Your move into a new home will go more smoothly if you start the planning process at least one month before. Let’s go!
1. Set up a Google Documents
Where you can track everything.
2. Get moving estimates
from truck rental companies and moving companies compare quotes from both.
3. If you are getting a rental truck, check
if your friends are able to help you load and unload your truck, ask them about their schedule.
4. Appointments
Make sure when moving to a new town to set up appointments for your new kid’s school in advance.
5. Ensure your couch will fit through a door
Double-check if your couch will fit inside your apartment or up the stairs. If you think it will not fit, you will have to find storage for items that won’t fit (Probably in the basement of the storage area) Second option will be if your sofa won’t fit is to try to hoist your item through a window. In order to do it you need straps or a crane or a moving company who can do manual hoisting.
6. Pack your personal box that you will take with you
Make sure to put all the most important items in that box, such as jewelry, medical docs, prescriptions, passports and mortgage documents, birth certificates, and all vital and sensitive items. Do not give this essential box to movers or your friends. Keep an eye on it and take it to your car or with you. You can also use a backpack as an alternative.
7. You have to make a decision about what kinda move it will be
It will depend on how much money you are willing to spend and if you have any friends who can help, or you can get just moving help at loading or unloading.
8. Start looking for affordable but not cheap moving co
Make sure to check online reviews on Google and Yelp, don’t trust one source of reviews. Get 3-5 quotes, compare them ask for any discounts or specials that the moving company has.
9. Label your boxes
It will help you when you will be unpacking boxes in a new apartment and save you a lot of tossing from room to room. You can do it in 2 ways: label the top of the boxes or put colorful stickers on each box from a different room. You can put colorful stickers on furniture as well so you will know where all items will be going.
10. What to do with old stuff or items you don’t want?
Moving is a perfect time to get rid of the items that you don’t want. There is a few options you can put your unwanted items on a curb (If the city is allowing this option make sure to check it). Donate it. Or sell it, whichever is the more convenient option you have to decide.
11. Take time off work unless you can move on Saturday
Saturday is the most popular day to move, and you can guess why because you have a whole Sunday to unpack. If you can’t move out on weekends, you will have to take time off from work, at least one full day, to move and unpack a one-bedroom apartment.
12. Pack your fragile items with care
Make sure to put enough packing paper when preparing fragile stuff to move.
13. Cleaning is a key
Make sure to check under a couch or your bed. There are no items that your movers or friends will be ashamed of. A clean apartment always creates the impression that you are a clean person, but not everyone does it.
14. Need free moving boxes?
Go to Costco and get as many boxes as you need, or you can also go local grocery store and ask them if they have unwanted, used boxes. Don’t forget to use your suitcases. You can always buy boxes on Amazon or Uhaul or Homedepot last one is probably the cheapest option on the market.
15. Protect your valuable belongings
If you are renting a truck, ensure to rent blankets to protect your furniture. Wrap your furniture with moving blankets and your TV. Ensure to wrap your TV and glass not with blankets but with a cardboard box to a screen or to any glass items to prevent it from breaking.
16. Renting, and you want your security deposit back?
Make sure to do small repairs on your own or get a handy man do it for you for a small fee.
17. Reserve a storage unit if necessary in advance
Make sure to research the online availability of the storage units in your new area if you need one or call them.
A Month before your move
1. Decide on a moving company
Hire a moving company that you like. Don’t forget the cheapest option is sometimes not the best option especially when comes to choosing a moving company.
2. Buy moving insurance
Here is a secret all moving companies have to provide insurance. But this insurance is 0,60 cents per pound if your items got broken or damaged you can only be compensated a small fee. 10 pounds of broken furniture is $6; if your furniture is expensive, ensure to get coverage that will fit you from a third-party provider.
3. DO NOT Drive on PARKWAYS
When renting a truck, it’s very important to watch a sign for a not-truck zone. This is a case because the last thing you want to do is drive to a bridge with low clearance on your big truck. Download a Truck GPS and USE only major highways when driving a rental truck.
4. Get Moving Supplies
Buy 10-12 rolls of tape, Mattress covers, Tools, and boxes before. Get one roll of shrink wrap too. Rent blankets.
5. Contact your internet and utility providers
Call your gas, water, and internet electricity providers and tell them that you are moving they will take it from there.
6. Tell your doctor that you are moving
When you need to change your pharmacy and your primary physician’s care, provide or move far away from your old place. Fill up your meds as well.
7. Change your address
Contact the post office and set up a mail forward to a new address.
8. Cancel your gym memberships
Cancel your gym membership if you are moving 50 miles away. Save money. Do it today because they may have to ask you to pay one month of membership fee.
9. Confirm important moving date
Reverify the appointment with a moving company, double check it.
10. Schedule a babysitter if needed
Make arrangements to have your kids and pets entertained—or at least out of the way—while you’re loading the truck. Call grandparents or make sure someone will take care of your baby while moving so they will not be running around your house while you carrying furniture and boxes.
11. Moving out of state?
Update your driver’s license, auto insurance, and car registration.
Few days before you move
1. Disassemble your bed and everything that will not fit through a door
It will save you valuable time and money. If hiring movers, it will not only save your time but money too. You can pack the bedside of the bed with tape together. It will also save some money for you.
2. Collect all spare keys
When you move out, you’ll need to handle all your keys over to the real estate agent, new owner, or next tenants.
3. Schedule a final walk-through of your new home
Triple-check that you know where located water heater, circuit breakers, and water shut-off valves.
4. Take a video of your empty home
You want to prove your house was in good condition when you moved out. Movers can damage doors, floors, or walls. Make sure to watch them do their job and record a video. If anything is broken, you can always submit a complaint to an insurance company.
5. Get cash for movers
Good idea to tip movers after their hard work glass of water would be great, but cash is king. Give at least $40 to each person who is moving you.
6. Make sure you are moving in
In a clean house, it will be hard to clean if you move in in a dirty place. You will have to eventually clean it again with your furniture, which makes it harder.
7. Unpacking priorities
It’s hard to unpack everything in one day, but it’s possible if working all day long. Make sure to unpack your electronics TV and that box with sensitive stuff first when you arrive at a new house and check if anything is broken, such as computers or TVs.
8. Finish packing before moving day
One of the unrealistic things is trying to pack on a moving day. You will be ended up paying more money for a mover. And it will be inconvenient for both parties.
Big Moving Day
1. If movers are late, call the office immediately
but don’t stress out. They probably hit morning traffic.
2. Show the shortest way to move out boxes and furniture
Ensure the movers who are helping you move out can get the boxes from your house in the shortest way possible to the truck. In the end, it will save you money.
3. Check what you will be signing
All details have to be clear. Ask the foreman to explain all of the details BEFORE they start moving things to a truck. Ask about insurance options.
4. Double-check if movers have a correct destination address
When movers arrive, double-check their destination and do a walk through the house. Give specific instructions to the movers during a welcome walkthrough.
5. Order food or give movers beer after they do
Food is the best gift for movers at unloading. If you want to order food for your helpers, do this at the second location so they can eat after they are done with a job.
6. Final walk-through
After the move is done with loading. Come to every room and do a room-by-room inspection. Don’t forget to check a closet, basement, or garage.
7. Show movers where you want to put your belongings at the unloading point
When you arrive at a destination, do a walkthrough again and show movers where to bring all the stuff. You can also hang around close to the entrance to give them directions right away.
8. Inspect your items before movers head out
It’s crucial when to double-check if the movers didn’t break anything during the move, such as furniture, floors, or walls. If they did, make sure to take pictures, report it to the foreman, and call the company manager to start a claim or handle it on the spot for a discount. Whichever way you prefer.
9. Tell movers to set up your bed
Just show the movers where you want to set up a bed. Movers have tools, and they will gladly do it for you.
10. Tip your movers
Give each guy $40-$100 each, depending on the number of hours that they have done moving for you. Bigger the job = the bigger the tip. Better to give them cahs as a tip, but you can always ask to put tips on a card.
Next day after moving
1. Changing your locks?
Make sure to ask a landlord to do so if he okay with that.
2. Check if everything is okay
Ensure sure utilities are working properly.
3. Read HOA regulations
Get familiar with monthly fees and condo rules about pets and new tenants.
4. Prepare a housewarming party
Text and invite your new neighbors to a housewarming. Get them to know the exact day and time. They already know your new address.
5. Leave a moving review
Really like or dislike a moving service, don’t hesitate to leave a review after unpacking all boxes and checking the furniture for damages. A lot of companies offer discounts for reviews.
6. Finish unpacking boxes
You’ll feel relieved when you put in the trash or recycle your last box.
7. Make spare keys
Get two separate keys for each lock.
8. Host a housewarming party
Set a date and time and read articles on how to throw a house party for your friends and new neighbors.
