Organizing – TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

May 9, 2022 Movers Who Blog Moving, Organizing

Top 7 things to keep in mind during the busy moving season

May is national moving month and as you might imagine, it’s a busy time for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK!

Our franchises all across the country are ready to move customers during the summer months as more and more houses are listed and selling quickly. According to MovingLabor.com, 80% of all moves in the United States happen between the months of April and September. That’s a lot of moving!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise teams are built, trucks and professional moving equipment ready, and even more services are offered now to meet all moving needs from our customers. If you have a move coming up this summer, it’s never too early to start thinking and planning ahead!

It’s no secret that planning, proper packing, and organization will go a long way in helping to eliminate the stress involved with home moving. It’s much easier said than done but with the right mindset and a little expert advice, you can get yourself mentally ready for the big day.

Use our expert moving tips

We’ve moved now for more than 35 years! If you’re looking for some of the best moving tips available, try using a few from the moving professionals themselves – our frontline team members. You can see their best tips, here.

Proper packing

It can’t be stressed enough how important packing is to a successful move. If you pack correctly and give yourself time to chip away at it, the moving process will be that much easier.

Use this in-depth packing guide to show you the proper away to tackle packing for your move, and learn what packing supplies you’ll need to keep your belongings safe and protected throughout the entire process.

Money saving tips

Who doesn’t want to save a little money? This important information and helpful tips will help you save on your next home move.

Know what movers can and can’t move

While we do our best to accommodate all of your moving needs, there are some items moving companies can’t move. It’s important to know what these items are so you don’t find yourself scrambling on moving day. We’ve put together a list, here.

Build a moving checklist

Another major factor in a successful moving day is utilizing a moving checklist. Don’t worry about creating one on your own – we’ve built one for you.

If you’re looking for an even more in-depth moving checklist available on your phone, try movetrac – our free, online moving resource.

Specialty moving services

Not every moving need is for a home or business move – sometimes you just need something moved around your home, a truck unloaded, junk removal, or more. Thankfully, we can help you there, too! TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offers a variety of specialty moving services for those who just need some help with the heavy lifting. Learn more, here.

Moving with kids and pets

You might not think of it, but kids and pets can also become a big part of the moving process as you work to keep them happy and involved. We’ve put together helpful tips for moving with pets and moving with kids.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

April 11, 2022 Movers Who Blog Organizing

Cut down on last minute moving tasks by utilizing a moving checklist

You might have heard by now, but we’d like to think of ourselves as the “experts” when it comes to everything home moving.

Throughout our nearly 40 years of moving homes and businesses, we’ve seen what works – and what doesn’t work – since we began moving back in the 1980s. Throughout that time, we’ve come up with a few tips and tricks to make the moving process a bit easier on everyone.

While people tend to ask what our best tips are, there can be numerous answers to this question. One thing we always point to: a moving checklist.

Moving checklists are essential to organization with a home move, and organization goes a long way in ensuring you stay on track with your tasks, while helping to ease some of the pressure that comes with moving day. With a moving checklist, you’ll have the ability to track your progress in real time and get an idea of where you are in the moving process to get a better idea of what still needs to be done before the big day.

As moving day approaches, we recommend beginning at about a month out and slowly chipping away at the process so you don’t get overwhelmed. From buying and closing on a new home to packing up your belongings, hiring professional movers, changing the address on your utilities and bills, and much more – there’s a lot to be done, and a moving checklist helps you keep everything in order.

We’ve built our own moving checklist for you to get started with based on things we’ve seen over the years. We would also recommend taking a look at movetrac, a free moving resource we created for those who want a comprehensive app with resources and checklists all with the click of a button.

One month before your move

Contact, schedule, and hire a mover as soon as you know you are planning to complete a home move to ensure you get the moving day you want.
Begin the cleaning of various areas of your home – closets, attics, garage, etc.
Begin changing your local address where necessary in areas like mailing, insurance, school records, and so on.
Purchase moving boxes and packing supplies to help get things rolling on your move – local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise locations offer a wide-variety of moving and packing supplies to fit all of your moving needs.

1-2 weeks before moving day

Start canceling anything that is tied to what will soon be your past home address – Internet, cable, newspapers, or any labor services you receive around your home.
Call all of your local utility companies and be sure they know the exact day to stop charging your old home address for services.
Start the packing process and go room by room so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Be sure to properly label and organize boxes so you know where everything is on moving day.

The week of moving day

Finish up any last-minute cleaning around your home and ensure everything is set for when you officially move out.
Continue working on packing all of your belongings, working to have all belongings packed and ready to go before moving day arrives. For items you no longer need, donate them to a charitable cause or sell them, if possible.
Make transportation plans for the day of the move so you know how you’re getting to the new place. If you have kids or pets, develop a plan that fits their needs, too, and figure out where they will be while the move is taking place.

The day before moving day

Get in contact with your moving company to double-check that everything is set in stone for the ensuing moving day. If you’re moving with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we will send a pre-move email solidifying all important details of your move.
Ensure all breakable items have been removed from dresser drawers and packed away.
Take out some cash to hold you over during the moving process. This might come in handy if you need to get some pizza or snacks during the day!
Complete any final cleanings of your home and appliances.

Moving day

Pack an essentials bag for items you can access immediately when arriving at your new home. This can include anything from chargers to toothbrushes, quick snacks, etc.
Make sure there is a clear moving path inside and outside of your home for movers to navigate.
Be sure you are at the home when the professional movers arrive so that you are accessible should they have any questions or concerns.
Once the movers have loaded everything onto the moving truck, do one final walkthrough of the home and make sure nothing was left behind. Last but not least – go say goodbye to your neighbors!

If you want more information on moving checklists, click here. If you are interested in hiring TWO MEN AND A TRUCK for your next home move, click here!

January 24, 2022February 14, 2022 Movers Who Blog Downsizing, Moving, Organizing

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s specialty services provide alternative moving options for customers

When customers see our trucks driving around their communities all over the country, the first thing they generally think of is home moving – and rightfully so.

We’ve made our name in the home moving industry by helping customers move to their next destination since the mid-1980s, but did you know TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offers more than just home moving services? We offer a wide variety of specialty moving options, too.

We know there are times when you might need help with the heavy lifting, but aren’t exactly moving your entire home. That’s why we’ve worked hard over the years to expand our service options to fit the many moving and storage needs out there.

Junk Removal

One of our newest services is junk removal and we’re thrilled to assist customers with the removal and disposal of items they no longer want or need. Using professionally trained movers and specialized junk removal trucks – separate from our standard moving trucks – we can help you get rid of whatever belongings might be accumulating in your garage, attic, or basement. This service can be utilized for both home and businesses and can be booked separately or as part of a move.

For availability or to see if this is offered in your area, click here.

Business Moving and Storage

Not only can we move customers from one home to the next – we can move entire businesses, too! If you’re looking to relocate your office or if you need to move items already within your office, we’re ready to help.

We understand the importance of having limited interruptions to your operation, and that’s why we work diligently with you to schedule around busy times so we can create as little distractions as possible.

Load and Unloading

Sometimes, you just need the muscle and moving help, not the moving truck. Don’t worry, we can help there as well.

If you have rented a moving truck but don’t want to actually load up or unload your items, you can call one of our professional moving teams to come out and do all the heavy lifting for you. We’ll move as little or as much as you need!

Pickup and Delivery

The excitement of making a large purchase such as a piece of furniture or a new appliance can quickly fade away when you start thinking about how you’ll get that item home.

Thankfully, we can help with the delivery of large items! Using our moving teams and equipment, we’ll pick up whatever item you have purchased and deliver it right to your home or business, and we’ll even move it inside where you need it, too.

From items like new washers or dryers to refrigerators, exercise equipment, tanning beds, and more – we’ve got you covered.

In-Home Moving and Heavy Item Lifting

Much like our loading and unloading services, sometimes you just need moving help and heavy lifters.

You can call our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK teams to help with the moving of items within your home to save yourself the hassle of doing this heavy lifting yourself. This could cover anything from moving a piece of furniture up or down stairs or into another room, or just rearranging a room.We can handle items like pianos, gun safes, furniture, and much more.

Please note: With each TWO MEN AND A TRUCK location being independently owned and operated, specialty moving services can sometimes be limited to select franchises. Please use our franchise locator link to find the location closest to you and see if they offer these types of services.

December 6, 2021 Movers Who Blog Organizing, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Use TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s delivery service option to get prepared for the holidays

Movers carrying wrapped couch through doorway

We’re full on into the holiday season, which can be a fun and exciting time for many as you celebrate with friends and family, while even getting a few new gifts!

While many people go all out with their gift giving, others may end up taking advantage of the good deals and purchasing items for themselves. Many items like a new appliance, TV, or exercise equipment end up being too large to haul home and that’s where we come in!

Getting it moved around in your home or business is one thing, but getting it from the store to your home is another; both scenarios are difficult. Thankfully, our teams at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK are able to lend a helping hand!

While we’re known for our expert home moving services, our service options extend far beyond that. Using our professionally trained moving teams and moving trucks, we can transport these large items from the store where they were purchased all the way to your home, and then do the heavy lifting of getting it inside.

This saves you the trouble of doing worrying about the transportation and lifting yourself and lets you focus on the brighter side of the holidays like time spent with loved ones. It sounds like a win-win to us!

Like any TWO MEN AND A TRUCK service option, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing professionals are handling your belongings with the highest levels of care and training from start to finish throughout the process, ensuring the safety and protection of your items.

All of our movers and drivers undergo extensive training before ever going out on a move, and they’re also background checked and drug screened prior to being hired. We’ll work with you each step of the way to make sure you’re happy with the process of getting your item delivered and moved in. Also – with the current COVID-19 pandemic, our movers are taking extra precautions when it comes to safety, which you can learn about here.

Don’t just take our word for it – hear it from our very own customers!

“I needed an appliance picked up from Lowe’s since they would not deliver the item. The team met me at the store at the time promised, delivered, and set up the fridge. It was more work than we expected, involving removing the doors. But the men were positive, and more than willing to help complete the job. It took longer than expected (so cost more), but it saved me lots of aggravation doing it myself or pulling my husband away from his job to work on it. It was well worth it!” – Maria

“I recently moved from Franklin to Pennsylvania. I purchased my furniture here in Brentwood. Because I purchased the furniture that was on the sale/floor models, I had to care of delivery on my own. My real estate agent recommended TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. I’m very glad he did. I was able to get everything delivered the very next day. The men who moved everything were courteous and professionally and fast! I would highly recommend them.” – Jim

To learn more about how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s pickup and delivery service option can be useful for you, click here!

November 22, 2021December 13, 2021 Movers Who Blog Organizing, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Internal moving services can help you prepare for the holiday season

It’s seemingly impossible to believe, but somehow, the holiday season has quickly approached in the review mirror for 2021.

For many of us, that can mean family gatherings, office parties, getting together with friends, and much more. With that comes planning around the home, getting out holiday decorations, pulling out extra furniture from storage, rearranging your living rooms so more people can sit, and everything else that goes into getting ready for the holiday season.

If you’re wondering how you’re going to tackle all of this, keep in mind that our teams at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK are able to help! While we are known for traditional home moving service, we also offer a variety of specialty moving services, one being our in-home moving option. This helps take the stress out of lifting your heavy Christmas tree around the house, rearranging furniture, or moving boxes of decorations down. We’ll do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to!

Our in-home moving services are great for the following:

Staging a home
Completing home renovations
Staging a big party or event
Moving a recently purchased large item or appliance such as a piano, gun safe, exercise equipment, etc.
Moving yard equipment, furniture, or décor out of shed storage

Staging and rearranging

For those undergoing home renovations or staging a home to sell, our in-home moving service is a great option. We can help move furniture where it needs to go, get it up and down stairs, or out to the garage and out of the way.

This is a great option for business, too. Our professional moving teams can move office equipment, desks, and more. We’re conscious of time and understand that your business needs to keep moving, so we work with you to schedule hours that fit best for your business to ensure little to no interruptions.

Heavy items

Sometimes, you have a particularly large item like a piano, gun safe, large piece of furniture, or treadmill you just can’t move on your own. Don’t worry! Our moving teams are trained on how to properly move large specialty items, saving you the stress of having to do it yourself.

Like any TWO MEN AND A TRUCK service option, you’ll receive professionally trained movers who will show up trained, uniformed, and ready to get the job done right.

And, as concerns over COVID-19 remain, our moving teams are taking extra sanitation and safety precautions to ensure that both our customers and moving teams stay safe throughout the moving process. If you have any questions about the safety precautions being taken, please discuss this with your franchise prior to moving day.

November 2, 2020 Movers Who Blog Organizing

Get organized with these 5 overlooked moving essentials

We’ve said it before, when it comes to home moving, organization is key to a successful moving day!

If you stay organized before, during, and after the move, you will find it to be a much more seamless – and less stressful – transition into your new home With more than 8 million moves under our belts, we’ve seen the good and the bad on moving day. Those with who are more organized tend to be the ones who have the best moving experiences..

Like anything, however, this is much easier said than done. Everything from finding a new home to taking care of your utilities, bills, packing up your old home, cleaning, hiring professional movers, and more – there is quite a bit to think about as you get ready to move. These are often the high-level priority items in a home move, but what about the overlooked areas of moving?

We call these “overlooked moving essentials”, and they are just that – essential. These are things you’ll want with you before moving day and when you arrive at your new home.

Moving checklist

Nothing says “organization” like a moving checklist, and we can’t stress the importance of these enough. This is an organized plan on how you’re going to attack your move, starting from a few weeks before your move all the way through moving day and into your new home.

If you’re asking yourself how you’re supposed to come up with a moving checklist, don’t worry – we’ve made one for you.

Tool kit

In a perfect world, you can move into your new home with zero issues. But that is a perfect world, and this is the real one.

Having a tool kit handy as you start transitioning into your new home will be extremely handy for making any quick fixes that are needed around the house.

Cleaning supplies

It’s not much of a secret that the moving process can be a little messy. This makes having cleaning supplies readily available an important part of moving so that if a mess happens, you’re able to clean it up right away.

Clorox wipes, toilet cleaner, laundry soap, cleaning spray, and more are all good ideas to have purchased prior to moving day.

Plastic bags

Plastic bags are a cheap, versatile, and easy tool on moving day. Everything from carrying loose items that didn’t make it in the packing process to quickly disposing of trash can be handled with plastic bags, so have a stash of them ready.

Batteries and chargers

We can’t live without technology anymore, right? Well, that makes chargers and batteries essential. You want to make sure that when you’re moving into your new home, you still can access phones, tablets, laptops, remotes, clocks, and various home appliances.

These are just a few important and often overlooked moving essentials you’ll want to keep in mind as you’re getting ready for moving day. To find more helpful moving tips to make your moving day a success, search through our company blog or visit our website!

April 20, 2020May 11, 2020 Movers Who Blog Organizing, Uncategorized

Using a moving check list to stay organized during your next home move

If we’ve learned a thing or two about moving over the last 35 years, there’s two things that stands out above the rest when it comes to making a home move easier: preparation and planning.

Preparation and planning will lead to organization in every aspect of your home move running a little bit smoother.

One of our best recommendations to limiting some of the stresses involved with home moving is developing a moving checklist! A moving checklist will give you a point of reference to follow along with as you navigate through the hurdles that come with moving.

From figuring out what belongings are going with you to your next home to packing, hiring movers, and other tasks around the house – a moving checklist is something you can follow to help you get the job done.

We’ve come up with a moving checklist so you can get a head start on preparing for your upcoming move!

One Month Before Move

Contact, schedule, and hire a mover as soon as you know you’re moving to ensure you’re scheduled for the day and time you prefer.
Begin the cleaning of various areas of your house – closets, attics, garage, etc.
Begin changing your local address where necessary in areas like mailing, insurance, school records, and so on.
Purchase moving boxes and packing supplies to help get things rolling on your move – local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise locations offer a wide-variety of moving and packing supplies to fit all of your moving needs.

1-2 Weeks Before Move

Start canceling anything that is tied to what will soon be your past home address – Internet, cable, newspapers, or any labor services you receive around your home.
Call your local utility companies and be sure they know the exact day to stop charging your old home address for services.
Start the packing process and go room by room so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Be sure to properly label and organize boxes so you know where everything is on moving day.

Week Of The Move

Finish any last-minute cleaning around your home and make sure everything looks nice for when you officially move out.
Continue packing all of your belongings, aiming to finish before moving day arrives. For items you no longer need, donate them to a charitable cause or sell them, if possible.
Make transportation plans for the day of the move so you know how you’re getting to your new place. If you have kids or pets, develop a plan that fits their needs, too, and figure out where they will be while your move is taking place.
Mail in any change of address forms so your new place is ready to go with your information.

Day Before The Move

Be in contact with your moving company and double-check everything is set in stone for the ensuing moving day. If you’re moving with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we will send a pre-move email solidifying all important details of your home move.
Ensure all breakable items have been removed from dresser drawers and packed away.
Take out some cash to hold you over during the moving process. This might come in handy if you need to get pizza or snacks to feed everyone!
Perform one final cleaning of your home and appliances.

Moving Day

Pack an essentials bag for items you can access immediately when arriving at your new home. This can include anything from chargers to toothbrushes, quick snacks, etc.
Make sure there is a clear moving path inside and outside of your home for movers to operate.
Be sure you are at the home when your moving team arrives so you are accessible should they have any questions and concerns.
Once the movers have loaded everything onto the moving truck, do one final walkthrough of the home and make sure nothing was left behind. Last but not least – go say goodbye to your neighbors!

We hope this checklist gives you a good starting point for planning your next move! If you are in need of moving services, be sure to visit our website to learn how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK can help move you forward.

If you’re looking to create a personalized moving checklist specific to your moving needs, we’ve got the solution – movetrac! With movetrac, you create a custom moving checklist which you complete at your own pace. You can also learn a few moving hacks along the way with our many resources available.

March 2, 2020February 28, 2020 Movers Who Blog Organizing, Tips and Tricks

Keep your move organized and on track with these 6 overlooked moving essentials

Above all things that are important when moving to a new home, arguably none rank higher than organization. If you are organized before, during, and after your move – there’s a good chance your move will go even smoother.

We’ve completed more than 7.5 million moves over our 35 years as movers, and time and time again, we’ve seen that organization is the key to moving. However, this is much easier said than done. From taking care of all your bills and utilities at your old home to packing, cleaning, hiring movers, and so on – there is a lot to think about. These all generally are at the top of mind when preparing to move, but what about some of those overlooked essentials you might be forgetting?

Generally, these “overlooked moving essentials” are things you’ll want with you on moving day when you arrive at your new home. They are all of varying degrees of importance, but all things you don’t want to go without!

Moving Checklist

Seems simple enough, right? It’s sometimes so simple that customers forget to do it! Create a plan for how you want to attack your upcoming move so you have something to follow throughout the process.

If you don’t feel like creating your own, no worries – we’ve created one for you.

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are cheap, easy, and versatile on moving day. Whether you need them for carrying new items that didn’t end up getting packed away or they’re just filling in for some quick trash duty, there is always a use for plastic bags. Keep a stash ready so you can quickly access one if needed.

Batteries/Chargers

What doesn’t use some type of battery or charger these days? While chargers are still needed for items like phones, laptops, or tablets, there are still a large number of items that run on batteries: remotes, clocks, and varying home appliances.

Have a supply of batteries handy should you need them.

Cleaning Supplies

It’s no secret that moving in or out of a home can create a bit of a mess. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to have some cleaning supplies close and ready should there be a mess that occurs during the moving process. Items like rags and sponges, Clorox wipes, toilet cleaner, cleaning spray, laundry soap, and more are all good items to have on moving day.

Toilet paper/Paper Towels

Without getting into too much detail, we’ll just say that these fall under the category of “you’d rather have it and not need it.” Buy both in advance.

Tool Kit

Ideally, you could move into your home without any issues. However, that is unlikely to happen, so get a tool kit together that you can have handy so you’re able to make any quick fixes that might be needed once you are moved in.

November 4, 2019November 25, 2019 Movers Who Blog Organizing, Uncategorized

Keep your move on track with these overlooked moving essentials

The most important factor to completing a successful home move is staying organized. While it can be incredibly difficult to remain organized, it’s crucial for eliminating some of the stress that comes with the entire moving process.

From making sure bills and utilities are taken care of, to cleaning, packing, and scheduling a move with professional movers – there is a lot to think about. Hiring movers and getting packing supplies are usually top of mind when beginning the moving process, but what about some of the overlooked items necessary to completing a move?

We’ve been around the block once or twice with home moving and have been able to point out some items we like to call “overlooked moving essentials”. Generally, these items are things you’ll want on the day of your move when you arrive at your new home, but items that might not come to mind in the chaos of planning and relocating.

Batteries/Chargers

It seems like everything in the world these days comes with a charger, right? Make sure you have those with you, but don’t forget about batteries, either.

Objects like remotes, clocks, and other important appliances throughout homes still run on battery power, and having a good supply of fresh batteries handy will have you ready to go as you get your new home up and running.

Plastic Bags

The versatility of plastic bags on moving day is an absolute must. Whether it’s just for storing or carrying items from your old home to your new home, or handling quick trash duty – there is always a use for plastic bags.

Keep a stash of bags handy as you get ready for moving day so that you can quickly access one if needed.

Food and Drinks

Even if you hire professional movers, there is still some physical strain required in moving from one home to the next with all of the back and forth, moving throughout your house, and more. You’ll want to be both hydrated during this process and also well-fed to make sure you have the proper energy to last.

Tool Kit

Although it would be nice to imagine a world where you move into a new home and there’s zero issues, that usually isn’t the case. Get a tool kit handy so that you can make any quick fixes around the home if needed.

Toilet paper/Paper Towels

File both of these items under the category of “you’d rather have it and not need it”. Buy both in advance so that everything is good to go.

Cleaning Supplies

It goes without saying that moving in or out of a home can create a bit of a mess with all of the people coming in and out and boxes being moved everywhere. It’s generally a good idea to have a good amount of cleaning supplies ready and available so you can limit some of this mess. Items like rag and sponges, Clorox wipes, toilet cleaning, cleaning spray, laundry soap and more should all be considered.

Moving Checklist

Like we mentioned above, being organized can make a big difference in how much stress is involved with your move. It’s a good idea to create a detailed plan of how you want to tackle your move, and thankfully for you, we’ve made a comprehensive moving checklist to help you do just that!

These are just a few important and often overlooked moving essentials that you’ll want to keep in mind as you’re getting ready for moving day. To find more helpful moving tips to make your moving day a success, search through our company blog or visit our website!

May 20, 2019June 10, 2019 Movers Who Blog Organizing, Uncategorized

Home safety guide for new homeowners

Few things are as exciting as becoming a new homeowner. After working hard to set up the home purchase, closing on the home, as well as going through a move and getting settled in, there’s a sense of responsibility that comes over you as you prepare to take care of your new place.

With that responsibility creates a new list of things you need to think about, and one of the most important areas to consider is home safety. This is a broad term, but it’s important to examine all areas of your home, develop safety precautions, and have emergency plans in place should anything go wrong.

This safety checklist is a good place to start!

Water and pipes

It’s a good idea to look around your home and find out where the water shut off is located. This will come in handy in the unfortunate situation where you would need to quickly shut it off, such as flooding or a broken pipe.

Be sure to go around the home and check for leakage, corrosion, and rust on pipes in your home so you can get a jump on the problem and fix it before anything serious happens.

Smoke alarms and detectors

Make sure each area of the home is equipped with smoke alarms, and most importantly, test them to ensure they work properly!

If they are not working, install new, fresh batteries that will last for a while. It’s a good idea to test smoke alarms every month or so to provide peace of mind that you’ll be alerted should a fire happen. For added safety, also consider purchasing a fire extinguisher for your home.

Another detector that should be checked into is a carbon monoxide alarm, which should be located on each level of your new home.

Electrical

The best rule to follow when it comes to all things electrical in your home is that if something doesn’t look right, it’s best to get it checked out and fixed. This could be anything from a cord or wire that is frayed or eroded, an outlet that is damaged, and so on. These issues could become potential fire hazards if something goes wrong. Feel all of the outlets in your home to see if they are warm, and if they are, have an electrician take a look.

Find the electrical box in your home and familiarize yourself with it, and also check to make sure nothing looks unusual. Figure out the best way to shut off the electricity in your home in case of emergency.

Home Protection System

Not so much a checklist item as it is something to consider, but a home protection alarm system might be worth looking into. Unfortunately, home burglaries happen, and installing a new alarm system on your home could be the difference in protecting your items.

It’s also important to make sure you have working locks and bolts on all doors around your home, and keep things such as cars, garage doors, sheds, and gates locked.

Emergency plan

It’s better to be safe than sorry, and the first step to following this rule is having an emergency evacuation plan for your home and your family. Talk it over and figure out what the best escape area is in each part of your home and make sure everyone is on the same page, with a designated meeting place for when everyone is outside.

Another important emergency plan to discuss is what to do in case of a weather emergency like a tornado.

Miscellaneous emergency checklist items

-Have a first-aid kit readily available in your home.

-Develop an emergency kit that can be easily accessible in case of an emergency. Use this comprehensive guide to building one from the American Red Cross.

-If there are senior citizens living at the home, consider the possibility of a medical alert system.

-Report anything that is broken, damaged, or not working when moving into your home so it can be fixed.