10 Moving day tips from Geek Squad

Moving day is both exciting and stressful. Discovering a new home and a new neighbourhood opens a new chapter in your life; but, first you have to get everything moved in safely, and with as little disruption to your daily routine, especially work routine if you work from home, as possible. If you’re in the midst of planning a moving day, you might consider some of these ten moving day tips from Geek Squad to ensure your tech is protected from damage and your connections are quickly set up in your new home.

10 Moving day tips from Geek Squad

1. Schedule your ISP and cable provider in advance of your move.

Your ISP and cable provider need advance notice to move your service from one location to another, so it’s a good idea to contact them and schedule your switch a few weeks to a month in advance of your move. When you schedule your change in service in advance, you’ll be sure to have internet access the day you move in.

You’ll also want to adjust your moving day schedule so your network is the last utility that’s taken down in your previous home and the first to be set up in your new home.

2. Test the Wi-Fi in your new home.

The best time to test out your new Wi-Fi network is when you walk in the door of your new home. There are a few apps you can use to determine Wi-Fi speed. Once you know your average speed in every area of your new home, you’ll have a better idea if there will be any layout or construction challenges you’ll need to overcome. You may need to set up mesh networking or plan an ISP upgrade to improve your signal.

3. Before you disconnect, lay out your cables.

Moving day can be frantic, and any well-thought-out plans about labeling cords and cables can go out the window when you’re just trying to fill up your moving truck on time. That’s why it’s important to attach a label and take an inventory of all of your devices before you disconnect them. With everything labeled, you’ll know exactly how to reconnect every device.

4. Moving a desktop computer? Back it up.

A lot can happen when you move between one home and another, and the last thing you want is for something to happen to the data on your iMac or desktop computer. Before you move, it’s critical to perform a data backup on a separate hard drive. You’ll have a solid copy of your important documents in case anything happens to your computer on moving day.

5. Put cables and cords in zip lock bags.

One of the easiest ways to stay on top of cables, cords, and remote controls is to place them in zip lock bags. You can zip them up, label the bag clearly, and even tape the bag to the device it belongs with. When you get to your new home you’ll just have to open the bag and plug everything in.

6. Protect your devices from impact.

All of those extra pillowcases and blankets will be useful when it’s moving time. You can use them to wrap your portable devices. Wireless speakers or computer monitors can be wrapped in your excess blankets and placed inside plastic tote bins. The tote bin will protect the device from any drops, unexpected impact, or moisture, and the blanket will cushion it inside the tote.

7. Wrap your TV in bubble wrap.

The number one rule of moving a television from one home to another is to never lay it down. You want to keep your TV upright, and you’ll want to protect the screen from scratches or dents by wrapping it in bubble wrap or spare blankets.

8. Treat your small appliances carefully.

A small appliance might look sturdy, but many of them have glass components, food trays, and loose blades. You’ll want to wrap your small appliances in newspaper and stuff paper inside so the parts don’t shift in transit. Once you’ve unpacked your small appliances in your new home, you should wash them thoroughly before use.

9. Explore the idea of surge protection.

You might not have required surge protection in your previous home, but your new home could be prone to power surges. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so you may want to take the time on moving day to protect your home theatre devices and desktop computer by using surge protection on your outlets.

10. Don’t forget about the smart tech you’re leaving behind.

If you’re leaving any smart-home technology at your old residence, be sure to reset all devices to factory settings before you leave. That way the new owner can use the devices as though they are new and you’ll be protecting your personal information.

With these 10 moving day tips from Geek Squad, your upcoming moving day and your transition to your new home will be easier than you imagined.