10 Moving Checklist Essentials
You've got all the paperwork finalized, your keys in hand, and it's finally time to start moving into your new home. This is an exciting occasion, but before you begin throwing your belongings into boxes and shoving them onto a moving truck, take a moment to draw up a moving checklist.

Missing essential to-dos within the excitement of relocating is an easy mistake to make – causing potential headaches during and after your move. Including the following items on your moving checklist will help to streamline your move, while putting your mind at ease.

 

#1: Hire Your Movers EARLY

Don’t wait until the last-minute to research and select your moving company. Giving yourself ample time will allow you to obtain referrals, compare estimates and read reviews, ensuring you have a good chance of receiving the best price and service available.

In addition, being flexible with your move date and time could save you some money. Weekends are the busiest days for movers, so you’re likely to end up paying more to move on a Saturday. Many movers offer discounts for non-prime days, so try rearranging your schedule to move on a weekday instead.

Pro Tip: Utilize sites like Yelp or Angie’s List to choose a reputable mover, or go with old-fashioned word of mouth recommendations from friends and family.

 

#2: Get Organized Beforehand

It’s a good idea to go through each room of your home to take inventory of your belongings and catalog which items you want to take with you to your new house, and which should be thrown away or donated. You may want to consider using tags or Post-its to organize your items into packing groups. This will assist you in sorting items to later be included in specific boxes.

Once you’ve selected which pieces you’ll keep, it’s time to decide what you’d like to do with the remaining items. Consider setting up a prearranged pick-up with a charity or other non-profit organization to save yourself some time. If you have junk you need to get rid of which isn’t appropriate for donation, consider hiring a service like Dolly to pick up and dispose of your unwanted items.

 

#3: Plan Your Moving Day and Moving Route

Moving a home’s worth of furniture, clothing and dishes is typically a lot of work, even if you’ve hired movers. Ask family and friends to assist you with some of the heavy lifting. If you have the physical moving elements covered, consider asking a trusted friend to watch your pets or children, who may get underfoot or slow the moving process down.

In addition, be sure to plan your moving route a few days before your actual move day. Even if you’re only moving a few blocks away, it pays to schedule out the best route for all of your moving trucks to take. Visit your local government’s transportation website and brief yourself on any planned construction along the routes you plan to use. Ensure you’ve planned alternate routes in case you still encounter any unexpected obstructions.

 

#4: Create a Task Calendar

You’ll find it much easier to keep up with your moving to-do list by choosing appropriate dates and deadlines for when tasks must be accomplished. It’s a good idea to draft this list and hang it on a wall for everyone who is participating in the move to read and have access to. Providing yourself with a visible reminder of what needs to be done is a great motivator to stay on schedule, making your moving process more efficient. Consider purchasing a white board to hang in a heavily trafficked area, like your kitchen or living room, to help keep your tasks top of mind for you and everyone participating in the moving process.

 

#5: Acquire the Right-Sized Boxes

A few weeks before your move, make it a priority to find boxes which are appropriately sized to accommodate the items you’re moving. While you might be tempted to use boxes from places like liquor stores, these may not end up being the size you need. If possible, obtain boxes designed for moving and ones which will hold up during your actual move. It’s a good idea to match your boxes so they’re able to be stacked practically in a moving truck, saving you space.

Pro Tip: bigger isn’t always better. Remember, once your boxes are packed they may be very heavy, depending on their contents. Consider opting for medium sized boxes which make for easier handling.

 

#6: Pair Your Electronic Components

Set aside some time to ensure you pack your more complex electronics, like your TV and computer, efficiently and completely. Begin this task by gathering every article associated with a piece of equipment. This may include power cords, audio components, and accessories you may wish to use in your new home, like remote controls.

Experienced movers know that arriving to a new home with your electronic accessories scattered in different boxes can be a nightmare. Making this task a priority will save you time and frustration in the long run, and help you get your new home set up and organized sooner.

 

#7: Align Your Disconnection Dates

Scheduling the disconnection, and new installation, of utilities can often be a task which is overlooked. Make sure to make a separate list of all utility companies you have accounts with, like water, electricity, gas and internet. Be sure to notify each company well in advance of your move date to arrange a cutoff date for your services, and the instillation of these services at your new address. This will help you avoid getting billed additional months for your cable or electric bill because you forgot to make arrangements. In addition, don’t forget to return any cable boxes or other equipment that’s been rented from the company and is due back.

 

#8: Change Your Address

Changing your address and forwarding your mail may not seem like a priority, but taking care of this task in advance can save you a lot of frustration. It’s quick and easy to change your address utilizing the United States Postal Service’s website. While this is the most crucial step to ensure there isn’t a disruption in your mailing services, you should also make a list of servicers and organizations who may need your updated address. These include your department of transportation, your credit card company, your doctor’s office, and services you subscribe to, like Netflix and Amazon, to name a few.

 

#9: Label Boxes with Purpose

While labeling your boxes while you’re packing may seem like a time-consuming task, the more effort you put into labeling your moving boxes before your move, the easier of a time you’ll have unpacking once you begin to organize your new home. In addition to marking each box with the room where it should be placed, add details regarding what the box contains, like “books” or “wine glasses” for example. It is a good practice to write this information on the sides of the boxes as it will be difficult to view these details when your boxes are stacked on top of each other.

Pro Tip: Put essential household items which you use on a daily basis, like your coffee maker and hair dryer, in their own box. Label this box conspicuously and place it in a corner to be loaded on the moving truck last for easy access.

 

#10: Pack with Care

You’ll want to make sure you set aside enough time to wrap and pack any fragile items, like glassware and mirrors, appropriately. Consider purchasing bubble wrap and packing peanuts in bulk to ensure you have the resources necessary to prepare your fragile items for a safe arrival to your new home. In addition to utilizing the appropriate packing supplies, always remember to write “FRAGILE” noticeably on your boxes that contain breakable items.

If you’re preparing to wrap your delicate items in newspaper, consider opting for a roll of white moving paper instead. Ink from newspapers can bleed onto the items they’re wrapped around and create stains. In addition, it’s also a good idea to buy or rent a moving blanket to protect furniture from scratches and other damages.

 

Moving homes is a big deal, which can prove to be time-consuming and stressful. Yet, you do have the ability to lessen this stress by getting yourself and your house organized, creating a thorough checklist and sticking to a timeline. Following an action plan really can smooth out the rockier parts of this transition.

While you prepare for your move, don’t forget to enjoy the excitement of this substantial life event and enjoy your new home!