Are you feeling stressed out because you have a big move coming up? There are a lot of different things to consider, and it can be easy to forget some of the essentials. There’s no need to stress out, though. We have a checklist for you to simplify your moving day and keep you organized so you don’t forget anything.
- Hire the Moving Vehicle
Did you hire a moving truck for the big day? You may want to do that in advance rather than wait for the last day or even the last week. There are certain times of year where people tend to move from house to house. If you end up trying to book a truck in this busy season and don’t plan ahead, you could find yourself without a moving vehicle for the day.
It’s not a bad idea to rent the moving truck as soon as you know the day you will be moving. That way, you have this detail all sorted about out and you won’t have to worry about it later on.
- Pick Your Mover
Do you need help with the move or are you going to do it all yourself? If you need some help, you should either ask some friends and get them to schedule a few hours off that day to help you or hire a moving company to help. Either way, you’ll want to schedule an advance and not wait until the last day. Get this part of the move sorted out ahead of time and finalized so that you don’t end up without the help you need on the big day. You may not have a lot of time to move out or complications can arise that make moving difficult, if you don’t have someone to help you.
When considering whether you need help with the move, think about the logistics of moving your furniture, getting everything packed in time, and moving into the new space. You should look at the number of things you have to move, how heavy and bulky the largest items are, and the time frame you’re working with.
- Hire a Cleaning Service
It’s probably a good idea to find a professional cleaning to do some tidying up for you when you’re ready to move. You can use them to clean up the place you are moving out of so that it is left pleasantly tidy for whoever is moving in, or you can use them to clean the house you are moving into so that it is pleasant for you. This is especially important if you are moving out of an apartment. You may be required to leave the place looking spotless if you want to get your security deposit back. That deposit can be really helpful for moving to a new location and taking care of some of the costs that come with that.
- Source Boxes and Label Them
You may need to gather some boxes together for the moving day. Do this ahead of time so that you’re not rushing around trying to get boxes at the last minute. Then, label each box so you know what’s in it or what room it belongs in. That will allow you to sort things out quickly and find what you’re looking for when you need it, before you have everything completely unpacked.
- Pack Your Items
From there, you’ll need to pack everything into the boxes, making sure to pack last the items that you’ll need the day you are moving out. Delicate or fragile items may need to be wrapped in newspaper or packing foam to protect them during the move. No matter how careful you are with the drive to the new place, the items will be jostled around during the trip and will need to be secured properly.
- Check the Utilities for the New Place
Before you move from one home to another, make sure that the utilities are hooked up and functional in the new location. You don’t want to move into a new home expecting the electricity and water to work and then find out that they don’t. If you’re moving across the country, maybe you can coordinate with someone you know at the new location to check on the utilities for you. You could also try talking to the outgoing owner and ask them to verify that the utilities are functional. Another option is to send a family member ahead and have them get that sorted out before you get there.
- Change the Mailing Address
Have you sorted out your new mailing address yet? You should have all your mail forwarded to the new address as soon as you have possession of that mailbox. You can do that at your local post office by providing them with your old address and new address, as well as proof of address. You should notify all companies that you have subscriptions to or receive mail from and tell them about the date you will be moving. You may also want to leave your new mailing address with the new tenants or your previous landlord so that they know where to send anything that doesn’t automatically get forwarded to you. Be sure to notify friends and families members of your new address as well so they know where to send items to.
- Perform a Final Sweep
Before you drive away from your old place, you should check it over one last time. Look inside all the cupboards and under all the counters. Make sure you check behind the doors and outside the house as well. You don’t want to miss anything that might come in handy later on. It’s easy to overlook something when you’re rushing to pack all your boxes and move the furniture out. Some things can spill out or roll out of the way and might not be seen unless you do another sweep of the house. You probably won’t get another chance to come back and check, and there’s no guarantee that the new tenants will forward anything you left behind.