Get to know your new neighborhood: Go on a walk and enjoy your new neighborhood. It’s a good time to try out some nearby restaurants, visit the nearest grocery store, and introduce yourself to your neighbors.

Moving to San Jose: Frequently Asked Questions

When do I give notice to my landlord?
The notice you give to your landlord can vary depending on the terms of your lease agreement. It’s best to review your lease agreement and local tenancy laws to determine the specific notice period required in your situation. In many cases, rental agreements require tenants to give written notice to their landlord a certain number of days in advance before terminating the lease.
Common notice periods are 30 days or 60 days, but this can vary. Additionally, if you're in a month-to-month lease, the notice period is often shorter, such as 30 days. However, if you have a fixed-term lease, you might need to wait until the lease expires or negotiate an early termination agreement with your landlord. It’s crucial to follow the notice requirements outlined in your lease agreement or local rental laws to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any potential legal issues.
When do I make moving plans?
As soon as your offer is accepted and you turn in your loan documents, it’s time to start thinking about your moving plan.
Can I visit the home to measure for furniture or meet contractors for potential work?
You are allowed to visit a property for various purposes, including measuring for furniture or meeting contractors.
How do I set up utilities and who do I call?
You can set up utilities or move them from another residence easily. You can call them or change the address from your online account. The utilities you’ll want to get squared aware are electricity and gas
How far in advance should I start packing?

1. Four to six weeks before the move
Begin packing items that you don't frequently use, such as seasonal clothing, decorations, books, and non-essential kitchenware.

2. Two to three weeks before the move
Pack items that you use less frequently but still need access to, such as additional clothing, extra bedding, and seldom-used kitchen appliances.

3. One week before the move
Pack the majority of your belongings, leaving out only the essentials you'll need during the final days in your current home.

4. A few days before the move:
Pack a suitcase or overnight bag with essential items you'll need immediately upon arriving at your new home, such as toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, and any necessary medications. Of course, these are general guidelines, and you can adjust the timeline based on your specific circumstances. It's always better to start early and gradually pack at a manageable pace rather than leave everything to the last minute. Planning ahead and organizing your belongings can make the moving process smoother and less overwhelming.

What happens on closing day?
Closing day is a celebratory occasion– it’s the final step in the real estate transaction where you officially become a homeowner. This is the day that the home is officially recorded as yours. In Utah, the signing of the final paperwork usually takes place at the title company, and in some cases, could take place remotely. The key participants typically include the buyer, seller, real estate agents, and a representative from the closing agent. In some states, paperwork is signed on closing day. In Utah, it typically happens one or two days before. On settlement day, you’ll pickup keys and related items like garage door openers or mailbox keys and appliance manuals. Welcome to your new home!

Happy Moving!
It’s been a journey to buy a home in Park City and move into your new home. Although the move can be a bit overwhelming, you have the skills and wherewithal to tackle it.