Moving is one of those things that sounds easy in theory, but when you get down to actually doing it, it can be quite a bit of work. If you have had to do a move or two before then you know what it’s like, but people who are making their first move tend to underestimate the work that goes into the process.
With this simple guide, you can more efficiently organize your time and effort to ensure that your next move is as smooth and trouble-free as possible.
8 Weeks Before
Start at least 8 weeks before the designated move date to get a head start on the entire process. This will give you enough time to downsize and free yourself of belongings before the move so you can just take what you really need. Consider donating things to charity or handing them out to friends and family. Look into getting your school records, work records, and personal documentation in order to facilitate the move. Get in touch with your insurance provider, mortgage company, your bank, and all other stakeholders to let them know you are moving so that they can make the requisite adjustments accordingly.
6 Weeks Before
Six weeks prior to the move, you should have narrowed down all the things that you want to pack, and you should have a better idea of how much stuff you need to move. With this in mind, it is time to start ordering packing supplies and getting in touch with moving companies to help you during the process. If you are looking for the fastest possible solution, then all service moving packages should be the best choice; if you don’t mind taking on some of the tasks on your own, then you can just ask for specific services from your chosen moving company. In most cases, people will need a trailer or truck to move a large number of belongings, and they will need help packing large items like beds and electronics.
This is a good time to see which of the hard-to-pack things you need to really take with you. You might have new appliances at your new accommodation, or it might just be easier and cheaper to invest in new appliances rather than taking your old ones with you. By now you should also have the basic floor plan of the home you plan on moving to, so you can start to optimize the things you take with you according to what will fit there and what you need.
4 Weeks Before
With just a month remaining before the move, you should have a fairly accurate idea of what the final move will look like. This is when you should be getting your documents finalized and letting people know that you are about to move out. It’s also time to start setting up your new home. Start by gaining information about the place and finding out things like where the best local healthcare providers are, insurance companies, schools, and what you will need upon arrival. Get in touch with local utility companies and start setting up your accounts and registrations, so you will have a fully functional space by the time you arrive.
1 Week Before
This is the time when you start packing. Depending on how much stuff you have, this could start a week earlier, or you might want to start just a couple of days before the move if you have very few belongings. It’s also a good idea to be taking pictures of your belongings as you pack and making lists just to keep track of where everything is and how you have organized things. This will make it easier to unpack when you move.
As you get closer to the move date, a day or two earlier, you want to start making last-minute preparations. This includes defrosting your fridge, removing all personal items from the home, making sure all your bills have been cleared and making sure all your things at your destination are in order.
On the day of the move itself, you should have everything organized and ready. This is the day where you spend time going through all your preparation and making sure everything is where it should be. Have a final check of all the inventory and make sure every box and carton is properly closed, sealed, and marked. Go through your house and make sure you have gathered all your belongings and start to seal the home, closing any doors, windows, and vents. If you are getting your goods moved by truck then you will need to have all these things managed a day before as the truck usually arrives very early in the morning. If you are moving things yourself, you can start to load everything onto the truck the day you plan to leave.