In a NY Post survey, 45% of people stated that moving was by far the biggest stressor they had ever gone through- even more so than a divorce or having kids. While some may be shocked by that number, anyone who has ever gone through a huge move can attest- it can be extremely stressful!
There are so many moving parts (pun intended!) to a move, with so many things to coordinate- and often times with multiple parties. To help you during your move, we’ve created the ultimate checklist to hopefully bring your overall stress level down.
6-8 Weeks Out
Decide what type of move you want:
DIY: You pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack your things yourself.
Hybrid: You rent a truck and hire movers to do the rest.
Full Service: Movers provide the truck, transportation of items, and most importantly, do all the lifting!
Make reservations for any vehicles or movers you may need.
Securing these things beforehand may lead to a better price, and the best movers are always reserved in advance
Start going through all of your things.
Donate or sell any unnecessary stuff to save yourself time and money in the long run. Having a yard sale, or posting items for sale online can be a great way to bring in a little money towards your move as well.
4 Weeks Out
Order or collect all moving supplies
No one should be left scrambling for boxes or tape at the last minute during a move!
Tip: All of our offices sell packing and moving supplies on site!
Mail Forwarding
Notifications can take a while to update, so be sure to complete a change of address with your local post office so that your mail service is uninterrupted until you can switch everything over.
Update your address
There are several entities who will need to know of your updated address, and while a change of address form is a great first step to ensure communication isn’t lost, you will still need to notify the following places of an address change:
Financial Accounts: Bank, Credit Cards
Insurance Companies: Auto, Home, Life
DMV
Voter Registration (this usually can be done at the DMV as well)
Cancel any delivery subscriptions or memberships that will fall on the dates after your move and ensure that they are restarted at the new address.
Start Using up your refrigerated and pantry food items
If you’re doing a local move and moving with food won’t be an issue for you, then you can skip this part, but no one likes to put good food to waste! Make a conscious effort to start using up your stores of food, even if unique recipes end up coming of it.
Obtain Necessary Documents
Make sure you have any records you need with you before your move. This includes vital, legal and medical documents. Doing this will save you a huge headache when you’re searching for something after your move, because you will know you have everything you need.
Service Your Car
If you’re doing a long-distance move, now is the time to get that long awaited tune up and oil change. There’s nothing worse than car trouble during a move, so it’s best to avoid it all together. Plus, once you finish your move you have the peace of mind that you don’t need to worry about your car for a while and can focus instead on getting acclimated in your new home.
Tip: f you need to ship your vehicle to your new home, now is the time to schedule a car shipping service
3 Weeks Out
Start packing!
Dedicate a day or two to each room of the house, and pack the things you can live without for the next month. Packing early will really cut down on your stress and feeling overwhelmed by doing it all at once. Thoroughly label your boxes, or take an inventory of all of your items as you pack.
Tip: Measure any furniture you’re moving for future reference
Transfer Utilities
Call all of your service providers to let them know about your move, sometimes this can easily be done online, but a quick call and give you a peace of mind that you know the process to transfer each utility to your new address. If you’re moving locally, this can be an easy transfer with some utilities, but for out of area utilities, be sure they know of your cancel/disconnect date and schedule new start or installation service dates for your new address.
Utilities include:
Electricity
Water/Sewer
Garbage Service
Cable
Internet
Security System
Phone
1-2 Weeks Out
Start Cleaning Your Old Home
As you pack each room, start cleaning it as well. Fix any drywall, holes, scuffs, or dings you come across. If you’re renting, this will help you get your deposit back!
Make sure to deep clean appliances like refrigerators, ovens, stovetops, dishwashers and washing machines now so that that you can just give them all a quick wipe down towards the end of the move.
Trash Removal and Recycling
Arrange for a trash or recycling pickup if it is needed. Coordinate with you neighbors to have your bins out on the next pick up day after your move so they can be picked up by the waste company.
Day Before Your Move
Pack your essential items
Things you’ll need during the move that you weren’t able to pack before- a few changes of clothes, toiletries, shoes, medications, pet and baby necessities. Consider setting aside a box or bag just for these things so that it’s easily accessible when you get to your new home.
Last Minute Errands
Fill any prescriptions you need, grab water bottles and trash bags for moving day, and if you hired movers make sure to have some cash on hand for a tip.
MOVING DAY
Stay Hydrated and Stretch
Our number one tip, and why we keep water available to all of our tenants at all of our facilities. Moving is a strenuous process, and staying hydrated and stretching before lifting is the best way to avoid unnecessary injury.
Take a Final Inventory
As boxes and items are loaded, make sure to take an inventory so that you can rest assured that nothing was missed. Take photos of fragile items for insurance purposes.
Final Walk Through
Before you leave, do a final sweep of the home to avoid leaving anything behind and to clean up any last-minute messes. This may include another wipe down of the counters or sweeping the floors where everyone was coming in and out. Be sure to check all the easy to miss spots like cabinets, drawers, washers and dryers
Hand Over The Keys
An obvious but easily forgotten task is to leave the keys for the landlord or new owner! It’s best to have a hand off scheduled, but if you made plans to leave the keys in a certain spot, do not forget!
ENJOY YOUR NEW HOME!