Beginning two months in advance can make all the difference when it comes to moving successfully. A structured moving checklist will enable you to complete major tasks early and ensure there are no last-minute surprises or deadlines missed.
On the day of your move-in, make sure you are present to authorize the movers and review their inventory list before they leave – this will prevent any mistakes and potential delays during delivery.
Packing
If you’re planning on moving yourself or hiring professional movers, it is essential that you begin packing early. To effectively determine how many boxes and other materials you will require for your move, the best way is to go through each room of your house room by room and make a list – then purchase or gather them as necessary.
Before packing begins, it’s a good idea to clear away some space by discarding items you no longer require or holding a garage sale. Doing this will help clear out clutter while simultaneously earning some extra funds that could prove invaluable during the moving process.
Once you’re ready to pack, begin by gathering non-essentials like off-season clothing and books – this will free up space while giving an idea of how long the process will take. After finishing those, move onto more essentials like kitchen utensils and decorative items; it is advisable to clearly mark each box’s contents so unpacking goes quicker and you can find any needed items quicker. It also saves time when unpacking by quickly locating items you may require quickly.
If you’re packing fragile or breakable items, take extra care when packing them and use blankets and bubble wrap to cushion the pieces. Also consider purchasing specialty boxes like lamp, TV, wardrobe boxes to reduce damage during transit. Keep important documents and valuables separate from the rest of your belongings to protect against potential theft, and record anything special or expensive so insurance claims can be filed if needed.
Moving Day
Get family and friends on board to help with the move as soon as possible. When making arrangements with professional movers, be sure to ask their availability as well as create a week by week schedule so all know their duties before the big day arrives. It may also be wise to reserve a rental truck at this stage if there are larger furniture pieces (beds, sectionals etc) which require white glove delivery service (for example beds or sectionals).
Create a master list of everything that needs to be packed, and label each box according to room and contents (e.g. “DR,” “MBR”). Watch Atlas’s How to Pack Like a Pro videos for helpful packing tips. If you have houseplants, read up on how best to prepare them for their relocation with our tips for moving plants. Make arrangements to have mail forwarded from your old address while notifying doctors, dentists and service providers of your change in address as soon as possible. Obtain a blueprint of your new home before notifying service providers of address change as soon as possible as well as filing important documents with local authorities for filing purposes.
Do a final walk-through of your house to make sure nothing is missing, clean any rooms that won’t be needed on moving day and strip your bedding so it can be stored separately from its mattress – saving time on moving day while giving you peace of mind on moving night!
Before moving in to your new home, pack an essentials bag containing toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, basic cleaning supplies and first-aid supplies – these should include toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags and basic first-aid items. In addition, consider compiling a toolkit of essential tools for basic repairs, like changing lightbulbs or hanging pictures.
Moving Out
Planning ahead can make moving much less stressful, so start making your plan as soon as possible – two months should give you enough time to organize, research companies and set a timeline.
Get yourself organized for a successful move by creating a binder or folder on your computer to store moving checklists and documents. This will keep everything together, as you can quickly refer back to plans if something goes awry. Be sure to include moving estimates, final bills and any documents related to your home such as mortgage or lease agreements in this folder.
Proceed with going through your belongings to decide what items will make the journey to your new place, holding garage sales or selling items on eBay to offset some of the expenses involved with moving. Also provide your landlord notice of your departure so they can hand it back over to a buyer when you leave so they can give it back on time.
Make a list of all of the supplies needed for your move, such as boxes and tape. This will prevent you from forgetting anything important; label makers can be particularly useful to mark clearly what each box contains. Also take photos of how your electronics are connected together for quick rewiring in your new place.
Before leaving your rental house or apartment, conduct a walkthrough with your landlord to make sure there is nothing behind that might incur additional fees upon re-cleaning or returning deposits. Doing this will also help avoid unexpected charges when trying to get everything back.
Moving In
Moving is both exciting and daunting; having a solid game plan in place to stay organized throughout is crucial for a smooth move. United Van Lines’ comprehensive moving checklist covers every step from packing to logistics planning for you!
These tips can make any move, whether local or long distance, more successful.
Before beginning to move, begin your preparations early. Two months before your move date, start taking on high-level tasks such as creating a binder or computer file for your move and backing up files online. Doing this early will give you time to organize yourself and not miss any essential chores in the final days before departure.
As part of your move preparations, it’s a good idea to stock up on essentials, including food for the first few days and enough clean clothing. In addition, consider keeping some cleaning supplies like garbage bags, toilet paper dispensers and paper towel dispensers nearby so you’re prepared for unpacking and cleaning up afterwards.
Be sure to introduce yourself and host a housewarming party to celebrate your new home! It is an excellent opportunity to meet others in your neighborhood while creating new bonds – plus giving away moving favors such as popcorn jars or pine cone fire starters as a thank-you gesture for helping settle in!