The Little Things

The countdown is on. T-16 days until we get the house keys. 

There are loads of little things to do to prep before moving. This isn't strictly renovation related, but it's all part of the process and I want to document everything. There are so many little bits and pieces to do before moving!

A snippet of the to-do list

Planning

We are using up our waiting time by planning as carefully as possible. We have a detailed list of jobs to be done along a tentative timeline. Each job has a list of the tools and materials that will be needed. This way we have a clear picture of priorities and can be organised when we finally walk through the door instead of flapping around in excitement but getting nothing done. 

We also have a long term plan with the big renovation that will be happening eventually, and all those drawings and planning and building applications are in the works, but we want to live in the house for a bit before beginning on the big stuff. 

Shopping

The best bit. Along with the above planning has come a long shopping list that has been mostly fulfilled by Bunnings. This is stuff like tarps and rollers for painting, dust masks, light bulbs, a giant dust vacuum and tomato sauce. 

So we don't get fat while we renovate from wanting to get pizza every night at the end of a long day's renovating, I've also been cooking a bunch of meals and freezing them. This way there's a bunch of yum food ready to go in the microwave or on the BBQ that requires no effort. 

Packing

Box City

Even though we probably won't be moving for another 2 months at least, we are well on the way to being packed. Because we will be working on the house as soon as we get it (but not moving in straight away) we need to have as much packed as possible so we can use all our spare time on making the house shiny. Everything is organised and labeled and we are discovering anew how much crap we have. 

Parking permits

Moving to an inner city house means that we have no off-street parking. There is barely even any on street parking, which basically means no one will ever visit us again. Goodbye friends, it's been great. To get permits, we are applying through the local council; one is a residential permit which needs a vehicle rego, and one is a visitor permit which friends can stick on their dashboard when they come over. Welcome back, friendships! Also available are temporary permits which you can get for one month a year, and which we will probably use with builders or the like. 

Gas, electricity and water connection

Electricity connection simply needs a phone call to your electricity company of choice and a date for them to switch it on. Easy done. 

Gas cannot be requested for connection (at least in our area) until you are four days out from needing it. We won't get this done until the very last second, when we are finally in and need a hot shower. We used energy company comparing websites (compare the meercat, guys) to work out the best option for electricity and gas.

Water never gets turned off from one occupant to the next, but we have scheduled a meter-reading for the date we get the house so that the bill can be split in half. There is no choice in water providers. Contact the council if you're not sure about yours. 

Phone and internet

We missed out on the NBN connection by a hair which is a bummer so we will have stupid old regular internet for a while. To get said stupid internet (and a phone line if you really still feel like you need a landline) all we need to do is call up a phone and internet company and tell them what we want, and they do the rest. Easy.